The Global Sports Innovation Centre Powered by Microsoft (GSIC) opened its first international headquarters in Singapore.
The GSIC APAC, which sits at the Singapore Sports Hub, aims to bring local groups into a global network of 450 members spanning 40 countries, among which are ONE Championship, LaLiga, SportsFive, and many more.
Launched in cooperation with Sport Singapore (SportSG), GSIC APAC serves as the regional hub wherein those from the business sector, public agencies, and students have unfettered access to sport tech field experts that they could utilise to digitise local sports entities and enhance the local sports tech ecosystem.
Among the GSIC APAC’s goals is to spearhead the overcoming of challenges and enrichment of sectoral value in the Asia Pacific region’s sport industry.
Seven key areas were identified by the GSIC APAC:
- Applied Research, Innovation & Training – strengthening technological solution research projects as well as knowledge sharing, for the benefit of the sport industry.
- Business Network – increasing opportunities and collaborations among global network members.
- Startups & Companies – field experts providing mentorship and technical knowledge for potential partnerships with local and international market leaders.
- Solutions showcase – the latest innovations in sport and sport-related technology put on display for enthusiasts.
- Microsoft Partners Solutions – global cooperation made easy for members thanks to the GSIC’s partnership with Microsoft solutions.
- Digital Transformation Advisory Services – utilising interactive capacity and collaboration-building activities to foster relations between sports groups and global companies.
- Sport for good – establishing a positive, inclusive sporting ecosystem through community engagement, such as Microsoft’s involvement in the recent eSports Youth Programme by the National Youth Council (NYC).
Apart from paving the way for local corporations and international groups to connect, the GSIC APAC and SportSG’s collaboration also enables businesses to acquire innovations to enhance their operations.
For example, SportSG’s Sport Data Exchange (SportDeX), a secured data portal that companies can access to develop strategies based on the tool’s insights, is set to launch this year.
Fostering tech innovation
In addition to SportDeX’s avenue for data literacy enhancement, SportSG also enables technological innovation among organisations in the sport industry, which is done through the Enterprise Innovation and Capability Development Grant.
With the first two waves a proper success, grant calls for a third set began accepting applications on December 7 last year.
The grant aims to springboard technological and digital solution assimilation for the business master plans of more sport ecosystem stakeholders.
Furthermore, members from the GSIC APAC will be part of the panel assessment in order to spot potential sport tech trailblazers.
“GSIC APAC will play a critical role in bridging the gap between technology and the needs of the region. It will also provide expertise, resources, content and offer a variety of training opportunities, capabilities development and active engagement in projects that help companies, sports organisations, governments, and other stakeholders solve business challenges,” said GSIC General Manager Iris Cordoba.
Meanwhile, Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer (CEO) of SportSG spoke at the global headquarters’ launch of how the event marked “an exciting chapter” in his company’s partnership with the GSIC. Yin expressed that the collaboration not only speeds up the sport tech ecosystem’s growth but also bolsters Singapore’s reputation as a sport technology development centre.
“GSIC APAC will also play an instrumental role in the capability development and nurturing of future leaders for the sport tech industry with opportunities to work with the industry’s best. As SportSG seeks to create a conducive environment for sport tech growth, SportDeX due to launch in 2022 will be the game changer to spearhead the use of big data to guide business planning. We look forward to uplifting the local sport tech industry together with GSIC APAC, SportDeX and our Enterprise Innovation and Capability Development Grant,” Yin said.
Lastly, Microsoft Sports Managing Director and GSIC President Sebastian Lancestremere reiterated the GSIC APAC’s goal of providing regional sports bodies and fans “access to innovative digital solutions…through a robust partner ecosystem” while also using technology to foster “a more sustainable and inclusive sport ecosystem” through collaborations among sports organisations and various sectors.
“We are thankful to the government of Singapore and Sport Singapore for their support in making this dream come true,” Lancestremere said.
