Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding between Singapore Maritime Institute and the University of Turku on Maritime Research Collaboration

The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) and the University of Turku (UTU), Finland, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and will continue to jointly promote and develop maritime research and development (R&D) activities. The MoU, which was first initiated in November 2016, was renewed by SMI Executive Director, Mr Tan Cheng Peng, and UTU Rector, Professor Jukka Kola.

The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) and the University of Turku (UTU), Finland, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and will continue to jointly promote and develop maritime research and development (R&D) activities. The MoU, which was first initiated in November 2016, was renewed by SMI Executive Director, Mr Tan Cheng Peng, and UTU Rector, Professor Jukka Kola.

• Under this agreement, SMI UTU will
  continue to jointly promote and develop maritime research and development (R&D) activities
• deepen existing initiatives and explore new maritime research activities over the next five (5) years to foster bilateral maritime R&D collaboration between academic research entities from Finland and Singapore.

A key highlight and outcome under the MoU was the Finland-Singapore Maritime Innovation Camps organised in Singapore in 2018 and 2020. The Innovation Camp seeks to cultivate maritime innovation among university students in Singapore and Finland, while creating value for industry partners and to grow the maritime innovation ecosystem in both countries.

Quotes
Mr Tan Cheng Peng, Executive Diector, SMI, said “SMI is pleased to extend our research partnership with UTU to deepen bilateral cooperations between Finland and Singapore’s maritime research community and jointly advance our maritime R&D capabilities. I look forward to a fruitful international collaboration between SMI and UTU.”.

Professor Kalle-Antti Suominen, Vice-Rector (Research), UTU, said “UTU greatly values the collaboration with SMI to the benefit of the maritime research community and the maritime sector in both countries – Singapore and Finland. It is our pleasure to take our collaboration with SMI to a new phase.”.

About University of Turku (UTU)
The University of Turku is a multidisciplinary higher education and research university in South-West Finland. Turku is the oldest city in Finland, first mentioned in writing in 1229. The University was established in 1920 and currently it is a community of 20 000 students and 3 300 staff members. South-West Finland is a major port and ship-building region on the Baltic sea, and the University of Turku plays the leading academic role in this region. With seven faculties including natural sciences, law and business, its profile builds on interdisciplinary research. The strategic theme “Sea and maritime studies” covers environmental research, cultural aspects of sea and coast, and especially ship-building, logistics and port operations.

For more information, please visit www.utu.fi

About the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI)
The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) is a joint effort by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Established in April 2011, SMI develops strategies and programmes to achieve its mission with key focus areas in sectors such as port, shipping and maritime services. SMI charts the maritime research strategy and promotes greater industry-academia research and development (R&D) collaborations to be undertaken in Singapore.

Through a whole-of-government approach, SMI drives initiatives with industry-wide impacts to enhance the overall competitiveness of the local maritime industry, and to strengthen research and development (R&D) capabilities in support of Singapore as a global maritime knowledge hub.

For more information, please visit www.maritimeinstitute.sg