Charles Sternberg, Assistant Editor05.04.21
Procter & Gamble, in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), has launched iLab 2021, a 3-day virtual innovation festival from May 4-6, 2021.
The festival will see start-ups from Singapore and across the region come together to collaborate with P&G and develop innovations that can overcome real-world challenges faced in the areas of advertising, retail and supply chain.
Held at P&G's i-Singapore Digital Omni-Channel Center (i-SiDOC), iLab's launch ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honor, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, deputy prime minister, coordinating minister of Economic Policies and Minister for Finance, Singapore along with Mr. Rafik Mansour, Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. U.S. Embassy in Singapore, Mr. Ted Tan, deputy CEO, Enterprise Singapore and Ms. Cindy Koh, executive vice president, Singapore Economic Development Board.
Becoming a ‘Company of the Future’
"In the post-pandemic future, the pursuit for innovation is crucial for the recovery and advancement of our economy. Our vision for P&G in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region is to become the company of the Future and leverage Singapore as the innovation hub for P&G and our industry, leading digital transformation and powering innovation across all aspects of our business," said Magesvaran Suranjan, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G).
During iLab, selected start-ups will present ideas and brainstorm with P&G to help solve challenges using technology in domains such as AI personalization, gaming, social commerce, and supply chain resiliency. Selected start-ups with promising approaches will then work with P&G to roll out pilots across P&G's markets in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
From a starting pool of 100 start-ups that were assessed to solve real business challenges set by P&G, the top 27 start-ups have been shortlisted to participate in the 3-day virtual festival.
Mentoring and Networking Support
The idea of iLab hinges on P&G's belief that a dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem is crucial for businesses to meet the evolving needs of customers. Through the support from the EDB, P&G will also mentor start-ups and create cross-exchanges through networking engagements.
"We are very thankful to have the support of like-minded partners in this exciting journey, especially the close partnerships that we enjoy with the EDB and ESG. At P&G, we always endeavor to lead the change across all aspects of our operations, and support our partners, employees, and other stakeholders," commented Karthik Natarajan, senior vice president, CFO, Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Africa, Procter & Gamble.
The festival will see start-ups from Singapore and across the region come together to collaborate with P&G and develop innovations that can overcome real-world challenges faced in the areas of advertising, retail and supply chain.
Held at P&G's i-Singapore Digital Omni-Channel Center (i-SiDOC), iLab's launch ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honor, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, deputy prime minister, coordinating minister of Economic Policies and Minister for Finance, Singapore along with Mr. Rafik Mansour, Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. U.S. Embassy in Singapore, Mr. Ted Tan, deputy CEO, Enterprise Singapore and Ms. Cindy Koh, executive vice president, Singapore Economic Development Board.
Becoming a ‘Company of the Future’
"In the post-pandemic future, the pursuit for innovation is crucial for the recovery and advancement of our economy. Our vision for P&G in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region is to become the company of the Future and leverage Singapore as the innovation hub for P&G and our industry, leading digital transformation and powering innovation across all aspects of our business," said Magesvaran Suranjan, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G).
During iLab, selected start-ups will present ideas and brainstorm with P&G to help solve challenges using technology in domains such as AI personalization, gaming, social commerce, and supply chain resiliency. Selected start-ups with promising approaches will then work with P&G to roll out pilots across P&G's markets in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
From a starting pool of 100 start-ups that were assessed to solve real business challenges set by P&G, the top 27 start-ups have been shortlisted to participate in the 3-day virtual festival.
Mentoring and Networking Support
The idea of iLab hinges on P&G's belief that a dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem is crucial for businesses to meet the evolving needs of customers. Through the support from the EDB, P&G will also mentor start-ups and create cross-exchanges through networking engagements.
"We are very thankful to have the support of like-minded partners in this exciting journey, especially the close partnerships that we enjoy with the EDB and ESG. At P&G, we always endeavor to lead the change across all aspects of our operations, and support our partners, employees, and other stakeholders," commented Karthik Natarajan, senior vice president, CFO, Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Africa, Procter & Gamble.
