EU-Singapore Matchmaking Event 2024: Advancing Sustainable Solutions and Industry Synergies.

Submitted by ECCP Team on 30 October 2024

The ECCP organised its third EU-Singapore Matchmaking Event from 22 to 24 October 2024, gathering 39 participants from Europe and Singapore. Fifteen European clusters and two SMEs travelled to Singapore to connect with local counterparts in this global innovation hub. As a gateway to Southeast Asia, Singapore provided an ideal setting to foster partnerships, promote industry collaboration, and advance a shared vision of sustainable growth.

The delegation, focusing on sectors such as Clean Energy, Green Tech, eMobility, Sustainability in Digital Technology, and Energy Transition Financing, engaged in a dynamic programme, including targeted Cluster-to-Cluster (C2C), Cluster-to-Business (C2B), and Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions. Organised by the ECCP on behalf of the European Commission, with the support of Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Business Federation, and the European Enterprise Network Singapore, the event provided an essential platform for exploring future EU-Singapore projects and partnerships.

The agenda included participation to the Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES), part of Singapore Energy Week 2024, and site visits to the Singapore Discovery Center, Applied Total Control Treatment Pte Ltd (ATC), Clean Kinetics Pte Ltd, and the Sustainable Singapore Gallery. These visits provided valuable insights into Singapore’s advances in sustainability and urban resilience, evidencing why EU companies increasingly view Singapore as an attractive investment destination. Singapore is a leading EU trade partner in the Indo-Pacific region, with EU-Singapore trade reaching €130 billion in 2022.

This event underscored the potential for collaborative growth between Europe and Singapore, as both regions work toward a more sustainable, interconnected future.

Image
MME Singapore 1

Day 1: Setting the Stage for EU-Singapore Sustainable Partnerships

The mission started with an introductory session where EU delegates—representing clusters and SMEs from 11 European countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine—interacted with each one another to discuss the mission’s objectives.

Participants then visited the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), gaining insights into ASEAN market dynamics, intellectual property practices, and Singapore’s latest green initiatives under the Green Plan 2030. Federico Donato, SBF Council Member, highlighted the alignment between the EU Green Deal and Singapore’s Green Plan, remarking, “Together, we unlock opportunities for innovation and sustainability.”

Inspiring insights came from Bruno Moscato, Managing Director at ALTIOS International, who shared practical advice for European companies expanding in Singapore and Southeast Asia, noting, “Singapore offers unmatched conditions for long-term business success in ASEAN.” 

Singaporean cluster representatives, SMEs, and trade associations joined the event for the afternoon session, with welcoming words from Samantha Teo, Executive Director at the Singapore Business Federation. She emphasised that “Europe has always been a part of the internationalisation plan for Singaporean companies... Europe is an opportunity for growth, innovation, and strategic expansion.”

The EU’s Ambassador to Singapore, Iwona Piórko, further underscored the partnership, saying, “In a global environment confronted with continued challenges, the EU and Singapore are like-minded partners working closely to strengthen the rules-based international order.”

"This matchmaking event creates partnerships along value chains of mutual strategic interest. It also implements the administrative arrangement signed with Singapore in 2020 to foster cluster and business cooperation," shared Mariella Masselink, Head of Unit at DG GROW, European Commission, in a video message.

Participants from both regions introduced their organisations during two-minute pitches, outlining what they hope to achieve through the matchmaking sessions. The networking day facilitated 107 meetings, establishing a strong foundation for future collaborations across Southeast Asia and Europe.

2
4

Reflections from attendees underscored the value of in-person interaction:

Kädi Ristkok, CEO at the Estonian Cleantech Association, expressed her enthusiasm for building a local network in the region, saying, “I am really looking forward to working with ecosystem actors, companies, and organisations like ours that support the cleantech sector, as well as clean tech companies themselves. We’re here to understand and get a feel for how the cleantech sector and sustainability are advancing in this region, which will help us find ways to collaborate, identify mutual opportunities, and address the challenges we all face.”

Sonia Fernández Mañas, Project & Partnerships Director at AMEC (Asociación Multisectorial de Empresas), emphasised the potential for expanding business relations in Singapore, sharing, “Our companies are all selling abroad, but only a few are established in Singapore. We see real opportunities here to build collaborations with local companies, explore new avenues, and assess if our businesses could establish operations here. Having everyone in one room is matchmaking at its best!”

Simon Preketes, Consultant at 68OnDemand, emphasised the benefits of face-to-face interaction, noting it “strengthens bonds and provides a deeper understanding of the European landscape.”

Amanda A Atan, Founder & CEO of One Halal Nation Group, pointed out the value of meeting directly, saying, “Only through face-to-face meetups can we find the right people for the right products and businesses.”

The day concluded with the EU-Singapore Cluster Networking Evening Reception, offering further opportunities for delegates, representatives from SBF, Enterprise Singapore, and EU Member States to strengthen partnerships and build lasting ties. Ambassadors and officials from several EU Member States, including Estonia, Ukraine, France, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden attended, alongside representatives from the EU Delegation to Singapore.

Day 2: Exploring Clean Energy Innovations and Advanced Manufacturing

Day two kicked off at the Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES), the flagship event of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) which focuses on advancing clean energy solutions and fostering sustainable growth. ACES brought together global leaders, policymakers, and innovators from the clean energy sector, providing European delegates with insights into the latest advancements in renewable energy, smart grids, and energy storage. For EU clusters and SMEs, the summit presented an ideal platform to pitch their expertise to a Southeast Asian audience, identifying partnership opportunities and exchanging ideas to address global sustainability challenges.

Attending ACES was particularly valuable for EU participants as it pointed to key trends in clean energy, crucial to driving the EU’s Green Deal and Singapore’s Green Plan 2030. The summit also indicated the importance of collaborative approaches to carbon neutrality, featuring sessions on breakthrough technologies in solar, green hydrogen, and energy efficiency—topics that align closely with the EU’s sustainability goals and industry needs.

3
4

In the afternoon, the EU delegation took part in an Eco Sustainability Tour at the Singapore Discovery Centre, followed by a visit to Applied Total Control Treatment Pte Ltd (ATC). ATC specialises in advanced surface treatment and coating solutions with applications in high-tech industries like aerospace, semiconductors, and biomedical technology. Delegates toured ATC’s ISO-certified cleanroom facilities and explored precision processes, including electroless nickel plating and powder coating.

Andrzej Czulak from the Polish Cluster of Composite Technologies remarked on ATC’s innovative practices, saying, “Their fully automated production process, combined with energy harvesting and storage through hydrogen, is an inspiring vision of manufacturing’s future.” This visit underscored how advanced manufacturing practices can enhance energy efficiency and sustainability, supporting EU goals in sustainable industrial development.

Image
5
Image
5

Day 3: Solar Innovations and Reflections on Sustainable Urban Development

The final day of the EU-Singapore Matchmaking event began with a visit to Clean Kinetics Pte Ltd, a leading player in in Singapore’s solar energy sector. Wilson Lee, CEO of Clean Kinetics, guided the EU delegation through the organisation’s advancements in solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, offering insights into Singapore’s innovative approaches to address land and resource constraints for urban solar energy adaptation. This experience gave delegates a firsthand look at Singapore’s ambitious renewable energy goals, sparking discussions on scalable solutions, technology exchange, and potential investment partnerships. Clean Kinetics exemplified Singapore’s commitment to green energy transitions, serving as an inspiring model for future EU-Singapore renewable energy collaborations.

6
7

Following the visit, the EU delegation convened for a debriefing session, creating a valuable space to reflect on the event’s impact and share individual insights. This exchange highlighted actionable follow-up steps and ideas for collaborative initiatives to deepen EU-Singapore partnerships.

The event concluded with a visit to the Sustainable Singapore Gallery, an immersive exhibition chronicling Singapore’s journey in sustainable urban planning, water conservation, and environmental stewardship. This comprehensive view of Singapore’s sustainability initiatives resonated strongly with the EU’s green and digital goals. For the EU delegates, the gallery provided an inspiring environment to explore Singapore’s cutting-edge practices in urban sustainability, sparking discussions on cross-border sustainability projects and best practice exchanges.

Image
12
123

As the final day in Singapore wrapped up, the delegation left inspired by the potential ahead. There was a strong sense of anticipation to reconnect at the next ECCP Matchmaking event, ready for more innovative ideas and partnerships.

📸  Check out the photo album 

Untitled design (25)
Related Event
EU-Singapore Matchmaking Event 2024
Share this Article