Written on 1^st February 2018

Singapore Airlines forges ahead with Digital Innovation Blueprint

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced the launch of its Digital Innovation Blueprint through the unveiling of key bilateral partnerships with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Economic Development Board (EDB) and National University of Singapore (NUS).

The Digital Innovation Blueprint is part of SIA’s ongoing transformation programme under which it is significantly boosting its digital capabilities. The airline has been progressively building an open innovation culture across the Group through staff involvement in digital projects, and supporting employees through digital training, such as in digital innovation and design and agile methodologies. A Digital Innovation Lab is being set up to enable staff to work with innovative companies including start-ups, established incubators and accelerators, to stimulate new ideas and facilitate collaboration in a creative environment. The Airline is now taking its Blueprint to the next level through extensive collaboration partnerships.

The partnerships with CAAS and EDB mainly establish joint support to foster a vibrant digital aviation and aerospace ecosystem, increasing the attractiveness of Singapore as a travel and aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This will involve the digitalisation of the aviation and aerospace ecosystem to transform and enhance the industry’s capabilities, efficiencies and resiliency. At the core of this is to also drive traveller-centric convenience with digitally-enabled experiences and engagements.

A Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) has also been signed with A*STAR to identify and develop applied research partnership opportunities, which include research fields in areas such as data analytics, Internet of Things and virtual and augmented reality to boost efficiency of maintenance processes. The goal is to develop smart solutions that help lower maintenance costs, decrease aircraft delays, and aid the Airline in enhancing service standards.

Two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were signed between SIA and NUS. Under the first MOU, Singapore Airlines and three NUS faculties – namely Business, Computing and Engineering – will establish and pursue joint research projects, with a focus on longer term research related to business challenges that do not have immediate solutions available today. The partnership will enable both parties to exchange scientific, academic and technical information, as well as participate in joint research and development activities, seminars, conferences and workshops in the areas of digital aviation and travel experience.

Under the second MOU, SIA will collaborate with NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, to jointly develop an innovation ecosystem around the themes of Digital Aviation and Travel Experience, to create and grow new technologies, start-ups and talents that can solve SIA’s businesses challenges via a joint accelerator programme.

Source: Singapore Airlines