SME Centre@SMF’s Post

Global beauty leader L'Oréal has expanded its beauty tech startup competition in Asia, to uncover more solutions and services that can cater to the region’s young and digitally-savvy consumers. The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Programme will now include Singapore and the rest of the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region. It aims to discover and nurture promising startups, so that they can develop their pilots in #beautytech innovation, and help the company answer unmet needs through solutions that leverage data and tech. Three start-ups from the region will ultimately be awarded L’Oréal-funded, commercial pilot opportunities and a year-long mentorship programme. This will give them access to the company’s extensive network of commercial and digital partners, and potential exposure to some of the world’s fastest-growing markets in the region. The innovation programme is being led from Singapore, where L’Oréal has operated for more than three decades. L’Oréal will be able to draw on Singapore’s robust #innovation ecosystem and digital capabilities, to better serve the region’s young, diverse, and dynamic consumers. Learn more about the programme (including how to apply) here: https://lnkd.in/gMjFiGWH

Innovation has always been the driving force behind L'Oréal success. Here in SAPMENA (South Asia Pacific, Middle East, North Africa), we continuously invest in research and development, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create revolutionary products and services to meet the evolving needs of our consumers. Introducing the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program! At L'Oréal, we understand that true open innovation goes beyond looking at ideas from within. We firmly believe in the transformative power of collective partnership. And to spur the next era of personalisation in beauty, L’Oréal has launched the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program to discover, support, and nurture promising start-ups from the SAPMENA region.  The competition focuses on five challenge themes: #ConsumerExperience, #Content, #Media, #NewCommerce, and #TechForGood Selected start-ups in the SAPMENA region will have the chance to develop their beauty tech innovation pilots. The top three winners will receive a L'Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and Accenture. Successful start-ups may also have the opportunity to collaborate with L'Oréal. By participating in the program, start-ups can leverage L'Oréal SAPMENA as a launchpad to access a wide network of partners and gain valuable market insights. Startups passionate about creating the future of the beauty industry with L’Oréal are encouraged to apply now on the competition website by 13 July 2024.   Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCNpFS6i   #LOrealSAPMENA #BigBangLOreal #BeautyTech #WeAreLOreal #CreateTheBeautyThatMovesTheWorld #ConsumerExperience, #Content, #Media, #NewCommerce #TechforGood

🚀 Attention ambitious entrepreneurs in commerce, content, and tech! Ready to co-pilot with L'Oréal and take your technology to new heights? 💡 Innovation is the heartbeat of L'Oréal’s business, and here in SAPMENA (South Asia Pacific, Middle East, North Africa), we continuously invest in future tech to create revolutionary products and services that meet the evolving needs of our consumers. At L'Oréal, we believe that collective partnerships accelerate innovation. We have the knowledge and heritage of a 115 year-old beauty company and the DNA of an innovative startup challenger. And we believe that collaboration, fuelled by diverse perspectives will drive our innovation strategy further. Today with Beauty Tech, we're seeking unique solutions that leverage data and technology to enhance consumer experiences and promote lifelong wellbeing. That’s why we are proud to unveil our inaugural 💥 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program 💥! And we're on the hunt for promising startups from the region to partner up with. Focussing on five challenge themes #ConsumerExperience, #Content, #Media, #NewCommerce, and #TechForGood, selected startups will receive L'Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunities, a year-long mentorship program with senior executives from L'Oréal and Accenture, and potential global partnership opportunities! 💼 If this sounds like your startup, apply now on the competition website before July 13, 2024. <<Learn more>> http://spr.ly/6049dFfTZ Don't miss out on this incredible chance to shape the future of 🌺 beauty with tech! Let's make waves together! 🌊 #LOrealSAPMENA #BigBangLOreal #BeautyTech #WeAreLOreal #CreateTheBeautyThatMovesTheWorld #ConsumerExperience #Content #Media #NewCommerce #TechforGood

Our recent Business Sentiment Survey (Jan-Mar 2024) found that 41% of businesses in Singapore struggled to find innovative pathways for growth in a world shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (#VUCA). One way to address this is by embracing new approaches to traditional business models. A great example is ION Orchard, which is turning shopping into a game by levelling up customer loyalty and engagement with gamified experiential retail, transforming how businesses can potentially expand in the digital age. Seeking new ways to maintain shoppers’ interest across offline and online touchpoints, ION Orchard exemplifies the proactive approach needed to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving market. Importantly, businesses grappling with growth hurdles can leverage various innovation and digitalisation schemes and grants to fuel their expansion strategies such as: - Startup SG Accelerator by Startup SG - Kickstart Fund by EDB - Design Thinking Business Transformation Programme by Workforce Singapore 📢 Ever wondered what strategies that other businesses within your industry are exploring? Participate now and receive a complimentary report: https://bit.ly/3RkzQpl    #Singapore #business #retail #lifestyle #businessstrategies

What makes a great #innovation ecosystem? Here's what I learned from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)'s latest article about how from healthcare to gaming to decarbonisation, global businesses are using Singapore's strategic location, R&D ecosystem, and access to funding to fuel their growth. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gsg3EdjK 🚀 Singapore's innovation ecosystem is thriving, supported by robust policies, funding, and a commitment of S$25 billion towards research and development between 2021 and 2025, with an additional S$3 billion recently announced. Programs like the Corporate Venture Launchpad and Tech@SG offer direct support to businesses, enabling them to access venture-building resources and top-tier talent. This environment has encouraged many enterprises to deepen their innovation footprint in the city-state. 🚀 Leica Microsystems, a leading surgical microscope manufacturer, has greatly benefited from Singapore's advanced biomedical research and healthcare sectors. The company's Singapore hub plays a critical role in developing sophisticated surgical microscopes, contributing 40% of its total revenue. Singapore's talent pool and business-friendly environment have enabled Leica to innovate and respond swiftly to market demands, exemplified by the development of products like the Proveo 8 Ophthalmic Microscope. 🚀 Companies like LightSpeed Studios and Univers are leveraging Singapore's vibrant ecosystem to foster innovation and growth. LightSpeed Studios focuses on R&D for the gaming industry, utilizing AI and VR technologies, while Univers' Net Zero Centre of Excellence advances decarbonization technologies. These collaborations, supported by local talent and strategic partnerships, highlight Singapore's role as a hub for innovation and sustainable development in the region. Keen to learn how to plug into Singapore's innovation ecosystem? Check out one of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)'s personalised Workshops today with trusted service providers at this link: https://lnkd.in/g8fjNbKN

Employ to Expand into Malaysia🇲🇾: Unleash the Potential with Acumen International 🚀 Here are some compelling reasons to consider Malaysia for your next venture. 🌟 Malaysia’s Unicorn - 🦄 CARSOME: Malaysia has produced its first unicorn company, Carsome, Southeast Asia's largest integrated car e-commerce marketplace, valued at over $1 billion in 2021. 🔮🦄 Future Unicorns A report by HSBC and KPMG titled "Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific" identified 10 potential unicorns in Malaysia: - Boost - Exabytes Group - Jirnexu - PrestoMall - Mindvalley - Neurogine Group - eatcosys - SAYS.com - Lapasar - PolicyStreet 🇲🇾 Government Support The "Unicorn Golden Pass" initiative offers incentives like fee exemptions, subsidised rental, and tax benefits to attract global unicorns to Malaysia. "With the right investors and right talent in Malaysia, we will make Malaysia the Southeast Asian base for global technology companies under the Unicorn Golden Pass,” said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. ✨ Why Choose Acumen International? Expanding into Malaysia can be complex, but with Acumen International, you have a trusted partner to navigate local employment regulations, compliance, talent acquisition, and immigration and facilitate your growth. We handle the details so you can focus on growth. 🌍 Ready to expand? Learn more about global employment services in Malaysia with Acumen International: https://bit.ly/3Wjtn2z #Malaysia #GlobalExpansion #GlobalEmployment

L'Oréal Hong Kong has launched its open innovation accelerator programme, called "Big Bang", to work with tech #startups to help bring Lancôme’s “Domaine de la Rose” to life for consumers. In partnership with Business France Hong Kong and HKSTP - Incubation and Acceleration Programmes, they are scouting for technology in areas such as #bigdata, #AI and #virtualreality to redefine how customers connect and interact with Lancôme’s products, experience and heritage. The initiative is open for applications from early July until mid-August 2024. Startups with validated business ideas and functional #prototypes that go beyond the boundaries of the beauty industry and retail can submit their proposals through the Big Bang Hong Kong website. Selected startups will have the opportunity to collaborate with L'Oréal Hong Kong and gain access to resources, a potential commercial pilot, #mentorship, and #networking opportunities. In addition, the winning startup(s) will have the opportunity to showcase its solution(s) at the November 2024 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where they can participate in industry networking events and an award ceremony. Invest Hong Kong StartmeupHK Jim Lau Helen Leung #beautytech #retailinnovation

🌅 Innovation can come from everyone and from everywhere… especially if you create the right conditions and fasciliate the growth mindset in your organization. 🧠❤️ 📲 In the newest MIT Sloan Management Review Polska I’ve had a privilege to share our insights on how we unleash the power of innovations at L'Oréal Poland & Baltic Hub. ☄️ 💡No matter the seniority or department you work in, we strongly believe that everybody has the power to innovate in the right conditions 👩🏻💻👷🏼♂️🦹🏻♀️ 💫 Today when innovation goes far beyond our fabulous Beauty products, with numerous initiatives we give a space to our team members to experiment, test and learn from the outcomes. 🔢 🌌 This approach provokes an “innovation hunger” and stimulate the appetite for new solutions 😋 🦸🏼♀️🦸🏻The best exemplification on how to innovate and make the tangible improvements in the different strategic areas of our company is the Innovation Squad. 🔛 These intrapreneurs are developing selected projects on Advocacy, E-commerce and internal creativity management which are about to be implemented very soon, after just a few months of their hard work 🥷🏋🏻 You guys are showing the way and change our culture into even more innovative! 💪🏻 🔁 At the same time we benefit from the global transformation of our company culture, with: 🧘🏽more psychological safety 🎯 more time to focus on what matters the most 🟰 we have even more “fuel” to our innovation capacity ⛽️ 🗺️ So wherever you work at L’Oréal in Warsaw, Riga, Vilnius or Tallin you can have a real IMPACT 🎇 on the organization if you have a great idea to improve or change our business and company. 🛠️ 🍀 Thank you to MIT Sloan Management Review team PAULINA KOSTRO and Paweł Kubisiak for our very good discussions and your trust. And Barbara Stepien for your support while editing 🙏 🔍 And if somebody needs additional proof points: 1️⃣ Last week in the announcement of L’OREAL half-year results, Poland was highlighted as one most dynamicly growing countries in Europe 📈 2️⃣ L’OREAL Group was recently selected by FAST COMPANY as one of🔝 💯 the best workplaces for innovators. As we say in Polish “Przypadek? Nie sądzę!” 🤩 📣 For everybody who feels the innovation vibe, join our Team and let’s innovate together! 🚀 Monika Masewicz Irena Sveide Agata P. Ana McMahon Aude Rambault-Keribin Donata Wolinska Giulia Tapella Beata Iwanienko Dino Metaxas Pawel Konieczny Emmanuel Gaudray Valéry Gaucherand #weareloreal #innovationsquad #culturetransformation #teamwork

Glad to meet Mr Satomi Ryuji, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Singapore and Japan share close working relations in many areas. One of these is in start-up development and innovation. We spoke on the effective collaboration to facilitate startups’ market access in both countries. This is a mutually beneficial relationship - Japanese startups are regular exhibitors at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, and startups from Singapore participate in Japan’s events like City Tech Tokyo and Hack Osaka. Both countries have had to constantly innovate to sustain our economic growth, and our partnership also extends to innovation. Notably, Singapore and Japan have worked together to promote open innovation collaborations. Recently, we held the Singapore-Japan Fast Track Pitch Event, which saw enthusiastic participation from Singapore and Japanese corporates. I look forward to more opportunities for collaboration on startup development and cross-border innovation! Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore) Enterprise Singapore

Wrapping up an Epic Year! As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to reflect on the incredible journey we've had. Sleepless nights (no, not because of partying too hard, but because of preparations for events), exciting meetings with inspiring industry leaders, headache-inducing situations due to last-minute changes of plans, etc. — these are just a few feelings that describe the rollercoaster of the last 12 months. With our small but motivated and engaged team, we faced difficult moments but also moments of success and joy. We know it sounds cliché, but great #teamwork makes the dream work💪! 🌍 In 2023, we proudly supported and answered requests from 450 #Austrian companies, aiding in the establishment of subsidiaries, guiding them through market entry, and offering a comprehensive market overview. Our efforts extended to fostering collaboration and facilitating growth for our clients. 📈 The success stories of the companies we supported are woven into the fabric of the top 4 industries we served this year: #Machinery, #Pharmaceuticals, #Urban Infrastructure, and the dynamic F&B sector 🌐 Our year was sprinkled with standout events that brought innovation, insights, and opportunities. Austria Connect Southeast Asia 2023 with almost 300 participants provided a platform for meaningful connections between Austrian and Singaporean companies, industry stakeholders and experts as well authorities and ministries, Vinexpo uncorked new possibilities in the F&B realm, and our delegation visits forged stronger ties between nations. Embracing the spirit of innovation, we also had the pleasure of engaging with #startups, shaping the future together. Your success is our success, and we're thrilled to have been part of your journey. ✨ #AdvantageAustria #YearInReview #SuccessStories2023 And last, but not least, the wrap in pictures (let us know if you can spot yourself):