Anand Govindaluri’s Post

Singapore : Magnet for Startups, Sustainability & Deep-Tech Innovation - Singapore focus on deep-tech innovation is unparalleled especially amongst Asian nations and European countries of similar size. Singapore’s budget for Research Innovation and Enterprise was around $9 Billion 2 decades back and now its at impressive $25 Billion, ballpark 1%+ GDP. This reflects the Singapore government’s sustained, long-term commitment to R&D through economic cycles. - What makes Singapore click is its unflinching support for startups - their funding schemes for startups run in millions ( for deep-tech) and it continues to increase. Singapore is also a melting pot for global talent. - Singapore continues to innovate; this is evident with the new investments announced by big pharma, biotech as well as Startups making a beeline to have their Asian HQ in Singapore. There is a high-level of trust and penchant for governance that makes Singapore a preferred hub for innovation. - I recently attended a talk by Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF is a $9.3 Billion agency which has been supporting American as well as global scientists at an early-stage. Their efforts has led to 260+ Nobel Laureates; birth of several unicorns in deep-tech startups. - Key point of Dr Panch’s ( as friends lovingly address ) talk on Innovation Anywhere, Opportunities Everywhere, has been to build a strong #innovationecosystem and ability to take #calculatedrisks. This was the highlight of talk by Dr Panch organised by National Research Foundation Singapore and National University of Singapore. Very well moderated by NRF CEO @John Lim. - The innovation ecosystem continues to buzz with the recent Asia-Pacific Agro-Tech Summit. Key focus is on building a sustainable agrotech innovation and focus on biomanufacturing of alternative proteins from microbial and fungal sources. I was fortunate to link up with #BusinessSweden and #BusinessFinland pioneers in Agro-innovation as well as biomanufacturing of alternate protein expression systems from fungal, microbial and plant sources. - Temasek has played a pivotal role in shaping the innovation landscape of Singapore in life sciences, biotech, pharma and deep-tech innovation. I recently participated in Temasek Alumni Meet to celebrate #Temasek 50 years completion. Temasek has been an integral part of my career. The work ethos of Temasek is reflected in the core values of “MERITT- Meritrocary, Empathy, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Trust”. I would also like to add another M- Mentorship! It was great to catch up with former colleagues, mentors and appreciate the impact that Temasek is creating in Singapore as well as globally thru its philanthropic arm. My vision for the future is that with some calculated risks, it is possible that Singapore efforts in deep-tech innovation may produce a Nobel Laureate as well as homegrown deep-tech biounicorn. The seeds have been sown already…..!!!