25.11.2024
Strengthening HealthTech ties between Estonia and Singapore
Merilin Varsamaa, who leads Tehnopol’s HealthTech ecosystem, recently returned from a week-long visit to Singapore, marking a significant milestone in fostering cross-border collaboration between Estonia and Singapore in the field of health technology. The visit laid the foundation for a partnership that promises to unlock immense HealthTech potential for innovation and growth in both countries.
Bridging borders for HealthTech innovation
During her visit, Varsamaa actively participated in GovWare, one of Asia’s leading cybersecurity and digital innovation events, where she engaged in discussions on the future of AI in healthcare. These discussions highlighted two critical challenges: ensuring healthcare professionals and users are well-equipped for AI integration, and fortifying cybersecurity in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape. The adoption of Zero Trust Architecture emerged as a crucial step forward, emphasising the importance of verifying every action and user to protect sensitive data.
A key highlight of the visit was a high-level roundtable co-hosted with the Estonian Embassy in Singapore. Esteemed leaders from SingHealth, the National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC), Enterprise Singapore, A*Star, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Singapore Deep Tech Alliance, Myraa Health, SG-Singapore Health Technologies Consortium, CHI – Centre for Healthcare Innovation, co11ab Novena, and IHH Healthcare Singapore explored how patient-centric AI solutions could transform healthcare delivery, enhancing outcomes while ensuring robust data security.
Opening up new doors for the Tehnopol HealthTech Community
The Tehnopol HealthTech Community exists to support the rapid and effective development of Estonian health technology, addressing critical healthcare challenges through innovation. This visit perfectly encapsulates its mission: to connect Estonian companies with global opportunities, driving growth through cross-border collaboration.
The visit laid the foundation for new partnerships with Singapore’s leading healthcare organizations, including the Agency for Integrated Care and the National Health Innovation Centre, in collaboration with the Estonian Embassy and the Estonian Business HUB in Singapore. These connections provide community members with unparalleled opportunities to expand into one of the world’s most advanced healthcare markets and foster cross-border collaborations. Key collaboration topics were identified during the visit, emphasizing the mutual strengths and priorities of Estonia and Singapore in areas such as digital health, AI in healthcare, innovative healthcare tools, and cybersecurity.
Join us for a HealthTech coffee morning focused on the Singapore market
To kick off this exciting collaboration, Tehnopol is hosting a HealthTech Coffee Morning on December 13th. The event will provide an in-depth look at Singapore’s health technology landscape and offer actionable insights for companies aiming to expand there. Singapore serves as an excellent gateway and platform for accessing other markets in Asia. Additionally, the event will feature an overview of strategic collaborations and plans between Estonian and Singaporean entities, in partnership with the Estonian Embassy in Singapore and the Estonian Business HUB in Singapore
Highlights Include:
- Expert insights: Opening remarks by Priit Turk, Ambassador of Estonia to Singapore, Indonesia, and ASEAN, followed by an overview from the National Health Innovation Centre Singapore on identifying and commercializing clinical innovations (presenter tbc).
- Global success story: Shilpa Karkeraa, CEO of Myraa Technologies, shares best practices on scaling AI-driven health solutions in Singapore and the wider Asian markets.
- Estonian HealthTech in Singapore: Avely Marjapuu, longevity researcher at the Centre for Healthy Longevity, highlights the experiences of Estonian HealthTech entrepreneurs in the region.
- Strategic partnerships: Next strategic steps for collaboration between Estonian and Singaporean companies and HealthTech organizations with Johanna-Riinu Annuk (Estonian Business HUB in Singapore) and Merilin Varsamaa (Tehnopol).
- Networking: Engage with industry leaders and peers to explore opportunities for collaboration.
The event promises to be a valuable platform for fostering new partnerships and exploring the vast potential of this cross-border collaboration. The collaboration between Estonia and Singapore has the power to drive impactful change, transforming healthcare systems and improving lives on a global scale.
This event is open to all members of Tehnopol’s HealthTech community and other interested parties who are keen to explore collaborative opportunities in Singapore’s HealthTech sector.