Background and Introduction

NUS Wireless Venturing Forum (NWVF)

There is finally widespread recognition that all segments of the mobile data value chain need to work together. It's a challenge. More than the internet sector, mobile apps suffers from complexity. It comprises vastly different businesses jointly offering services and applications for which the business models are fragile. Along the way they have to overcome a lack of standards and interoperability, agree on revenue sharing and find applications that will excite the public. As a result, the mobile apps sector still requires a lot of assistance. One way of providing assistance to wireless startups and content developers is to create a wireless "ecosystem" involving operators, vendors, developers and the government.

The NUS Wireless Venturing Forum (NWVF) is recently established, with the support of Infocomms Development Authority of Singapore (iDA).

• To provide an independent forum for the exchange of ideas on wireless business opportunities in Singapore, and for fostering networking and development of collaborative relationships between new wireless ventures and other players in the wireless ecosystem (investors, users, infrastructure providers, etc)
• To accelerate the flow of innovative ideas in wireless business from leading wireless hotspots in the world to Singapore by developing collaborative networks with leading wireless business research institutions worldwide
• To facilitate research and teaching on wireless venturing through close linkages with the wireless venturing community in Singapore

Wireless Venturing

• Large Wireless operators
• Large Handset/information appliance manufacturers
• Innovation-driven lead-users
• Wireless technology/applications/services start-ups

...Work together in a collaborative profit sharing enterprise eco-system.

What can NUS Wireless Venturing Forum offer?

• Provide an independent forum for facilitating informal networking and exchange among wireless entrepreneurs, investors and related professionals, operators, users and policy makers
  • Promote a collaborative environment among wireless entrepreneurs and between them and other key players in the wireless industry cluster
  • Facilitate networking and collaboration between new wireless ventures in leading wireless industry clusters in the world and the Singapore wireless venturing community


• Organization of Thematic Workshops/Seminars
  • Partner with IDA to organize workshops and conferences to promote awareness of new wireless market space opportunities
  • Invitation of leading industry thought leaders and researchers from other leading wireless clusters in the world to conduct seminars in Singapore


• Links to leading wireless business research groups overseas
  • Sweden (Lund, KTH)
  • Finland (ETLA)
  • Korea (KED, KAIST, KISTI)
  • Taiwan (ITRI)
  • Japan (Hitotsubashi Univ.)
  • USA (Stanford STVP)


• Case studies on wireless ventures in Singapore and other leading wireless clusters
  • Casebook for teaching and practitioners
  • "Soft" marketing of your company
  • Early access to information on innovative wireless venturing practices and models elsewhere


• Singapore Wireless Industry research
  • Working with EDB/IDA/ASTAR to analyze industry statistical data and share with Forum members; special survey to be conducted
  • Research and case studies on factors facilitating/hindering adoption of specific wireless innovation and their managerial and policy implications
  • Research on the economic and social impacts of new wireless applications in Singapore and elsewhere


• Comparative research on Singapore's wireless industry cluster vs. other leading clusters
  • Benchmarking indicators of Singapore's competitiveness in wireless innovation and application diffusion
  • Comparative study of wireless-related policies and regulations in Singapore vs. other leading wireless industry clusters


• Education and Training Programs
  • Course on wireless venturing to train business and technical undergrad/graduate students interested in starting or working for new wireless ventures
  • Continuing education programs for industry professionals
  • Student Internship program in wireless start-ups


• Match-making wireless ventures with angel investors
  • Showcase NUS wireless IP to entrepreneurs and investors interested in commercializing the IP
  • Assist NUS wireless spin-off to access angel investors and VCs


• NUS wireless venturing homepage
  • Listing to showcase Singapore-based wireless ventures