Enhanced SIIRD website
ConvergenceAsia staff
04/08/2008

The Singapore-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (SIIRD), a co-operation between the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) in Israel, has enhanced its website to enable local firms seeking research and development (R&D) partners in Israel. The website (www.siird.com) assists local companies who are seeking to partner Israeli firms in developing new products or technologies.

Local firms will now be able to access the website and offer information about their R&D partner requirements, after which the Foundation’s branch in Israel will subsequently identify suitable candidates. Alternatively, local firms can visit the website for a list of Israeli companies currently on the Foundation’s partner-matching scheme.

Chan Eng Chye, General Manager for SIIRD in Singapore said, “Over the years, we have helped many local companies to partner with Israeli firms to enhance their R&D capabilities and even expand their product portfolio. The partnership enables Singapore companies to launch new products or technologies with a shorter time-to-market and also venture into new markets.”

SIIRD’s office in Israel can organise face-to-face meetings for Singapore companies who are travelling to Israel to meet their counterparties there. The companies just need to fill in the online partner search request and SIIRD’s office in Israel will arrange the meetings accordingly.

Additionally, the Foundation’s website now sports a new “Submit Proposal” section that provides clear outlines of application criteria, procedures and deadlines, for companies’ reference when preparing their R&D proposals.

SIIRD’s online guide for such proposals has been streamlined to five pages from the original 12. Aimed at prompting companies to include relevant information while submitting proposals, the guideline ensures that deserving applicants are not denied R&D assistance due to incomplete submissions.

The website also offers newly-created templates for various must-have sections within proposals (such as R&D plans or sales forecasts), thus reducing the time required to prepare and submit such documents.

The SIIRD is a co-operation between the EDB and the OCS in Israel to promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects, between Singapore-based companies and Israeli high-tech companies, which would lead to successful commercialisation. SIIRD’s support includes funding of up to 50 per cent of the eligible R&D costs of joint R&D projects. SIIRD also organises matchmaking opportunities between Singapore-based and Israeli high-tech companies.

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