SINGAPORE: More than S$100 million (US$78.7 million) will be invested over the next five years to fund research and development in Singapore’s maritime sector.
The plan was announced on Tuesday (Apr 21) by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the opening of the Singapore Maritime Week 2026.
It is part of a new roadmap for maritime technology and research, which will guide future research and development in areas such as autonomous port operations, alternative fuels, smart ships and intelligent and integrated port services.
The roadmap, launched by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute, builds on the foundation of a 2019 roadmap for the sector.
The move comes as MPA and the Singapore Shipping Association signed a memorandum of understanding to speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence among maritime companies to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Mr Siow said that the maritime industry continues to face a range of challenges, including:
Cyber threats evolving faster than existing defences
AI advancing faster than industry adoption
A fragmented transition to alternative fuels, with gaps in technology, bunkering infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
“Addressing these long-term challenges will require a global commitment,” said Mr Siow.
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