PIER71 ‘Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined at BLOCK71’ is here to reimagine innovation in the maritime and maritime-related industries. Founded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the National University of Singapore, through its entrepreneurial arm, NUS Enterprise, we aim to grow Maritime Singapore into an innovative maritime ecosystem. Supported by the Singapore Shipping Association, we attract talents, create opportunities for exchange of knowledge and ideas, attract investments into start-ups and accelerate ventures. We run programmes designed to uncover opportunities within the industry and support entrepreneurs from ideation to acceleration. We provide avenues to access various markets, be introduced to demand drivers, technology solution providers, investors, and more.PIER71 also represents a budding and increasingly vibrant ecosystem of stakeholders who are keen to digitalise and create the next wave of maritime innovation.One of PIER71’s flagship programmes Smart Port Challenge, recruits start-ups to tackle challenges identified by the maritime corporates and advance digital transformation in the industry. Shortlisted ventures then enter PIER71 Accelerate, Singapore’s first market validation and business development programme curated for technology entrepreneurs intending to enter the maritime industry. PIER71 Accelerate is an 8-week mentor-led programme. Teams will be exposed to weekly masterclasses adapted from the lean start-up methodology, networking events, domain-knowledge sharing sessions, pitching classes and more. The programme also includes sponsored incubation space at BLOCK71 Singapore. Aimed to advance digital transformation in the maritime industry, PIER71 Smart Port Challenge welcomes start-ups globally to tackle pressing challenges identified by the maritime corporates with their technologies. Teams will meet and pitch to challenge owners and win cash prizes up to $10,000.