The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise have launched the 10th edition of the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge (SPC) at Singapore Maritime Week 2026. This year’s challenge introduces expanded support to help maritime start-ups scale, secure funding, and deploy their solutions effectively.
The event, attended by over 200 international start-ups, investors, and industry partners, highlights Singapore’s role as a hub for maritime innovation. Since its inception in 2018, PIER71 has supported approximately 170 start-ups, collectively raising over S$150m in funding. Notably, Groundup.ai, an SPC alumnus, has successfully expanded across Asia and the Middle East, securing S$5.4m in Series A funding.
This year’s SPC introduces two new initiatives: Mentors-in-Residence Plus (MIR+) and Venture2Capital. MIR+ pairs start-ups with experienced maritime professionals and overseas accelerator partners to facilitate market entry and expansion. Venture2Capital enhances access to funding by connecting start-ups with investors and offering structured training for fundraising.
Additionally, MPA has launched an innovation track under the Maritime Cluster Fund – Business Development scheme to bolster maritime companies’ innovation capabilities in Singapore. This initiative aims to foster a vibrant and globally connected maritime ecosystem.
SPC 2026 will expand its global outreach, targeting key markets such as China, France, India, and the USA. Applications are now open, offering 20 innovation opportunities across four areas: Next-Generation Port, Smart Shipping, Maritime Green Technologies, and Digitalisation. Shortlisted start-ups will participate in a 10-week SPC Accelerate programme, culminating in a grand finale on 11 November 2026.
MPA Chief Executive Ang Wee Keong emphasised the importance of scaling start-ups to deliver real impact, whilst NUS Senior Vice President Tan Sian Wee highlighted the need for solutions to be deployed at scale. Applications for SPC 2026 are open until 15 June 2026.
