AWS Joint Innovation Centre

IMDA collaborates with Amazon Web Services to strengthen Innovation in Singapore and Southeast Asia

AWS and IMDA launches new first-of-its-kind Joint Innovation Centre in Southeast Asia at IMDA’s PIXEL Innovation Hub to encourage startup growth and accelerate industry innovation supported by the IMDA PIXEL Innovation Hub and IMDA’s Open Innovation Platform
The Centre will enable over 100 Singapore-based IMDA Accredited and IMDA Spark enterprises and startups to access the latest AWS technologies and resources to create and scale innovation

SINGAPORE, 11 November 2022 — The Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore (IMDA) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to set up the AWS-IMDA Joint Innovation Centre @ PIXEL, a Joint Innovation Centre (JIC) at IMDA’s PIXEL Innovation Hub ^[1]. The Centre will support enterprises and startups, as well as scale the growth of Singapore-based companies under IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark programmes^[2] by providing them access to the latest AWS technologies and dedicated support from the AWS Partner Network (APN). The AWS-IMDA JIC @ PIXEL will be AWS’s first JIC in Southeast Asia, and will serve as an innovation hub for enterprises, startups, and governments in Singapore, and Southeast Asia. The Centre will be ready in mid-2023.

First AWS JIC in Southeast Asia

The JIC will serve as an extension of AWS Singapore’s Cloud Innovation Centre^[3], as well as IMDA’s PIXEL and Open Innovation Platform (OIP)^[4] initiatives. The centre will provide enterprises and startups with support to drive innovation through technology education and innovation challenges workshops, opportunities for business growth and scale through AWS and IMDA’s business networks, avenues to showcase their technology use cases, and consultancy using Amazon’s “Working Backwards” methodology – an innovation process that helps an organisation approach a challenge with the end outcome in mind and then rapidly bring that solution to life.

The JIC will support customers to develop solutions using Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Data and Artificial Intelligence, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), Robotics, and cloud technologies; Enterprises and startups can access the breadth and depth of more than 200 fully featured AWS services, including AWS’s industry-leading security capabilities and global infrastructure, to drive innovation.

Beyond activities within the JIC, enterprises and startups from AWS’s and IMDA’s networks will be able to better access a larger innovation community through co-innovation labs and events. AWS and IMDA will organise innovation events each year at PIXEL, with the first event being a week-long regional festival of innovation in the first half of 2023.

To-date, more than 100 Singapore-based companies are supported under IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark, with nine unicorns^[5] and more than 10 companies recognised as global industry leaders by research and consulting firms, Gartner and market intelligence firm, CB Insights^[6]. IMDA Accredited and IMDA Spark companies saw an average of growth of two times in revenue, compared to when companies first join the programme. IMDA continues to grow its portfolio, with more than 40 companies joining the two programmes per year.

“To nurture innovation among startups, enterprises, and public sector agencies, it is critical to create an environment that brings together the latest technology with a network of supportive partners,” said Elsie Tan, Country Manager, Worldwide Public Sector, Singapore, at AWS. “We recognise the quality and growth of the companies under the IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark programmes and are excited to collaborate with IMDA to establish the AWS-IMDA Joint Innovation Centre @ PIXEL, to accelerate innovation and drive growth for enterprises and startups in Singapore and across Southeast Asia. AWS is committed to providing local businesses with access to AWS technologies to help them experiment with solutions, bring new innovations to market, solve real-world challenges, and transform industries.”

IMDA and AWS will support Singapore-based companies to grow their business

Under the MOI, IMDA Accredited and IMDA Spark companies will benefit from tech advisory and a sandbox environment^[7] supported by both AWS and the IMDA Technical Acceleration Lab^[8] initiative to conduct proof-of-concept projects with customers and prospects from both public and commercial sectors in Singapore. They will also benefit from the APN, which will provide enterprises and startups access to customers in government, education, and healthcare, in Singapore and internationally. The partners can accelerate their development with AWS, tap into AWS Partner Programs, list their software on AWS Marketplace, and enjoy dedicated support for co-selling opportunities.

Mr Justin Ang, Assistant Chief Executive, IMDA said, “IMDA is excited to collaborate with AWS to set up its first JIC in Southeast Asia at IMDA PIXEL, which will serve as a strong platform for startups, enterprises, and governments to innovate digitally. We are delighted that IMDA is recognised as a key community enabler within Singapore and the region, and PIXEL as an innovation hub for all types of partners to connect and build world-class products for global markets. We look forward to bringing AWS’s resources and networks to our Singapore-based companies under our IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark programmes to further accelerate their growth.”

^[1]PIXEL is IMDA’s 28,000 square feet innovation space for corporates and startups to learn about the latest technology, and ideate, experiment, and build user-centric digital products.

^[2]IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark aims to accelerate the growth of innovative, fast-growing Singapore-based enterprise tech product companies, by establishing their credentials and position them as qualified contenders to government and large enterprise buyers. IMDA Accredited companies are placed on a streamlined procurement process for Government ICT projects. The programme actively showcases portfolio companies through curated recurring market access platforms, matchmake them with relevant key stakeholders to address problem statements and helps accelerate their expansion into international markets through strategic partners’ global footprint.

^[3]The Cloud Innovation Centers (CIC) programme provides an opportunity for nonprofits, education institutions, and government agencies to collaborate with other public sector organisations on their most pressing challenges, test new ideas with Amazon’s innovation process, and access the technology expertise of AWS.

^[4]Since 2018, the OIP has provided organisations with consultancy support to diagnose their business challenges, develop their problem statements, and crowdsource solutions from more than 12,000 registered solution providers. OIP has facilitated challenges in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing, covering technologies such as AI, IoT, and AR/VR.

^[5]The nine unicorns include WalkMe, H20.ai, ThoughtSpot, DataRobot, Aiven, Confluent, Druva, Workato, and Advance.AI.

^[6]Recognised by Gartner Magic Quadrant & Forrester Wave Analyses as Leaders: Puppet, Kryon, Digital Shadows, Securonix. Recognised by CB Insights’ annual list of 100 most promising private AI companies: Paxata, Shift Technology, Dynamic Yield, Datavisor, SparkBeyond.

^[7]A sandbox environment allows developers to simulate a virtual computer to run and test solutions without affecting adjacent programmes or network components.

^[8]The Tech Acceleration Lab is a new initiative that aims to accelerate the PoC cycle time and seamlessly transition into a production environment to enable Singapore-based technology product companies to compete in future tenders, generate more lead demand opportunities with Government Agencies.

ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IMDA)

About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis.

For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook (IMDAsg) and Twitter (@IMDAsg).