HEC Paris Commits to Strategic Partnership with Singapore Management University

The two business faculties signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a virtual ceremony in conjunction with the second France - Singapore Joint Committee on Science and Innovation (JCSI). The June 24 signing will allow HEC Paris and Singapore Management University (SMU) to develop their innovation and entrepreneurship programs by exploring incubation-related studies, as well as encouraging research exchanges and student internships.

“We are delighted to develop a more strategic partnership”, declared the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center’s Senior Executive Director, Inge Kerkloh-Devif. The online signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frédérique Vidal. The partnership aims at leveraging each other’s cities to enlarge their respective reach. Kerkloh-Devif pursued: “This will allow us to explore ways to bring together regional ecosystems and networks for impact.  Our students and startups will be able to reap multiple benefits.”

The alliance is designed to help students and startups by deepening the cooperation between the two academic institutions. This is likely to be through exchanges involving the X-HEC Entrepreneurs Master program and the Global Innovation Immersion course developed by SMU’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

Frédérique Vidal applauded the new collaboration as part of a broader drive to increase cooperation in innovation and science between the two nations: “Since its implementation in 2019, the JCSI has been a powerful accelerator of new collaborations between France and Singapore,” she declared. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat also witnessed the signature: “We commit to deepening our partnership in areas including pandemics, sustainability, and clean energy,” he said. “And it will help promote greater collaboration among companies and research institutions on both sides. I am confident that these initiatives will create value not only for both our countries but also for the global community.”

According to SMU, focus will also on strengthening research initiatives and information exchanges, “through case-writing collaborations as well as through the organising of joint faculty workshops, conferences and study visits.”