Suzhou Immersion Programme 2024
Suzhou Immersion Programme 2024, jointly organised by NUSRI Suzhou and Suzhou Dushu Lake Entrepreneurship and Development Centre , was held from 30 July to 2 August 2024. The four-day long boot camp garnered a cohort of over 40 innovative and entrepreneurial talents, comprising 17 teams from Singapore and China. Among the teams, five were from the NUS GRIP.
Focused on areas such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, new energy and intelligent manufacturing, the Immersion Programme was designed to help accelerate the commercialisation process and foster entrepreneurial spirit by providing participants with valuable resources and guidance. Through an enriching combination of training, industrial visits, project roadshow, as well as 1-1 business matching, the programme offers a chance to connect deeply with peers and start-up ecosystem players. Participants from diverse backgrounds were connected to various stakeholders of the ecosystem, e.g. potential business partners, government agencies, entrepreneurs and investors, to help validate their product-market fit.
To help participants enhance their global perspective and gain insights into market environments and emerging trends in China, dedicated mentors with China-Singapore experience were invited to provide a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems, business management, policy applications, legal regulations, investment and financing strategies, and other key entrepreneurial elements. As participants immersed themselves in the programme, they gained valuable insights into the core concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship, including an understanding of start-up ecosystems in Suzhou and beyond.
The event featured 1-1 business matching session specifically for Singaporean tech start-ups to boost them with essential insights and resources for quicker progress and establish their presence in China. Project leaders had the opportunity to engage in close discussions with companies, investment and financing institutions, and potential partners in relevant fields. The discussions focused on topics such as research and development technologies, policy interpretation, market trends and investment prospects. This provided tailored guidance to help tech companies enhance their core competitiveness and commercial value, supporting their future development.
The boot camp culminated in a Roadshow and Awards Ceremony, where more than 10 teams pitched their innovative start-up ideas to a panel of judges, industry experts, and fellow participants. The pitches showcased a spectrum of creative solutions, reflecting the diverse range of talents and perspectives brought together by the boot camp.
