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

SINGAPORE – 11 NOV 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 Hub¹. The Centre will support enterprises and startups, as well as scale the growth of Singapore-based companies under IMDA Accreditation and IMDA Spark programmes² 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 Centre³, 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 unicorns⁵ and more than 10 companies recognised as global industry leaders by research and consulting firms, Gartner and market intelligence firm, CB Insights⁶. 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 environment⁷ supported by both AWS and the IMDA Technical Acceleration Lab⁸ 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.”