It is reported that in the next 15 years, Singapore will be a centre of excellence for maritime research and development, where innovative solutions transpire and ideas turn into market ready reality. Driven by both academic institutions and the maritime industry, such maritime R&D will give rise to new initiatives that the maritime sector can leverage both technically and commercially.

This vision of a global maritime knowledge hub was proposed at the final meeting of the 3rd Maritime Research and Development Advisory Panel hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on April 27th 2009 and April 28th 2009. It is based on identified global trends in four key maritime business sectors namely, port, shipping, maritime services, and offshore marine & engineering.

To address these trends, the panel identified emerging technologies and their potential applications by the maritime industry and proposed, for instance, new maritime R&D programs on clean technologies for more eco-friendly shipping.

Mr Tay Lim Heng said that "It is important to develop Singapore as a global maritime knowledge hub if we want our maritime cluster to move to the next level of competition. Staying at the forefront of technology, therefore, is an integral part of Singapore's growth as an international maritime centre."

The 13 member panel of the 3rd MRDAP comprised prominent personalities and experts from leading maritime organizations and research institutions. In 2002, the first MRDAP charted the Maritime Research & Technology Cluster Development Roadmap in order to spur local maritime R&D initiatives. It also established the SGD 100 million Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund, or MINT Fund, to help industry players and research institutes transform concepts to commercial reality.

(Sourced from Maritime Port Authority)