Building on the core strengths of scholarship and research, the University kept the spirit of enterprise alive by generating new initiatives in education and development, enhancing the framework to advance the University’s R & D and to bring to fruition results from the lab.

One such initiative was an internship programme – innovative Local Enterprise Achiever Development (iLEAD). iLEAD offers students the opportunity to work in a local enterprise followed by an overseas study mission where they will be exposed to the entrepreneurial environment in another country and will undertake the challenges of setting up a business globally. A total of 39 students were accepted into this programme with matching internship offers at local companies such as 77th Street, Buzzcity and Stamfles International.

A new Interactive and Digital Media (IDM) incubation initiative Garag3 was established to create a vibrant IDM ecosystem where project ideas can be shared, prototyped and incubated.

The entrepreneurship support framework for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs alike was further improved resulting in heightened interest in entrepreneurship activities. A total of 55 start-ups were hosted by the NUS Enterprise Incubation during the period, registering a two-fold increase.

Entrepreneur27 Singapore (E27), comprising students and alumni, organised Asia’s first Facebook Developer Garage which provided a platform for users to share ideas, network and seek out partners for projects.

There are now more than 70 NUS Enterprise portfolio companies, 30 of which were spun out of the University using NUS intellectual properties. External funding for portfolio companies remains robust, with CADI Scientific topping the list at $5 million. The number of patents filed was 96 while 30 patents were granted. A total of 104 technology disclosures were received.

Lending expertise abroad, the University partnered the Brunei Economic Development Board to develop Brunei Darussalam’s first Info-Communication Technology incubator which is modelled after the University’s incubators.

At the Maison & Objet trade show in Paris, the Design Incubation Centre launched its commercial entity d.lab™ as an emerging international brand name which specialises in high quality designs.

The University also led a first-ever Singapore delegation to The Indus Entrepreneurs Conference (TiEcon) 2008 in Silicon Valley. Its participation in TiEcon, the world’s largest conference for entrepreneurs, would help showcase Singapore as a viable hotspot for venture capitalists and company start-ups.