Global Innovation Alliance

The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) is a network of Singapore and overseas partners in major innovation hubs and key demand markets, with a focus on technology and innovation. It is a joint initiative between Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board.

We have partnered in-market players across our GIA cities to run inbound and outbound GIA Acceleration Programmes to connect companies to overseas business and tech communities. Our GIA Acceleration Programmes will support:

  • Singapore startups and SMEs in venturing abroad; and
  • International startups in scaling up in Asia through Singapore as a springboard

The Global Innovation Alliance continues to grow. The GIA is currently running in 17 cities worldwide, and will expand to more than 25 cities over the next five years.

Stay updated on upcoming programmes

Submit your interest here. You will be notified of upcoming programmes that match your interest.

Ongoing programmes

Programme name Application deadline
GIA Abu Dhabi Ongoing
GIA Bangalore Ongoing
GIA Beijing Ongoing
GIA London Ongoing
GIA Manila Ongoing
GIA Seoul Ongoing


China
Technology and innovation are key drivers of China’s economy. With 202 unicorns, China is viewed as the second most promising market in the world for technology breakthroughs.
France
Home to Station F (the world’s largest startup campus), the French Tech visa for entrepreneurs, VivaTech (an annual tech conference) and Ecole 42 (a tuition-free programming school).
 
Germany
To date, 30 unicorns have emerged from Germany and at least four cities are known as the breeding grounds for two or more unicorns – Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Stuttgart.
 
India
India is home to the third largest tech startup ecosystem globally. There are over 100 technology MNCs based in Bangalore alone, including Mircrosoft and Google.

 
Indonesia
Jakarta has a high density of innovation ecosystem enablers, playing host to co-working spaces such as CoHive, accelerators such as Google-backed Digitaraya, and prominent VCs such as East Ventures.
 
Japan
Japan is a global innovation and technology leader, with a growing startup ecosystem worth US$3.5 billion (S$4.7 billion) in 2018.


 
Philippines
The Philippines is a thriving consumer market with a growing demand for tech-related goods and services, especially in the fields of fintech and e-commerce.
 
South Korea
South Korea is home to a bustling innovation and startup ecosystem, and has one of the biggest e-commerce markets worldwide, well established by both domestic sales and exports.
 
Thailand
Singapore startups can be a part of Thailand’s rapidly growth startup ecosystem, especially in key sectors like fintech, e-commerce and agritech.
 
United Arab Emirates
As a regional leader in innovation, the United Arab Emirates is an ideal launchpad for Singapore startups to expand into other high growth economies in the Middle East. Key sectors and areas include urban mobility, transport and logistics, smart buildings, IoT and connectivity.
 
United Kingdom
London is a cosmopolitan city of business opportunities. Within its vibrant startup ecosystem, there are currently 200 incubators and 160 accelerators that actively support 3,500 new businesses per year.
 
United States
Silicon Valley is the world’s main unicorn factory, producing more than 89 from early 2019 onwards. Key sectors include fintech, artificial intelligence, big data and analytics.

 
Vietnam
Singapore startups can look forward to expanding in Vietnam through Ho Chi Minh City, capitalising on the city’s large domestic consumer market and a strong supply of talent.

 

Pilot programmes

The GIA pilot programmes complement our GIA network around the world, which aim to help Singapore startups and tech SMEs access opportunities in overseas markets and drive two-way collaboration in innovation.

Programme name Application deadline
GIA Cape Town Ongoing
GIA Sao Paulo Closed
GIA Stockholm Closed