IT Brief Australia - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
Story image
New Singapore innovation centre a 'pathway into Asia' for Aussie businesses
Mon, 5th Sep 2016
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Gemstar will officially open its Innovation Centre of Excellence in  Singapore later this month, as part of the company's ongoing drive to use South East Asia as a launching pad for Australian businesses.

Gemstar Technology is a commercial advisory and personalised accelerator based in Sydney. According to Gemma Manning, founder and managing director of Gemstar, the company's vision is to be the go-to partner for budding talent and any company wanting to expand into international markets in a confident, trusted and low-risk manner.

“I'm confident that Gemstar's established presence in Singapore will continue to accelerate business locally, regionally and globally, and be a stepping stone for future growth,” Manning says.

“And our plans don't stop just with Singapore – we've set our sights on North America and Europe in the future,” she adds.

The opening of the Innovation Centre of Excellence will allow for a diverse range of Australian innovators and entrepreneurs to set up a distinct presence in the South-East Asia market, Manning says.

It will also enhance bi-lateral trade between Australia and Singapore, fostering local talent in Singapore and acceleration into Australia.

“With the recent announcement of the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, this is particularly relevant,” says Manning.

According to Manning, since Gemstar's inception in 2013, the company has paved the way for more than 10 companies to enter Singapore and South-East Asia, including ParentPaperwork, Phoria, Progressclaim.com, and FuturePeople.

"Some of these companies will be taking up immediate residence in the Innovation Centre later when it opens later this month, highlighting the importance and timely nature of the centre for companies wanting to expand into Asia via Singapore,” she explains.

“Gemstar provides an alternative pathway for companies to expand locally and globally,” Manning says.

“The challenge is for Australian companies to prioritise South-East Asia in their start-up and scale-up plans,” she adds.

“The opening of the Innovation Centre of Excellence is a timely event and key way to make this happen. I'm delighted to see this vision come to life, after identifying this gap in the market more than three years ago.