2. SPC2025 was officially launched by Mr Teo Eng Dih, MPA Chief Executive, Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), and supporting partner Plug and Play, represented by Mr Jupe Tan, Managing Partner APAC, at Echelon 2025 – Asia’s premier tech and startup conference. The PIER71™ event drew over 200 international startups, venture capitalists, and maritime partners. The opening ceremony also featured a panel discussion “Scaling Smart: Maritime Startups, Strategic Capital, and Global Growth”, which provided valuable insights for startups navigating today’s complex investment landscape. Please refer to Annex A for the SPC2025 launch programme. 

3. To broaden its global outreach, PIER71™ will conduct 15 roadshows across 13 cities  in June, in partnership with its global innovation network. Locations include the United States, Europe, South Korea, China, and India. This will be the first time roadshows are held in Los Angeles and Boston (US), Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, as well as in China and India.

4. SPC 2025 features 15 challenge statements spanning four focus areas: Maritime Green Technologies, Smart Shipping, Next-Generation Ports, and Digitalisation (see Annex B), supported by over 20 innovation partners . Shortlisted startups will participate in a 10-week SPC Accelerate programme, which now offers a more targeted mentorship structure.  Participating startups will receive tailored guidance, hands-on workshops, and opportunities for market validation based on their specific stage of development.

 

5. Upon completion of the programme, participants may apply for support from MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund for proof-of-concept, pilot projects, and product development. The top startups will be awarded cash prizes at the SPC2025 Great Circle finals in November 2025. Startups can submit their proposals at https://pier71.sg by 11 July 2025.

6. Five maritime technology (MarineTech) startups from SPC2024 were supported, bringing the total number of grant recipients to 66, with over 27 innovative technologies already deployed in the maritime industry following successful trials. The latest round of startup grant recipients will support the development of a virtual fuel sensor (VFS), an intelligent document processing (IDP) platform for maritime documentation, an AI/ML platform to optimise commercial operations, and trials of next-generation batteries for maritime applications, including sodium-ion and lithium-sulphur solutions. Please see Annex C for information on the five startups. 

7. Since its inception in 2018, PIER71™ has supported close to 150 startups, which have collectively raised more than S$130 million in venture capital. In 2025 alone, four alumni – Seadronix, Clear Robotics, STAX Engineering, and Groundup.ai – secured a combined total of S$34 million in investment funding. Seadronix raised S$15 million in Series B funding – the largest amount raised by any PIER71™ startup to date – to expand global deployment of its AI-powered autonomous ship navigation technology. 

8. Mr Teo Eng Dih, MPA’s Chief Executive, said, “The Smart Port Challenge is a valuable platform to advance innovations for the maritime sector bringing new ideas and solutions for development leading to industry pilots. The engagement and exchange of insights between industry and startups in tackling real-world problem statements strengthens Singapore’s maritime innovation ecosystem and helps accelerate the development of practical solutions. We look forward to the innovative solutions that will emerge from SPC 2025.”

9. Dr Tan Sian Wee, Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), NUS, said, “The future of maritime innovation is anchored in global connectivity, convergence, and ever-deeper industry integration. Since its launch in 2018, PIER71 has catalysed more than 110 innovation opportunities in partnership with over 60 leading maritime corporates. With Singapore recognised as the world’s top maritime centre for the 11th consecutive year, our innovation ecosystem is poised to make a global impact. By joining forces with industry stakeholders across the ecosystem, we are building a resilient and sustainable maritime future—one that is innovative, collaborative, and ready to navigate the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”