Inspiring VARIO study trip to Singapore

In line with the recommendations from its evaluation of the first five years of operation, VARIO always adopts an international perspective when preparing its advisory reports . In 2020, for example, VARIO selected a number of European benchmark countries and regions (VARIO-advisory Report 10), as a benchmark for the Flemish innovation system. In doing so, VARIO remarked that it is important to also look beyond Europe alone. More specifically, a comprehensive case study of Singapore's STI system was also made at that time (VARIO-analysis Report 14). As a follow-up to that case study, the VARIO mission to Singapore took place last week. The main objective of this study tour was to identify the keys to Singapore's success as an innovation hub and ‘smart nation’ through conversations with players across the entire innovation value chain. We met the innovation agencies, the top universities and research institutions, hospitals, industrial infrastructure developers, investors and start-up incubators. Themes such as talent, international ambitious entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, effective and efficient innovation agendas were discussed at great length. The blog reports below reflect our first impressions. This mission was the first phase of a new advisory process on 'broadening our strategic international orientation’ (VARIO-workprogram 2023) in which VARIO seeks to learn lessons for Flanders from other international successful ecosystems.

Blogverslag dag 1
Blogverslag dag 2
Blogverslag dag 3
Blogverslag dag 4
Blogverslag dag 5