The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore, have launched the 10th edition of the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge (SPC) at Singapore Maritime Week 2026, with expanded support to help maritime start-ups scale, secure funding, and deploy their solutions.
Building on nearly a decade of developing early-stage start-ups, this year’s SPC introduces two new initiatives – Mentors-in-Residence Plus (MIR+) and Venture2Capital – to strengthen commercialization and growth, the duo said in a statement on Wednesday.
MIR+ pairs start-ups looking to scale with experienced maritime professionals and overseas accelerator partners to support market entry and expansion.
Venture2Capital strengthens access to funding by connecting start-ups with investors and providing structured training and support for fundraising. These initiatives will extend PIER71’s role beyond early-stage acceleration to supporting start-ups in scaling and entering new markets.
In addition, MPA has recently introduced an innovation track under the Maritime Cluster Fund – Business Development scheme.
This aims to anchor maritime companies’ innovation, technology, and venture-building capabilities in Singapore, encouraging them to scale from Singapore while contributing to a vibrant and globally connected maritime ecosystem.
Since 2018, PIER71 has supported some 170 start-ups, which have collectively raised over S$150 million ($118 million) in funding.
One example is SPC alumnus Groundup.ai which uses artificial intelligence to predict equipment failures and optimize asset performance. The company has since scaled across Asia and the Middle East, securing S$5.4 million ($4.24 million) in Series A funding following an initial S$2.3 million ($1.81 million) seed round.
According to the statement, SPC will expand its global outreach in 2026 through targeted engagement in key markets.
These include China, France, India, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and the USA.
These engagements will connect start-ups with investors and maritime partners, while showcasing opportunities in Singapore’s maritime ecosystem.
The program will introduce 20 innovation opportunities across four areas — Next-Generation Port, Smart Shipping, Maritime Green Technologies, and Digitalization, supported by 19 innovation partners, with more expected to join.
Shortlisted start-ups will undergo a ten-week SPC Accelerate program, which provides tailored mentorship, workshops and opportunities for market validation.
Following the program, start-ups may apply for MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund to support proof-of-concept, pilot projects and product development.
The fund has supported 68 start-ups, with over 30 innovative technologies deployed in the maritime sector.
“As SPC enters its 10th edition, the focus is not just on generating new ideas, but helping start-ups scale and deliver real impact,
“By strengthening connections between start-ups, industry and investors, we are supporting more solutions to move from pilots to deployment, and strengthening Singapore’s position as a platform for maritime innovation,” said Ang Wee Keong, MPA’s Chief Executive.
Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), said the key challenge in maritime innovation is not building solutions, but ensuring these can be deployed at scale.
“Since 2018, PIER71 has supported nearly 170 start-ups, which have collectively raised over S$150 million in funding. This is a good start, but more will be done to help these companies overcome barriers to adoption and expand into global markets,
“With Mentors-in-Residence Plus and Venture2Capital, we are bringing start-ups closer to industry and investors, strengthening support for their international growth,” he added.