AUG 2016
NBCP and Apples & Spears support Asean market entrance ScandAsia.dk
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NBAS & The Norwegian Embassy’s Beach Party
16 AUG 20
Coming Events
Where : Siloso Beach Walk, Sand Bar at Sentosa island When : Friday 26 Aug, 19:30 - 23:00 B E A C H P A R T Y !! Norwegians know how to party, and this autumn will be no exception. Every autumn newcomers and old friends alike are invited to a night of mingling and fun! This year, we are headed to the beach to celebrate our beautiful tropical surroundings. Norwegian Business Association Singapore, NBAS, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Singapore are pleased to invite all our friends to a Beach Party at Coastes (Sand Bar) on Sentosa! Bring your spouse, partner or friends! This is a night you don’t want to miss! SGD 80 per person – includes food and beverages* *free-flow drinks until 10.30PM We strongly encourage using online payment
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(PayPal or Credit Card) upon registration (multiple registrations are now available – look for the ‘add delegate button’ at the bottom of the registration page). Register on www.nbas.org. sg by Friday 19 August 2016.
SWEA’s welcome dinner at the Swedish Residence Where : 39 Andrew Road, Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, Singapore When : Tuesday 6 Sep, 10:00 - 16:00 Swedish Women’s Educational Association in Singapore welcomes ever yone back from Summer holiday with a beautiful dinner. Here new, old, and staying Sweo’s will have the change to meet, greet, and eat delicious dinner in the lovely surroundings of the Swedish residence.The dinner will take place 6 September 2016 at 39 Andrew Road, Singapore, beginning at 10am. Save the date – more info is about to come!
Nordic Golf Tournament Where : Laguna National Golf & Country Club, 11 Laguna Golf Green, S-488047Laguna National Golf & Country Club When : Wednesday 14 September, 11:00 - 21:00 It is soon time for the annual Nordic Golf Tournament, which will be organized by DABS and SBAS, and what better way to warm up for the upcoming Singapore F1 Grand Prix? The Golf Tournament will take place at Laguna National Golf & Country Club, starting with a scrumptious lunch, follow by 18 holes of golf at the PGA Rated Masters Course, and finishing off with an excellent BBQ Dinner along with the announcements of the tournament winners. There will be lots of prizes for various competitions. The total price is SGD 285 per golfer (SGD 135 if you are already a Laguna National Golf & Country Club member) – the price includes lunch, dinner, soft drinks, beer, wine, golf, and competitions.
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Registration starts 11:00 am, Dinner starts 7:00 pm. Please note this is a rain or shine event. Wish to bring additional guests for the dinner? The cost will then be SGD 85 per pax.
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News Brief
Swedish National Day Singapore celebration
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hen Sweden’s National Day 2016 was celebrated in Singapore, 200 people gathered at the Swiss Club. In his opening address, Ambassador Håkan Jevrell welcomed the Swedish community and Angelica Lundberg, the Swedish priest, also gave a speech. The Swedish national anthem, as well as traditional Swedish summer songs were also sung. The guests then enjoyed a traditional Swedish summer buffet. The National Day celebration was arranged
4 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
in collaboration between the Embassy of Sweden, SBAS (Swedish Business Association of Singapore), Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA), the Church of Sweden in Singapore, and the Swedish Supplementary Educational School. The National day committee extends a big thank you to all the sponsors who made the celebration possible. Source: Embassy of Sweden, Singapore
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August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 5
News Brief
Sweden’s new Asia strategy confirmed
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n 22 June Sweden adopted its new strategy for regional development cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and the Pacific Region for the period 2016– 2021. Regional development cooperation in Asia and the Pacific Region will focus on strengthening regional actors and states to take greater responsibility concerning the environment and climate, human rights, democracy and gender equality. The focus is to be on cross-border challenges, where solutions can best be sought in regional cooperation. “We focus regional development assistance in Asia and the Pacific Region to the places in
the region facing the greatest challenges – in the human rights area and with regard to the effects of climate change and environmental damage,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin. Asia and the Pacific Region will be hardest hit by climate change. The effects are particularly evident for small island states in the Pacific Ocean. “We now have the opportunity to contribute to strengthened regional cooperation on adaptation, renewable energy and other matters.” The new regional strategy amounts to SEK 300 million per year. In total, the strategy encompasses SEK 1800 million for the strategy period.
Berit Basse bids Singapore officials farewell
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hank you for 4 good years of deepening DK-SG relations”. In the first week of July Denmark’s Ambassador to Singapore, Berit Basse, has paid visits to Singapore Ministers to say farewell, paving the way for a new Ambassador.
Art Curate, Singapore: Norwegian star as Guest Chef
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sben Holmboe Bang, the Norwegian star Chef, have been announced as the guest chef for the third edition of ‘Art at Curate’ dining series from the 16th to 25th September 2016 at Curate restaurant located at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. The 33-year old head-chef and co-owner of Norway’s first three-starred Michelin restaurant, Maaemo, located in Oslo, will feature the event to display the tastes of Norway. “During my guest stint at Art at Curate, I would like guests to experience a connection with Norway and its history. I am looking forward to bringing a taste of Norway to Singapore.” Esben announced in a press release. Maaemo is a rising star on the Scandinavian culinary scene that quickly received two Michelin stars after its opening in 2010. The Norwegian restaurants have not looked back since, and received Michelin’s highest rating of three stars earlier this year.
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Esben have been the main catalyst behind the restaurant’s success. His creative style of cooking have earned him a listing as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Chefs in the World and the Elite Traveler Magazine’s ‘2016 Young Chef of the Year.’ award. Guests at the third edition of ‘Art at Curate’ in Singapore, will experience dishes prepared by Esben such as Emulsion of raw Norwegian oysters from Bømlo, Scallop from the coast of Trondheim grilled in the shell over burning embers and his renowned signature, Langoustine “signature”, pickled spruce and rapeseed, and a range of other dishes inspired by Norway as a country. “The food that we cook at Maaemo is rooted in nature, culture and heritage. We cook food that reflects who we are and where we are, with inspirations from the past as well as a sense of innovation,” Esben said.
News Brief
Scandinavian Business Seating highlights HAG Capisco
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s people are returning from their annual leave, Scandinavian Business Seating (SBS) – a designer and producer of Scandinavian designed office chairs – highlights the extraordinary HAG Capisco chair from Norway, intended both for the home and work environment. Today’s workplace and advanced technology, forces us to sit for countless hours every day. Those who care about the health of their employees and families and want to prevent future back issues from sitting, you should explore the HAG Capisco chair! “The original HAG Capisco chair is a design classic that has been around for the last 32 years. As the largest office chair manufacturer in Europe, the HAG Capisco chair is still today the best- selling chair under SB Seating, which is based on its unique design and comfort that makes it a leader amongst chairs worldwide,” says Henrik Meltesen, Regional Sales Manager SEA, SB Seating. “Comfor t comes from movement and variation, which HAG chairs inspire, better than any other chair in the market, together with exceptional posture. In addition, the HAG Capisco enables the user to work at all heights and positions, which makes it the ideal chair to use at height adjustable workstation.” “On multiple occasions employees at companies that use our chairs, contact us to purchase a chair to maintain the same level of comfort when sitting at home “ adds Henrik. The HAG Capisco chair was designed by the pioneering designer and artist Peter Opsvik in 1984 and is known for both its exceptional comfort and as a design classic. As the only chair in the market, that allows you to sit at all heights, which makes it extremely versatile and fit for all type of purposes and people. The chair is now available in Asia at SB Seating - Making the world a better place to sit!
August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7
News Brief
Danish environment and food minister’s Singapore visit
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anish Minister of Food and the Environment, Esben Lunde Larsen visited Singapore to attend the Singapore International Water Week, along with Danish and international companies and global decisions makers. The minister made time for a number of visits and attended many events where he kicked off his trip by visiting three companies Norbreeze who brought the Danish juice darling, Joe & the Juice, to Singapore; Grundfos, worldfamous pump-manufacturer; and Singapore’s own Sky Greens (the world’s first vertical farm using minimal space, water and energy resources in their production of vegetables). In meeting Danish companies Esben Lunde Larseon discussed the obstacles and cooperation oppor tunities they are experiencing when exporting water technology in Southeast Asia. The Minister held a speech at the Danish Seamen’s Church on Sunday 10 July, and attending the service and a followed by lunch. Directly after that Mr Larsen attended the Water Leaders Summit as par t of Singapore International Water Week (the global platform to share and co-create innovative water solutions), where he took part in a panel discussion: ‘From End-User Engagement Point of View: Aligning and Working with Public and Industrial Users’. The export of Danish water technology has increased circa 25 percent in less than 10 years, and many Danish companies are leading the way. In the future, shor tage of water will be a worldwide challenge, since climate changes and an increasing population will pressure the water resources. The focus at the summit was the increasing demand of water technology, which
8 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
saves water and reduces the environmental impact. This summit presented an exclusive highlevel gathering of global water industry leaders for exchanges with government regulators and policy think-tanks to discuss solutions to pressing water issues. In 2016, the three-day Summit put the focus squarely on water in the urban context, along the theme “Water and Cities: Pathways to Sustainability and Resilience”. The Danish minister also met, among other companies, with the Danish leading engineering, design and consultancy company Ramboll at the Danish Pavillion, with Mr Mor ten Kabell, Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs of Copenhagen, in attendance. At the Water Week Wateville was also displayed – a 20,000 brick LEGO town that had beeb relocated to Singapore. The 3D LEGO model showed how Danish companies can contribute to solving global water challenges through state-of-the-art technologies. When it comes to water technology, Danish companies are leading the way, and Danish water technology might help managing huge global challenges, and at the same time create growth and jobs in Denmark. “Danish companies are front-runners within water technology, and I am very proud of the fact that they deliver everything from energy producing sewage works to pumps and valves from Africa to Asia. Denmark has a great position at the international market, where we go from aid support to create business in other countries,” said the minister.
News Brief
Slush Asia arrives to Singapore in 2016
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lush, the global start-up movement based in Helsinki, will make its debut in Southeast Asia in Singapore on the 20 September 2016 during the inaugural Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH) at the Resorts World Convention Center in Sentosa. Slush Singapore is arranged together with Techventure, the major innovation and enterprise event arranged by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Singapore.
“Today Southeast Asia is attracting a huge amount of funding and top tech talent to its rapidly developing markets. Singapore is a perfect hotspot for connecting the Western investors and businesses with the regional ones. The timing for Slush Singapore could not be better”, says Anna Ratala, Head of Slush Singapore. Slush is a student-driven non-profit movement launched in 2008 in Helsinki.The movement’s first event was visited by 300 people, but have today
grown to 15.000 attendances. Besides Finland, Slush have gone global with events in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore. Slush Singapore will bring together start-up ventures and entrepreneurs with international investors, executives and media. The movement’s objective is to form an entrepreneureal community to help start-ups succeed globally. Slush Singapore is expected to be attended by 1000 visitors. Launching an event in Singapore is not a coincidence. In 2015, Singapore was ranked amongst the top 10 Global Startup Ecosystems by Compass.co (formerly known as Star tup Genome) and offer good funding opportunities, market reach and startup experience. According to Slush, Singapore is the premier star tup launchpad of Southeast Asia. “Considering the suppor t and funding available, we should see more local and regional startups with big breakthroughs. The key is in building an ecosystem that facilitates the right kind of matchmaking between investors and startups. Slush Singapore wants to help with exactly that”, Ratala says.
Singapore prohibits moist snuff
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mbassy of Sweden, Singapore highlights an upcoming change in Singaporean law, which will affect the Scandinavian’s who consumer smokeless tobacco, or so called ‘snus’: The import of snuff to Singapore becomes prohibited on 1 August, 2016. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is banning emerging tobacco products as a preemptive measure to protect public health against the known and potential harms of such products. This will be done via the Prohibited Tobacco Products Regulations made under Section 15 of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. The ban is being implemented in two phases, where the second phase (with effect from 1 August 2016) – is a ban on emerging tobacco products existing in the local market. This is to allow for businesses to adjust their operating models and deplete their existing stocks of such products. These products include: nasal snuff, oral snuff, Gutkha, khaini and zarda. The ban is part of the ongoing enhancements to existing tobacco control efforts in Singapore. Besides protecting the public from the health risks associated with the consumption of emerging tobacco products, the ban is aimed at ensuring that the targeted emerging tobacco products do not gain a foothold or become entrenched in the Singapore market. The ban will prevent these products from stimulating demand for and thereby increasing the prevalence of tobacco consumption. It will also prevent such products from becoming “gateway” or “starter” products for non-smokers, writes MOH. In the current situation it is not forbidden to impor t snuff to Singapore. However, one must pay duty on what you bring in, no matter how small the quantity of man with himself. Snuff is classified under HS Code 2403.99.40. During this Code classified all kinds of smokeless tobacco, “snuff ” is among the products specifically mentioned. Goods with the specified code number is toll of SGD 388 per kg. Customs Agency information to travellers is available at Singapore’s customs authority website. August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 9
NBCP and Apples & Spears supports Asean market ent By Joakim Persson
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ordic Business Council Philippines (NBCP) is a Manila-based trade & investment and business support organization between the Nordic and Baltic countries and the
Philippines. Apples & Spears is a Singapore-based market entry consultancy that suppor ts Scandinavian start-ups and SMEs in exploring opportunities to provide their products and/or services to the Southeast Asian markets. NBCP and Apples & Spears have partnered
10 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
up in 2016 to strengthen their regional presence, and to provide broader range of in-depth market knowledge for the clients of the two businesses. The two have found what they believe is the perfect match. “We are ver y happy to have found the right partner in the Philippines. Nordic Business Council Philippines with their solid local market knowledge, extensive network and invaluable connections was the highest on our partner wish list,” says Sandra Appelqvist, co-founder of Apples & Spears.
”Thanks to the partnership, we are better positioned to reach out to potential clients, but we can provide a wider geographical range of services to our existing clients. Also, our way of working and objectives are well aligned, and as we are both small organizations, so it makes sense to craft partnerships,” says NBCP Executive Director Joona Selin. This partnership introduces a new channel par tner for NBCP’s market entr y consulting services. “Asean [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] integration fur ther stresses the importance of having a regional approach to Southeast Asia. While our focus is on the Philippines, the partnership with Apples & Spears adds a key element to our regional network, enabling us to serve our members and clients even better.” Commenting further on what they foresee with this new co-operation Apples & Spears say: “Our partnership with NCBP is part of our strategy to build a strong local partner network with expertise in the region. Since many of the companies we are talking to have a regional perspective on their market entry strategy, it is only natural for us to ensure deeper cooperation and relationships in the most important markets. The Philippines is one of them. The goal with our partnership with NCBP is to take on shared projects, but also to be able to refer clients to each other.” “For our clients, who often start their regional market entr y with Singapore as a hub, the Philippines is another intriguing growth market,” explains Apples & Spears co‐founder Agneta Spjuth. “Most companies planning a market entry in Southeast Asia have a long-term regional agenda, which we want to facilitate by building up a strong partner network within Asean,” says Sandra Appelqvist. Apples & Spears are in ongoing dialogues to broaden their network in the region. “When we talk about partners, we also include other types of competencies than we ourselves or partners, like NBCP, can provide. Our network also consists of local companies and consultants within HR/recruitment, cultural training, sales, data capture, accounting and administration etc. It is a constant process to organically grow our network of contacts and partners.” Asean, it should be added, can be seen as one single market but is also the umbrella name for many, very diverse, country markets including those in Southeast Asia. Apples & Spears describes their approach:
s synergy ntrance “Southeast Asia is not a homogeneous market but have a variety of opportunities and challenges, depending on which country we’re looking at. For us, the most important starting point is to understand how our client’s business, business model, current markets, offering and strategy looks like and based on those specific circumstances drill deeper into relevant markets to identify oppor tunities and seek out market gaps. If a market is big, with high GDP growth and is called an emerging market does not automatically mean that it is a suitable entry market for all clients.” Their clients, since the start in November 2014, are from several different industries such as Medtech, Edutech, Healthcare and Cleantech. “All these industries seek innovations and ser vices to better suppor t the region’s long term and sustainable growth from several angles. Southeast Asia is transforming rapidly and that process demands smart solutions and ideas both from inside and outside the region. Our aim is to continue to work with those companies that can really bring added value to the market and make a difference.” Apples & Spears’ start was based on a study that they conducted together with 30 Scandinavian SMEs already established in the region and where they identified the main challenges these were facing when starting up their ventures here. “The study clearly showed in what areas these companies would have benefited from having more support during their market entry process, areas in which Apples & Spears together with our local network could facilitate and support.” “Southeast Asia is a growth region with several emerging markets in need of creative and innovative products and services to help the region build a sustainable future. In this sense, Scandinavian companies have a lot to offer, a fact that was another driver when establishing our business.” NBCP’s Joona Selin first met the Swedish consultancy duo late 2014 in connection to a SBAS luncheon in Singapore where he held a talk about business opportunities in the Philippines. “With this par tnership, we are targeting Nordic SMEs who need external assistance in finding business par tners: clients, agents, distributors, suppliers, or in studying the market opportunities in the Philippines.These companies might be present in the region, but not necessary in the Philippines yet. We are not limited to par ticular sectors, but most of our work has been in the ICT, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, and industrial equipment sectors - we are in a strong position to serve Nordic companies in these industries.”
As for the strongest indicators for business potential in and with Philippines Mr Selin highlights: “From the macro view the 6-7% annual GDP growth and the ongoing real estate construction and infrastructure development boom provide a strong foundation for business opportunities across a number of sectors and throughout the value chain. From the micro perspective this means new companies and brands flocking in, and new stores and restaurants opening shop. It means cranes and construction sites all over the place. In short - it’s an extremely dynamic environment where you sense growth and opportunity around every corner.” Philippines can function as a hub to the region or destination for outsourcing – either as service or delivery center or as a production hub. “Major Nordic companies such as Nokia, Grundfos, NNIT, and Maersk, but also SMEs are running global in-house operations in HR, finance & accounting, software development and IT here. For third-par ty outsourcing provider Transcom, the Philippines is their largest country
of operation with ca. 10,000 employees.“ “As for manufacturing operations for the expor t market, the Philippines houses Nordic multinationals of the likes of Sonion (microacoustics) and Swedish Match (lighters), while also SMEs such as the SAWO sauna factory and Christmas decor and lighting factory Tema Design have found their homes here.” SMEs are the type of businesses Apples & Spears will focus on as they continue approaching Scandinavian companies that they think should be present in Southeast Asia based on identifying interesting products or services that these offer. “The ambition is also to be more present in Scandinavia during this coming autumn to meet clients and potential clients as well as broaden our network at home. We also actively work to spread information and knowledge about Southeast Asia through our blog and social media. By sharing inter views with company leaders, experts and specialists in the region we hope to encourage SMEs who are starting their journey towards this region – to take the leap.” August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11
Danish football hero in Singapore By Maria Andreasdottir Sørensen
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hat made the Scandinavians V i k i n g s wo r l d f a m o u s was their successful raids, and while the old Norse seafarer s went outside Nordic borders and conquered most of the European land, today’s Viking, Ken Ilsø, is capturing the Asian football field. Today he plays for Singaporean Club Home United, and this year 2016 will be his third year in Asia. ScandAsia has met the Danish football player for a talk on how it is to be a one of Denmark’s finest football talents playing in the tropics.
Ang moh in Asia How do you prepare to begin a career on the other side of the world, train professionally in very hot temperature and to interact with a whole football team only using body language? Ken Ilsø has no idea, because when Chinese super league team Guangzhou R&F in 2014 offered him a contract, he only had 36 hours to take it or leave it. ”My answer was ”bye, bye Denmark,” says Ken Ilsø, who had to travel to China immediately and begin training. It was not first time Ken Ilsø went abroad to 12 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
play for foreign football teams. In 2004, at the age of 17, Ken was signed as a youth player by Dutch side SC Heerenveen, and since then he has been playing for both Danish and German teams on highest levels. But Asia was a new territory for him and a new adventure he couldn’t wait to explore. He had been traveling in Asia before, and even if he had studied Chinese culture at Danish university level and knew a little Chinese, it didn’t help him when he faced his first culture chock: communication between his new colleagues – the first tough lesson out of many on his Eastern journey. ”I love to learn about new cultures, and I believe the best way to learn more is to engage yourself as much as possible, which you do by living with and like the locals. Admittedly; it’s not going to be easy all the way,” he says. Besides the language barrier and a sports injures, being the ang moh (white man) on the team also means you are responsible if your team are losing or winning. Team players would not doubt that fact, no matter how good friends you were. “What really surprised me was the fact that respect means everything. You have to asser t yourself, even if it takes being a thug, to gain
respect and become friends with your team players. That’s the rule.” After a reduction in his playing time and an injury, he left the Chinese football club and went traveling in the Philippines for several months, taking a small break from football. “I knew my time in Asia was not finished. I never really made it in China, but I was eager to give it another chance.” Meanwhile, his traveling back and forth from Philippines and Malaysia to Denmark didn’t equal pure holiday; Ken Ilsø began studying law online “because honestly, how great it is to study a prestigious education from your own laptop?” The flexibility suited his hunger for exploring the world, and he knew for sure he was not done with Asia. And just as great opportunities always appear out of nowhere, he was in 2015 offered a contract for Singapore’s Home United – which he happily accepted.
Back in the game, lah What he missed in China, he found in Singapore: his chance to break through in Asia. Singapore is mostly known for its jaw-dropping skyscrapers and shopping experience, or, as Ken describes Singapore himself: business and party,
and not a sporty city state. H o w e v e r, e v e n if the Singaporean football culture is not as huge compared to what Ken is used to, his career has reached new heights. He has managed to extend his goal scoring streak with a total of 28 goals during 45 matches as a Home United player. He has been applauded by 80.000 people at the grandstand at the stadium, and on the side he has achieved football-related jobs such as TV exper t commentator due to the UEFA European Championship 2016. Just to name a few. “It’s not only on a professional level I have experienced a positive development, but also on the personal level. Adjusting to new work and living conditions and trying new tasks have all contributed to strengthen me. I guess my selfconfidence was reborn here in Singapore, and it came back with a whole new set of competences, too. Oh, and not to forget: a more fashionable sense, too,” he laughs. During his TV jobs he learnt how to multitask with a speaker in his earpiece and at the same time keeping focus to his viewers, while he analysed the different matches. But one of his biggest accomplishments was to learn how to
work in a completely different environment – and still succeed. “In Singapore, football is ver y different compared to Denmar k. The spor t itself is not ve r y i m p o r t a n t , and there is not the big feeling for the national team. Even the method of playing is different, because the insider knowledge of each player and analysing the next step is non-existent. Instead, Singaporeans are more likely to follow orders given to them on the field.” Eventually, challenges are good for self-growth. A harder challenge is the fact that his family is on the other side of the world.They love to visit him, and aside from them, what he misses most from Denmark is the “two-man-ship”. “I am not a fan of always having to plan everything in big groups when going out. I have to admit I simply miss just calling your friend and hang out the two of you, very randomly and without hours of organising,” he laughs. What the future will bring is still unknown. Ken Ilsø’s adventurous mind is not excluding anything. Only one thing is sure; like a true Viking came ashore after months at the sea, Ken Ilsø can return home with loads of success after his Eastern trip.
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August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13
Singapore and Denmark partner on smart city development
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eading smart city experts and officials have come together to exchange ideas and insights, paving the way for export and collaboration through a SingaporeDenmark Living Lab. A seminar was held in Singapore in early July. Singapore and Denmark are both at the forefront of smart city development and have been actively engaging one another to drive the smar t city agenda. Now, a public-private consor tium has been formed with plans to co-create the first ever Singapore-Denmark Living Lab on Singapore soil where technologies, solutions and designs are tested in collaboration between Danish and Singaporean companies and organizations, reports the Embassy of Denmark, Singapore. “Smart City World Labs” is the name of the project that is coming to fruition at a co-located event at World Cities Summit.The project takes its point of departure in existing Danish Living Labs that demonstrate Denmark’s strong tradition of holistic thinking, citizen involvement, sustainable technologies and green transport. Par tners in the consor tium are Greater Copenhagen’s partner organisation Gate 21, the Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore, Quercus Group, and the Technical University of Denmark. 14 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
The project is funded by The Danish Industry Foundation. ”Smar t City World Labs is an ambitious initiative which will intensify the collaboration and export between Singapore and Denmark. I see great opportunities for exchange of ideas and co-creation of sustainable solutions in the future,” said Her Excellency Berit Basse, Ambassador of Denmark to Singapore. The Smart City World Labs Seminar gathered industry experts and key representatives from government and academia for a dialogue on how to pave the way for the establishment of the Singapore-Denmark Living Lab, as well as creating a global network of visionary urban frontrunners, which are able to drive the advancement of liveable and sustainable cities through Living Labs. Keynote speeches were delivered by CEO of SG-Innovate, Mr Steve Leonard who shares on Singapore’s Smart Nation vision and journey, and Chairman of Greater Copenhagen Committee, Mr Steen Christiansen, who shared on the capital region’s smar t city effor ts and urban design approaches. Other seminar highlights included two panel sessions on “The Citizens’ Smar t City” and “The Living Labs”, featuring panellists from IDA, Cisco, Temasek, A*STAR, ERI@N, Copenhagen
Municipality, and Denmark’s Technical University. About the Smart City World Labs The project will run over 2 years as a pilot project and then be scaled to other cities, mainly in Asia. More than 40 Danish companies, organisations, universities and municipalities have already declared their interest in taking part in the project. A number of Singaporean partners have also registered their interest in the Living Lab, and the consortium is exploring opportunities for collaboration with government agencies, such as JTC, Economic Development Board and Nanyang Technological University.
August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15
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