The festival also hosted part of Project Orchid, the Singapore government initiative that’s exploring a range of digital currency solutions, including purpose-bound money. “The trial of purpose-bound money was a notable innovation,” says Pat Patel, executive director of festival organiser Elevandi. “Trial participants could use RedeemSG vouchers at participating food and beverage outlets, and merchants could directly receive the underlying digital Singapore dollars for the vouchers redeemed

That dynamic and innovative business environment helps organisers add edge to their Singapore events by using smart technology. At Singapore FinTech Festival, in addition to contactless check-in, a dedicated app service and networking software, attendees were able to use blockchain technology to mint their own personalised token showing proof of attendance.

Former venture capitalist Max Song is the founder of Carbonbase, a Web3 business that helps businesses and individuals measure and manage their carbon emissions. Song chose to showcase Carbonbase at SFF 2022. “I've actually attended Singapore FinTech Festival several times,” Song says. “Previously, in my investor hat, I had a really good time, meeting potential projects, looking at deals and looking at other entrepreneurs and investors. I've always had very positive experience.”

Singapore’s innovation and diversity shapes business and events alike Singapore came into being as a trading post where different cultures and industries intersect and, Song notes, it retains that market position. “Singapore is a neutral meeting ground between several different ecosystems: the South Asia region, Chinese diaspora talent, and South East Asian markets,” says Song. “I think that’s the key component that makes it so dynamic."

Hybrid tools developed during the pandemic - such as Sands Expo and Convention Centre’s virtual meeting set-up and live broadcast studio – are also helping organisers bring events to a larger audience. The ITB Asia, one of the largest travel trade shows in the region, used holograms, mixed reality and hybrid technology to engage audiences and capture delegates’ imagination during their virtual show in 2020. Hybrid also means that, rather than compressing all their engagements into a single three-day or five-day period, organisers can use technology for micro-engagements throughout the entire year. “We are the home of Ecosperity, one of the major sustainability conferences in the region,” Ong says. “They use virtual elements to engage their communities in topics such as wind technology or s

Mingling in the marketplace of ideas Innovative approaches to both networking and technology helped the festival yield results. More than 60 industry announcements were made at the seventh edition of SFF, including international public-private collaborations, product launches and joint-research releases.

On a lively November evening, the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF 2022) was well underway on Club Street, one of Singapore’s nightlife hotspots. With live music filling the night air, SFF’s industry networking event felt more like a music festival, with organisers having taken over 11 bars on the busy street.

A gateway to Asia and a thriving business hub, Singapore has long been a leading destination for corporate meetings, incentive travel, trade conferences and exhibitions. Today, a pioneering approach to technology and reimagining of event experience is making this MICE and innovation powerhouse a big draw for delegates from around the globe

Singapore’s flagship annual fintech business event SFF 2022 drew a record turnout of more than 62,000 participants from more than 115 countries — entrepreneurs, innovators, government and industry leaders from across the finance, technology and sustainability sectors. Its trade exhibition hosted more than 570 exhibitors, including 25 international pavilions. Transforming the delegate experience through innovation was key to the success of both elements.

Real are unbeaten in their past nine league games, winning eight of them - and have scored 18 goals in the past three, including a 5-1 win against Burton Park Wanderers on Saturday. Rugby Borough are their closest challengers, with Northampton ON Chenecks and Ampthill Town 18 points behind Real in third and fourth - but they have four and two games in hand respectively