January 2019

Israel has been dubbed as one of the silent players in technological advancement. Literally hundreds of our modern day innovation has its name attached to the country or originated from the country. Among some of the most notable technological innovations coming from Israel include Viber, Waze and the USB Flash drive

The country also stands as a forerunner in medicine and robotics with literally hundreds of research facilities and laboratories aiming to drive technology and innovation further. In the recent years, Israel has tied up with Southeast Asian technological hub, Singapore. Established in 1997, The Singapore-Israel Industrial Research & Development (SIIRD) R&D partnership has been a driving force in the region.

The collaboration and inter-relationship of both countries aims to develop technologies and innovations and improve the existing ones for its commercialization. Grantees of SIIRD are given funding which will be utilized for R&D projects that pass the Board’s screening. Among those SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) who have received funding and participated in the program includes BBS Telecommunications developing technologies for the PABX systems, key phone and voicemail systems, and integration of computer-aided telephone systems. Israeli derma-cosmetics company Leorex TLD aimed to develop cosmetic lines for the Asian market. They have tied up with Singaporean APN Nutripharm in the research and development of cosmetics targeted for Asians.

Such collaboration proves vital not just for the companies involved, but for the expansion of technology in the region. Each partner also benefits from the joint effort during commercialization. This might be a good opportunity for Singapore to hold its solid grip on the title of a premier technological hub in Southeast Asia. But for Israel, this is a good way of exposing themselves and enhancing the competitive position they have held for a long time.

Singapore is one of the key players in the Southeast Asian economy. Over the course of the centuries, they have transformed themselves from a poor performing country with a nominal per capita GDP of around US$500 to the fifth highest among the cities in the world.

The country also ranks amongst the top industrial countries in the region with a macroeconomic stability that overpasses some of its neighboring countries. The SIIRD cooperation is bound to be one of the most significant programs for the country as it allows them to venture into a new horizon of focusing on technology. Industrialization through technology and innovation is one of the most viable ways of not just competing in the Southeast Asian region, but also being a key global player.

Singapore companies looking for an Israeli partner for their R&D project will not find it hard to look for one. A multi-faceted country with a great outlook for the future, Israel is a country teeming with talent. Their culture and history stems from the fusion of many different races, religion, and lifestyle. Understanding what your company goals are and the objective of the project can help you determine if you are dealing with the right company. One that shares your company culture and value should be a consideration to build a lasting relationship.

For Singaporeans looking for an R&D partner, a competitive edge needs to be your top highlight. Israeli companies who are in the forefront of their market would be highly beneficial in improving the quality of your project’s outcome. You should have the same goals and these goals are shared equally amongst your teams and key players. A good collaboration helps you stay ahead of the competition and allows you to focus all your energies in maintaining momentum.

Cost and risk sharing also has to be considered when looking for an Israeli R&D partner. Even though SIIRD provides the necessary funding, it is imperative that both companies share at least 30% of the actual project research and development, a solid relationship springs from having the same goals.

SIIRD will not endeavor to acquire any patents produced during the R&D agreement. The companies involved will have sole ownership of their technologies during its commercialization.

Both countries have had a cordial relationship in the past and the SIIRD project will deepen the relationship even further. It showcases the talents of both countries aiming to better existing technology and acquiring new ones in the process. Singapore companies looking for an Israeli partner will not find it hard to look for one just as long as you share the same goals and objectives. Beside providing grants and funding to SMEs,  SIIRD can also help you with R&D partner matchmaking so that you can reach out to more suitable partners.

Companies which would like to collaborate on a technological project has to meet on a specific platform to allow for an effective outcome. Under the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Program (SIIRD), joint research and development projects from qualified companies from both countries can receive funding from SIIRD. A Full-Scale R&D and Commercialization Project can get a co-funding cap of up to US$1 million which include up to US$30,000 for its commercialization activities. The agency can shoulder up to 50% of the total qualified project costs for a full duration of up to 2 years.

Under the Mini R&D and Commercialization Project Grant, SIIRD can shoulder up to 50% of the total qualified project costs with a maximum funding cap of US$200,000 which include up to a US$30,000 grant for commercialization purpose. Project duration shall not exceed one year. SIIRD also provides funding for Feasibility Studies provided they meet the qualifying specifications set out by SIIRD.

The amount of funding and the type of grant an SME (Small Medium Enterprise) can receive is dependent on the scope decided. Grant approvals for R&D projects are subject to assessment from independent professionals in both countries. Evaluated proposals are submitted to the Board of Approval which convenes two times per year

Established in 1997, the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD) has been continuously accepting grant applications for a decade now. The program is overseen by the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore and Israel Innovation Authority. EDB is Singapore’s leading government agency responsible for outlining strategies and executing plans to anchor Singapore’s global stature as a business and investment hub in the Asian region. The Israel Innovation Authority has been the country’s central agency which helps to manage the technology and innovation sector.

Before SME’s can apply for these research grants and funding, below are some things they will need to take note.

Under the SIIRD funding policies, private companies can apply for assistance by submitting their applications to the agency. Applying companies, both Singaporean-registered and Israeli-registered, are not to have more than 20% shareholding in their partnering companies. Project research and development activities will be done in both countries with each partner sharing at least 30% of the whole effort. Grants are only given to R&D projects that are viable for commercialization.

Singapore is strategically located in the Asian continent situated right within its center. It is the gateway between the East Indies, Central Asia, and almost every corner of the continent. Because of its strategic location, Singapore has played an important role in the continents early history. The country was colonized by the British, occupied by the Japanese, and finally became an independent Republic. Though the country and Israel has had a cordial relationship over the course of the centuries, the founding of the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation solidifies close ties.

Although it is not painfully difficult as one might possibly think, Israeli companies looking for a Singaporean partner must share the same business goals for effective collaboration. Singaporeans are known to be meticulous people who are driven to succeed. Companies looking for a Singaporean R&D partner should be able to understand the intricacies of Singaporean business behavior to facilitate an effective outcome.

Understanding the core value proposition and what the project is about will help you understand the concepts of delivery and task administration. Total immersion with your partnering company’s work culture will help you deal with and understand how they reliably fulfill their tasks. Because SIIRD requires participating companies to share at least 30% of the R&D work, having a structured guideline can be helpful for the fulfillment of timely deliverables.

Resource sharing is also one critical aspect of being able to reach your intended goals as it can bring more weight to your R&D project than on the actual product creation. A clear-cut definition and division of resources have to be considered so both members have the opportunity of improving their own systems. This limits initial outlay costs including product prototyping, research document access and much more.

As finance can be a crucial consideration before every actual production, results monitoring also has to be accorded with. Both companies must have a solid communication process to augment processes and have everything in place. This can be a key challenge considering that Singapore and Israel do not lay close to each other. The key challenge to good partnership often lies not with the location, but on how each company strikes a balance between R&D management and nurturing the partnering spirit. When this is achieved, the partnership is likely to succeed.

Israeli companies looking for the right Singaporean partner should not find it difficult to look for a partner but has to dig deeper into what their need to achieve. Singaporeans are industrious people who can reliably and cooperatively work with the right partnerships. SIIRD can also organize R&D partners matchmaking for companies in both countries looking for an R&D partner. This facilitation is a convenient way of reaching out to a company from either county having the same precepts and business objectives.

Today’s world economic progress lies within collaboration and friendship amongst countries to facilitate an effective transformation. This is the aim of the Singapore-Israel R&D Program which has been established since 1997. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Israel Innovation Authority are the partners of this joint venture which is in charge of facilitating and/or supporting joint projects in the industrial research and development sector. One of the main goals of this cooperation is to establish a solid friendship between both countries and garner successful commercialization of R&D projects from both sides via various means such as

providing grants for SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises), and SME funding.

As one of the global players, Singapore has always shown a strong economic stature being able to transform itself in the last 50 years.  The country has always shown a good capacity in handling its economic agility despite the lack of natural resources to support its increasing population. Singapore is now a thriving metropolis with an estimated GDP per capita of US$57,714, a far cry from the US$516 GDP of 1965.

Israel, on the other hand, is the gateway to the West and has been the staging ground of innovation and industrial research for more than a century. The World Economic Forum (WEF) Competitive Rankings Report of 2018 shows them at the 20^th spot with a macroeconomic stability of 99.1%. Israel also ranks on the WEF Report as one of the most highly industrialized countries capitalizing on infrastructure and ICT adoption. Their financial system has shown a tremendous increase landing on the 22^nd place.

Israel gathers its economic strength with world-class innovations ranking in the WEF in the 3^rd place. This is fueled by the country’s drive to gain a better edge in science where leading research facilities and institutions are located. The government is also geared towards procurement of policies for public research use. This government undertaking has led to a higher number of patents procured by the country over the years. Some of the reasons gathered for Singapore’s partnership with Israel was its dominant role in building technological advancements including funding of Metacafe, the 3^rd largest video sharing website in the world, the technological development behind Amazon products, development of the Philips Brilliance CT scanner, and many more.

The collaboration between the two countries is seen to be significant in both parts of the world as it opens a strong partnership to drive economic growth forward not just between countries, but also the neighbouring areas. This partnership and the open-door agreement will pave the way for other countries to globalize their local businesses which eventually would drive a strong economic performance in the Asian region.

Singapore’s strategic location and the SIIRD funding for SMEs will help globalize businesses in both countries. A total of 170 joint projects have been approved in the previous years. The joint venture is to drive economic growth by allowing the private sector from each country to utilize their manpower and support the bilateral industrial R&D partnership.

Research and development projects are focused on generating innovative breakthroughs from problems faced by our existing technologies. One such proposed project that has been included in the SIIRD funding was the development of digital scent which had been one of the most intriguing problems in multimedia experiencing. Companies involved aimed to develop digitally-enhanced scent modules which were to boost realistic cinematic experience.

Grant approvals for R&D projects are subject to assessment from independent professionals in both countries. Evaluated proposals are submitted to the Board of Approval which convenes two times per year. Qualified companies and research facilities could apply for the following SME grants: A Full-Scale R&D and Commercialization Project Grant, a Mini R&D Commercialization Project Grant, or a Feasibility Study Project Grant, which have an allotment of US$1 millions of funding cap, US$200,000 and US$30,000 respectively.

The importance of the R&D partnership between the companies of Singapore and the Israeli companies shows an envisioned future that is tied with the precepts of technological sustainability. It creates strong ties that benefit both countries fiscally and will positively boost economic growths.

SIIRD also showcases the powers held by both counties in the Asian Region, giving both of them a significantly structured technological development and positioning. This outcome-driven approach towards technological innovation and development is also critical for Singapore because it taps into the hidden talents of its people which is needed for the economic growth of the country.

And despite being relatively young, Israel has always shown resiliency to economic volatility. The country has been a global player in technological advancement, working on the hindsight of every possible convenience we now are simply taking for granted. InnovationIsrael.org reports the country as one of the global leaders when it comes to innovation and comes next after the US as “the most important high-tech center in the world”

The Singapore-Israel partnership is a strong indication of how solid the relationship of both countries are and the project has no silo but focuses on technological innovation that will help entrepreneurs, multinational companies, and investors of both countries. SIIRD is bound in helping both countries by sharing the risks involved in the R&D project. SIIRD is not to share or acquire the Intellectual Property Rights of products and technologies developed under the SIIRD program nor will it require collateral or equity from participating companies.