On January 17, 2025, the “Unlock Entrepreneurship Opportunities In Greater Bay Area In China Info Session” was successfully held at the National University of Singapore. The event was jointly organized by NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII), Guangzhou Development District Talent Service Group, NUS Technology Transfer and Innovation Platform (TTI), and BLOCK71, with strong support from Enterprise Singapore and the Institution of Engineers Singapore Accelerator (IES-INCA). The conference attracted over a hundred elite professionals from various industries, including corporate executives and technical specialists, industry association representatives, investment professionals, academic researchers, and university students.
BLOCK71 Guangzhou
Since its establishment, NUS GRTII has been at the forefront of technological innovation, actively engaging in numerous activities ranging from technology exchanges and entrepreneurship mentoring to resource matching, thereby expanding deep collaborations within the global industry ecosystem. Looking forward, its innovation incubation platform—BLOCK71 Guangzhou—will continue to leverage the robust capabilities of NUS to connect with global innovation resources and construct an interdisciplinary, cross-sector, and cross-industry ecosystem. This initiative aims to attract and nurture high-tech, quality enterprises and projects, injecting strong momentum into the technological innovation and industrial upgrading of Huangpu District in Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area.
Building a Preferred Destination for Singapore Enterprises Investing in China
Located in the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, where President Xi Jinping and then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong personally promoted this national-level bilateral cooperation project, the Institute represents a model of deep-rooted historical ties and development aspirations between the two nations. Over the past decade, under the guidance of Singapore-China friendship and cooperation, the Knowledge City has established deep connections with top innovation resources such as the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. It has evolved into the largest science and education innovation matrix for Singapore in China. Major international companies such as DBS Bank and Insignia have chosen the Knowledge City as their strategic base to expand into the Chinese and global markets. Moreover, over 90 Singaporean companies including Lai En Biotech, Baiji Biotech, and New Fruit Agriculture have selected the Knowledge City as their preferred entry point into the Greater Bay Area, setting the stage for a promising future.
2. Keynote Speech: Illuminating Wisdom and Focusing on the Future
Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President Ecosystem Building
During the keynote speech session, Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President for Ecosystem Development at NUS, delivered a presentation titled “Embrace the New Innovation Horizon.” He elaborated on the global ecosystem of the BLOCK71 incubator from the perspective of building a startup ecosystem and highlighted innovative projects at NUS that encourage student entrepreneurship. Professor Tee remarked that the collision of ideas is invaluable in driving innovation, likening such meaningful exchanges and collaborations to the fuel for innovation that sparks transformative progress.
Professor Meng Qiang, Director of the NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute
Following this, Professor Meng Qiang, Director of the NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute, introduced the Institute’s development journey, core activities, and future vision. He affirmed that the Institute would persist in its innovation-driven strategy, strengthen cooperation with domestic and international universities, research institutions, and enterprises, and promote the transformation and application of technological achievements. Professor Meng stressed that NUS GRTII is committed to nurturing more innovative talents to provide robust support for the sustainable development of the region.
Associate Professor Yu Haoyong, Associate Director (Research) of the NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute
Next, Associate Professor Yu Haoyong, Deputy Director (Research) of the Institute, presented “From Research Lab to China Market through NUS GRTII.” His presentation recounted the innovation process driven by societal needs—from identifying market demands and securing funding, to developing innovative solutions and prototypes, applying for patent protection, and finally, conducting real-world testing and commercialization. He also shared practical experiences related to technology licensing to local companies, offering valuable insights into the commercialization of research achievements.
Brian Koh, Director of NUS Enterprise
Brian Koh, Director of NUS Enterprise, then discussed “Entrepreneurship in GBA: the Way of NUS GRTII.” He outlined NUS’s technological innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, including aspects such as intellectual property commercialization, talent development, and startup incubation. He particularly highlighted the strategic importance of the Greater Bay Area in global innovation, emphasizing its abundant innovation resources and favorable policies. The Institute has built a comprehensive incubation support system that offers startups professional guidance, market validation, and access to global networks. To date, 13 startups—spanning high-end intelligent devices and medical technology—have successfully joined the Institute.
Subsequently, a representative from the Guangzhou Development Zone Talent Group delivered a pre-recorded video presentation titled “Entrepreneurship in Huangpu: Talent, Policy, and Ecosystem.” The presentation detailed Huangpu District’s unique advantages in entrepreneurship, including abundant academic talent, a well-established startup ecosystem, and supportive measures such as tax incentives and startup subsidies, highlighting the promising prospects for Singaporean enterprises in Huangpu.
3. Roundtable Discussion: Inspiring Exchanges and Thought-Provoking Insights
The roundtable dialogue was moderated by Ms. Fu Xiaofang, Senior Associate Director of NUS GRTII. Panelists included Tan Yinglan, former partner at Sequoia Capital and founding managing partner of Insignia Ventures Partners; Dr. Johnson Ng, founder of JN Medsy—a startup incubated at the Institute; and Mr. Xing Xiaoyang, founder of Hailego Cross-border E-commerce Co., Ltd. Centered on the theme “Entrepreneurship in GBA – Start from Huangpu,” the dialogue focused on the opportunities embedded within the Greater Bay Area’s entrepreneurial environment and explored Huangpu District’s unique advantages and development potential as an incubation hub. Panelists openly shared their extensive entrepreneurial experiences and insights, offering valuable and actionable advice to participants. Additionally, as founders of incubated enterprises, Dr. Huang and Mr. Xing highlighted the comprehensive support provided by BLOCK71 Guangzhou to bolster their companies' growth.
The “Unlock Entrepreneurship Opportunities In Greater Bay Area In China Info Session” served as a pragmatic platform for diverse stakeholders to exchange ideas and resources, forging connections that spark innovative progress. In the spirit of “Innovation for the Benefit of Humanity, Entrepreneurship to Realize Dreams,” the BLOCK71 Guangzhou incubation platform of NUS GRTII stands ready to provide holistic, end-to-end professional services to nurture startup growth, ultimately driving the creation of significant achievements in the Greater Bay Area.
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