EIC Soft-Landing Mission in Singapore: mission, activities and early outcomes

Between 24 October and 30 October 2024, eleven European companies supported by the European Innovation Council undertook a Soft-Landing mission to Singapore. The week combined briefings with Singapore government agencies, targeted workshops on cleantech opportunities, participation in the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology also known as SWITCH, and site visits to local innovation infrastructure. The mission was delivered with support from EIC partners including Acclime and involved multiple local actors such as the Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore and other innovation intermediaries.

Mission overview and structure

The delegation arrived with a set of pre-arranged bilateral meetings that were agreed during pre-departure sessions. The programme began with an institutional welcome and continued through themed workshops, pitching and matchmaking activities embedded in SWITCH 2024. The final days were reserved for site visits to research and startup infrastructure and for one-to-one follow up meetings with local partners and investors.

Who participated and what was pitched

The mission included 11 European companies supported by the EIC. The public materials name five firms that pitched at the GIN event. These companies represent a cross section of cleantech and hardware-focused deeptech ventures.

Highlights from the programme

Key segments of the week were the clean technology workshop, SWITCH events and the GIN pitching session. The clean technology session brought together consultants, law firms, venture builders and impact investors to discuss the regional market dynamics for clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. SWITCH 2024 provided multiple pitching slots and networking receptions that broadened participants' contact lists. The GIN event combined representatives from Eureka and EIC Mission and offered five portfolio companies the opportunity to pitch and receive feedback from local stakeholders.

Clean tech briefing and market context

The clean tech session was hosted with Tech Singapore Advocates and Singapore Management University and featured contributors from ACE SG, Stephenson Harwood, ERM, Circle Capital, River Venture Studio and Wavemaker Impact. Presenters emphasised Singapore's positioning as a hub for green technology and the rollout of sustainable urban solutions across Southeast Asia. Discussions highlighted the growth potential for solutions that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Attendees were also briefed on legal and regulatory issues that can affect market entry in the region.

SWITCH and networking

As part of SWITCH 2024 the delegation attended sessions such as the Global Innovation Alliance info session and a Corporate Reverse Pitching segment. SWITCH facilitators and local hosts arranged global networking events that mixed startups, investors, corporates and accelerators. The SWITCH Global Tech Mixer at the National Gallery Singapore was highlighted as an effective environment for making first contacts with potential partners and investors.

GIN pitching and early traction

At the GIN Bridging Partnerships event five EIC companies pitched. The session combined pitching, business matchmaking and feedback from local businesses and innovation networks. According to participants the tailored introductions and one-on-one meetings generated leads and clarified next steps. Plant-E's CEO Marjolein Helder was quoted saying that the mission helped to 'draw the contours of the market' and produced several useful one-on-one meetings.

Site visits and local innovation infrastructure

The delegation visited JTC LaunchPad, a cluster designed to support startups with co-location, shared facilities and community programming. Participants also toured EcoLabs where they observed R&D activities related to green building and energy efficiency. These visits were presented as demonstrations of Singapore's hands-on approach to applied research and commercialization.

Official responses and host perspectives

Enterprise Singapore's Bernice Tay described the mission as a welcome pilot that introduced EIC deeptech cleantech startups to investors, venture capitalists and innovation partners. Enterprise Singapore said it hopes the connections formed will mature into concrete business or R&D partnerships and that it looks forward to hosting future EIC delegations.

Analysis and caveats

The mission delivered concentrated exposure to Singapore's ecosystem and produced initial leads. That said, missions of this type are primarily exploratory and are best understood as a way to validate market hypotheses and begin relationship building. Converting meetings and pitches into sustainable market entry often requires longer cycles, local regulatory approvals, pilot deployments, local hiring or manufacturing and further capital. The public account highlights enthusiasm and networking outcomes but does not report signed contracts or concrete investment commitments.

Singapore is a strategic entry point into Southeast Asia because of its policy stability, investor networks and role as a logistics and services hub. However the regional market is fragmented and scaling beyond Singapore will require firms to adapt to country specific regulations and procurement models. Cleantech projects also tend to require local demonstration sites and partnerships with utilities or large developers. European scaleups should therefore treat the mission as the start of a longer market development process.

The EIC Soft-Landing and Global Business Expansion context

The Soft-Landing mission is part of the EIC's broader effort to support European innovations in international markets. The programme has evolved into the EIC Global Business Expansion Programme which is intended to improve services for EIC-backed innovators seeking to enter new geographies while maintaining focus on their domestic operations.

Selection criteria and upcoming missions

According to EIC public materials, participating scale-ups are assessed on their market entry plan, expected impact from the activity, fit of products with market needs, resource commitment to the programme and contribution to EU strategic autonomy in critical technologies. The EIC also published a partial list of upcoming immersive activities including missions to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin and Houston in the United States and further cleantech missions.

Practical takeaways for innovators and policymakers

For participating companies the mission should be used to refine customer hypotheses, identify local pilot partners and set realistic milestones for commercialisation. Early wins from such trips are often non financial. They include clearer regulatory roadmaps, pilot opportunities and introductions to procurement channels or corporate partners. For policymakers and programme managers the challenge is to ensure follow up support exists to turn introductions into pilots and contracts. That requires funding for local pilots, regulatory support and longer term matchmaking beyond an initial week of activity.

Missions that promise market access must be judged on their longitudinal outcomes. The public report from the Singapore week documents engagement and interest. Observers should watch for subsequent announcements that show pilots, investment rounds or commercial contracts arising from these initial exchanges.

Final note

The EIC Soft-Landing mission to Singapore provided a concentrated exposure to a sophisticated regional ecosystem and generated useful leads for the participating European cleantech companies. The programme aligns with the EIC ambition to internationalise European innovation. The immediate outcomes are primarily informational and relational. Converting those outcomes into durable market presence will require follow through, local commitments and time.