PROJECT PASCAL FORUM
Entrepreneurship in the Tech Sector Ecosystem
Professor Wong Poh Kam
Moderator: Mr. Pow Chang
Host: Kang Taeyoung
Date : 1st Sep. 2023, 2pm(GMT+8)
Organized by Project Pascal
Greetings, members of the Project Pascal Forum,
As we embark on this captivating discourse guided by the erudite Professor Wong Poh Kam, we discover ourselves at the intersection of innovation and collaboration, where the future holds boundless possibilities. The insights shared during this forum resonate with the promise of a vibrant and dynamic tech ecosystem.
Embracing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Professor Wong emphasize that entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business; it’s a mindset that should permeate every aspect of our society and economy. It’s about embracing risk, fostering innovation, and thinking outside the box. Whether you’re in a startup, a large corporation, or a government agency, this entrepreneurial spirit can drive positive change.
The Need for Entrepreneurial Mindsets Everywhere
Large corporations often face challenges in nurturing innovation due to their bureaucratic structures. Professor Wong highlights the importance of having employees within these organizations who think and act like entrepreneurs. They are the ones willing to take calculated risks, experiment with novel ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive change.
A Diverse Tech Ecosystem
Let’s not forget that the tech ecosystem is a vibrant tapestry that extends beyond start-ups. It comprises various individuals and organizations, each playing a unique role in fostering entrepreneurship. Recent graduates choosing unconventional paths, professionals in venture capital, and those championing innovation within large corporations all contribute to the vibrant ecosystem.
The Passionate Catalysts
Passionate individuals, as Professor Wong highlight, are the driving force behind transformation. Their unwavering dedication propels change and innovation, even in the most challenging environments. These individuals are the sparks that ignite progress. They are the ones who push boundaries and make a significant impact. These individuals can be found within large organizations, government agencies, and even in unexpected places.
Collaboration for Innovation
Collaboration between start-ups and established industries is at the core of innovation. Start-ups bring fresh ideas and agility, while established companies offer resources and validation. But successful collaboration requires openness to innovation from both sides.
Venture Capital: Bridging the Gap
Venture capital firms play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between start-ups and established industries. They provide the financial support and guidance needed for start-ups to develop their ideas, navigate scaling challenges, and gain validation. This support is instrumental in helping start-ups reach a stage where collaboration with larger players becomes possible.
As we ruminate upon the sagacious insights proffered by Professor Wong Poh Kam, let’s carry forward the spirit of entrepreneurship in all our endeavors. Embrace risk, nurture innovation, and foster collaboration. The tech ecosystem holds vast potential, and it’s through our collective efforts that we will shape the ever-evolving landscape of technology and entrepreneurship.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Wong Poh Kam for his profound contributions, which have indeed enriched our comprehension of entrepreneurship in the Tech Sector Ecosystem. Until our next discussion, let’s continue to explore and innovate, making our mark in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and entrepreneurship.
Welcome to the Pascal forum. Let the discussions commence!
Keynote Speaker :
Professor Wong Poh Kam
Emeritus Professor at NUS Business School, LEE KUAN YEW School of Public Policy
Wong Poh Kam is Emeritus Professor at NUS Business School and LEE KUAN YEW School of Public Policy. He obtained two BSc.’s, an MSc. and a Ph.D. from MIT. He has published extensively in leading international refereed journals on entrepreneurship and innovation, and was ranked among the top 2% most highly cited scholars in the world by AD Scientific Index in 2020-22. He has also consulted widely on innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem development policies for various international agencies including the World Bank, OECD, Asian Development Bank and WIPO, various government agencies in Singapore including MTI, EDB, ASTAR, Min. of Law, MPA and IPOS, and many private corporations in Asia. He was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at U.C. Berkeley, a visiting scholar at Stanford University, Oxford University, Korea University and GRIPS in Japan, and a Pacific Leadership Fellow at UC San Diego.
Besides his academic position, he was concurrently the Director of NUS Entrepreneurship Centre from August 2001 until July 2019, where he created or provided academic leadership for several high-impact experiential entrepreneurship education programs, including the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) program, the Technopreneurship Minor program for undergraduates in NUS, the NRF-funded National Lean Launchpad (LLP) Program on technology commercialization for professors and graduate students in the four leading universities in Singapore (2017-22), and the annual NUS Enterprise Summer Program on Entrepreneurship. He also advised the NUS Enterprise CEO on the strategic development of NUS Enterprise Incubator (NEI) program, including Block71 in Singapore, Indonesia, Suzhou and San Francisco. He has served on the investment committee of NUS Enterprise since its founding, and was a mentor to many tech start-ups incubated by NUS Enterprise. He initiated StartUp@Singapore, the largest annual business plan competition in Singapore (1999-2012), and the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia, the largest annual social entrepreneurship competition in Asia (2013-18). He also initiated and co-chaired the Modern Aging Accelerator, a joint program of NUS Enterprise and Access Health (2017-18), and the Port Innovation Ecosystem Re-imagined (PIER71), a joint program of NUS Enterprise and the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore (2018-19). He is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Asian School of Business (ASB) in Malaysia, an advisor to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Entrepreneurship Academy on entrepreneurship education, and an advisor to Hong Kong S&T Park (HKSTP) on the Lean Launcher Program.
An entrepreneur prior to joining academia, he has been an active angel investor in tech startups in Singapore, Silicon Valley and China. He was the founding chairman of Business Angel Network (Southeast Asia), and is an advisor to iGlobe Partners, a global VC fund based in Singapore. He received the Public Administration Medal (Silver) Award from the Singapore Government in 2013 for his contribution to entrepreneurship education in Singapore, and the “Entrepreneur for the World” Award (Educator Category) from the World Entrepreneurship Forum in 2015. He was a board member of the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) 2016-22, and is currently a board member of B-Lab Singapore, a non-profit organization that provides certification services for Singaporebased companies that seek to become B Corps (companies for doing good).