ScandAsia Singapore - August 2016

AUG 2016
NBCP and Apples & Spears
support Asean market entrance
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

Open House
Register at www.sais.edu.sg
Friday, August 19 th 2016
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Coming Events
AUG 2016
NBAS & The Norwegian
Embassy’s Beach Party
Where : Siloso Beach Walk, Sand Bar at Sentosa island
When : Friday 26 Aug, 19:30 - 23:00
B E A C H P A R T Y !!
Norwegians know how to party, and this autumn
will be no exception. Every autumn newcomers
and old friends alike are invited to a night of
mingling and fun! This year, we are headed to
the beach to celebrate our beautiful tropical
surroundings.
Norwegian Business Association Singapore,
NBAS, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in
Singapore are pleased to invite all our friends to
a Beach Party at Coastes (Sand Bar) on Sentosa!
Bring your spouse, partner or friends! This is
a night you don’t want to miss!
SGD 80 per person – includes food and
beverages*
*free-flow drinks until 10.30PM
We strongly encourage using online payment
SWEA’s welcome dinner at the Swedish
Residence
Where : 39 Andrew Road, Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, Singapore
When : Tuesday 6 Sep, 10:00 - 16:00
Nordic Golf Tournament
Where : Laguna National Golf & Country Club, 11 Laguna Golf Green,
S-488047Laguna National Golf & Country Club
When : Wednesday 14 September, 11:00 - 21:00
It is soon time for the annual Nordic Golf
Tournament, which will be organized by DABS
and SBAS, and what better way to warm up for
the upcoming Singapore F1 Grand Prix?
The Golf Tournament will take place at
Laguna National Golf & Country Club, starting
with a scrumptious lunch, follow by 18 holes
of golf at the PGA Rated Masters Course, and
finishing off with an excellent BBQ Dinner along
with the announcements of the tournament
winners. There will be lots of prizes for various
competitions.
The total price is SGD 285 per golfer (SGD
135 if you are already a Laguna National Golf
& Country Club member) – the price includes
lunch, dinner, soft drinks, beer, wine, golf, and
competitions.
(PayPal or Credit Card) upon registration
(multiple registrations are now available – look
for the ‘add delegate button’ at the bottom of
the registration page). Register on www.nbas.org.
sg by Friday 19 August 2016.
Swedish Women’s Educational Association
in Singapore welcomes everyone back from
Summer holiday with a beautiful dinner. Here
new, old, and staying Sweo’s will have the change
to meet, greet, and eat delicious dinner in the
lovely surroundings of the Swedish residence. The
dinner will take place 6 September 2016 at 39
Andrew Road, Singapore, beginning at 10am. Save
the date – more info is about to come!
Registration starts 11:00 am, Dinner starts
7:00 pm. Please note this is a rain or shine event.
Wish to bring additional guests for the
dinner? The cost will then be SGD 85 per pax.
NBCP and Apples & Spears
supports Asean market entrance
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Norwegian and Swedish residents
in Singapore.
We also publish a ScandAsia magazine
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News Brief
Swedish National Day Singapore celebration
When Sweden’s National Day 2016
was celebrated in Singapore, 200
people gathered at the Swiss Club.
In his opening address, Ambassador Håkan
Jevrell welcomed the Swedish community and
Angelica Lundberg, the Swedish priest, also gave
a speech. The Swedish national anthem, as well as
traditional Swedish summer songs were also sung.
The guests then enjoyed a traditional Swedish
summer buffet.
The National Day celebration was arranged
in collaboration between the Embassy of
Sweden, SBAS (Swedish Business Association
of Singapore), Swedish Women’s Educational
Association (SWEA), the Church of Sweden
in Singapore, and the Swedish Supplementary
Educational School. The National day committee
extends a big thank you to all the sponsors who
made the celebration possible.
Source: Embassy of Sweden, Singapore
4 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016

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August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 5

News Brief
Sweden’s new Asia strategy confirmed
On 22 June Sweden adopted its new
strategy for regional development
cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa and
Asia and the Pacific Region for the period 2016–
2021.
Regional development cooperation in Asia
and the Pacific Region will focus on strengthening
regional actors and states to take greater
responsibility concerning the environment and
climate, human rights, democracy and gender
equality. The focus is to be on cross-border
challenges, where solutions can best be sought in
regional cooperation.
“We focus regional development assistance
in Asia and the Pacific Region to the places in
the region facing the greatest challenges – in the
human rights area and with regard to the effects
of climate change and environmental damage,”
says Minister for International Development
Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin.
Asia and the Pacific Region will be hardest
hit by climate change. The effects are particularly
evident for small island states in the Pacific Ocean.
“We now have the opportunity to contribute
to strengthened regional cooperation on
adaptation, renewable energy and other matters.”
The new regional strategy amounts to
SEK 300 million per year. In total, the strategy
encompasses SEK 1800 million for the strategy
period.
Berit Basse bids
Singapore officials
farewell
you for 4 good years of deepening
DK-SG relations”. In the first week
‘‘Thank
of July Denmark’s Ambassador to
Singapore, Berit Basse, has paid visits to Singapore
Ministers to say farewell, paving the way for a new
Ambassador.
Art Curate, Singapore:
Norwegian star as Guest Chef
Esben Holmboe Bang, the Norwegian star
Chef, have been announced as the guest
chef for the third edition of ‘Art at Curate’
dining series from the 16th to 25th September
2016 at Curate restaurant located at the Resorts
World Sentosa in Singapore.
The 33-year old head-chef and co-owner of
Norway’s first three-starred Michelin restaurant,
Maaemo, located in Oslo, will feature the event to
display the tastes of Norway.
“During my guest stint at Art at Curate, I
would like guests to experience a connection
with Norway and its history. I am looking forward
to bringing a taste of Norway to Singapore.”
Esben announced in a press release.
Maaemo is a rising star on the Scandinavian
culinary scene that quickly received two Michelin
stars after its opening in 2010. The Norwegian
restaurants have not looked back since, and
received Michelin’s highest rating of three stars
earlier this year.
Esben have been the main catalyst behind
the restaurant’s success. His creative style of
cooking have earned him a listing as one of Time
Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Chefs in the
World and the Elite Traveler Magazine’s ‘2016
Young Chef of the Year.’ award.
Guests at the third edition of ‘Art at Curate’
in Singapore, will experience dishes prepared by
Esben such as Emulsion of raw Norwegian oysters
from Bømlo, Scallop from the coast of Trondheim
grilled in the shell over burning embers and his
renowned signature, Langoustine “signature”,
pickled spruce and rapeseed, and a range of other
dishes inspired by Norway as a country.
“The food that we cook at Maaemo is rooted
in nature, culture and heritage. We cook food
that reflects who we are and where we are, with
inspirations from the past as well as a sense of
innovation,” Esben said.
6 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016

Scandinavian Business Seating highlights HAG Capisco
News Brief
As people are returning from their annual leave, Scandinavian
Business Seating (SBS) – a designer and producer of Scandinavian
designed office chairs – highlights the extraordinary HAG
Capisco chair from Norway, intended both for the home and work
environment.
Today’s workplace and advanced technology, forces us to sit for
countless hours every day. Those who care about the health of their
employees and families and want to prevent future back issues from
sitting, you should explore the HAG Capisco chair!
“The original HAG Capisco chair is a design classic that has been
around for the last 32 years. As the largest office chair manufacturer in
Europe, the HAG Capisco chair is still today the best- selling chair under
SB Seating, which is based on its unique design and comfort that makes
it a leader amongst chairs worldwide,” says Henrik Meltesen, Regional
Sales Manager SEA, SB Seating.
“Comfort comes from movement and variation, which HAG
chairs inspire, better than any other chair in the market, together with
exceptional posture. In addition, the HAG Capisco enables the user to
work at all heights and positions, which makes it the ideal chair to use at
height adjustable workstation.”
“On multiple occasions employees at companies that use our chairs,
contact us to purchase a chair to maintain the same level of comfort
when sitting at home “ adds Henrik.
The HAG Capisco chair was designed by the pioneering designer
and artist Peter Opsvik in 1984 and is known for both its exceptional
comfort and as a design classic. As the only chair in the market, that
allows you to sit at all heights, which makes it extremely versatile and fit
for all type of purposes and people. The chair is now available in Asia at
SB Seating - Making the world a better place to sit!
August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7

News Brief
Danish environment and food minister’s Singapore visit
Danish Minister of Food and the
Environment, Esben Lunde Larsen visited
Singapore to attend the Singapore
International Water Week, along with Danish
and international companies and global decisions
makers. The minister made time for a number
of visits and attended many events where he
kicked off his trip by visiting three companies -
Norbreeze who brought the Danish juice darling,
Joe & the Juice, to Singapore; Grundfos, worldfamous
pump-manufacturer; and Singapore’s own
Sky Greens (the world’s first vertical farm using
minimal space, water and energy resources in
their production of vegetables).
In meeting Danish companies Esben Lunde
Larseon discussed the obstacles and cooperation
opportunities they are experiencing when
exporting water technology in Southeast Asia.
The Minister held a speech at the Danish
Seamen’s Church on Sunday 10 July, and attending
the service and a followed by lunch.
Directly after that Mr Larsen attended the
Water Leaders Summit as part of Singapore
International Water Week (the global platform to
share and co-create innovative water solutions),
where he took part in a panel discussion: ‘From
End-User Engagement Point of View: Aligning and
Working with Public and Industrial Users’.
The export of Danish water technology has
increased circa 25 percent in less than 10 years,
and many Danish companies are leading the way.
In the future, shortage of water will be a
worldwide challenge, since climate changes and
an increasing population will pressure the water
resources. The focus at the summit was the
increasing demand of water technology, which
saves water and reduces the environmental
impact.
This summit presented an exclusive highlevel
gathering of global water industry leaders
for exchanges with government regulators and
policy think-tanks to discuss solutions to pressing
water issues. In 2016, the three-day Summit put
the focus squarely on water in the urban context,
along the theme “Water and Cities: Pathways to
Sustainability and Resilience”.
The Danish minister also met, among other
companies, with the Danish leading engineering,
design and consultancy company Ramboll at
the Danish Pavillion, with Mr Morten Kabell,
Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs of
Copenhagen, in attendance.
At the Water Week Wateville was also
displayed – a 20,000 brick LEGO town that had
beeb relocated to Singapore. The 3D LEGO
model showed how Danish companies can
contribute to solving global water challenges
through state-of-the-art technologies.
When it comes to water technology, Danish
companies are leading the way, and Danish water
technology might help managing huge global
challenges, and at the same time create growth
and jobs in Denmark.
“Danish companies are front-runners within
water technology, and I am very proud of the
fact that they deliver everything from energy
producing sewage works to pumps and valves
from Africa to Asia. Denmark has a great position
at the international market, where we go from
aid support to create business in other countries,”
said the minister.
8 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016

Slush Asia arrives to Singapore in 2016
News Brief
Slush, the global start-up movement based
in Helsinki, will make its debut in Southeast
Asia in Singapore on the 20 September 2016
during the inaugural Singapore Week of Innovation
& Technology (SWITCH) at the Resorts World
Convention Center in Sentosa. Slush Singapore
is arranged together with Techventure, the major
innovation and enterprise event arranged by
the National Research Foundation (NRF) in
Singapore.
“Today Southeast Asia is attracting a huge
amount of funding and top tech talent to its
rapidly developing markets. Singapore is a perfect
hotspot for connecting the Western investors and
businesses with the regional ones. The timing for
Slush Singapore could not be better”, says Anna
Ratala, Head of Slush Singapore.
Slush is a student-driven non-profit movement
launched in 2008 in Helsinki. The movement’s first
event was visited by 300 people, but have today
grown to 15.000 attendances. Besides Finland,
Slush have gone global with events in Tokyo,
Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore.
Slush Singapore will bring together start-up
ventures and entrepreneurs with international
investors, executives and media. The movement’s
objective is to form an entrepreneureal community
to help start-ups succeed globally. Slush Singapore
is expected to be attended by 1000 visitors.
Launching an event in Singapore is not a
coincidence. In 2015, Singapore was ranked
amongst the top 10 Global Startup Ecosystems
by Compass.co (formerly known as Startup
Genome) and offer good funding opportunities,
market reach and startup experience. According
to Slush, Singapore is the premier startup
launchpad of Southeast Asia.
“Considering the support and funding
available, we should see more local and regional
startups with big breakthroughs. The key is in
building an ecosystem that facilitates the right kind
of matchmaking between investors and startups.
Slush Singapore wants to help with exactly that”,
Ratala says.
Singapore prohibits moist snuff
Embassy of Sweden, Singapore highlights an upcoming change in Singaporean law,
which will affect the Scandinavian’s who consumer smokeless tobacco, or so called
‘snus’: The import of snuff to Singapore becomes prohibited on 1 August, 2016.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is banning emerging tobacco products as a preemptive
measure to protect public health against the known and potential
harms of such products. This will be done via the Prohibited Tobacco
Products Regulations made under Section 15 of the Tobacco
(Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.
The ban is being implemented in two phases, where the
second phase (with effect from 1 August 2016) – is a ban
on emerging tobacco products existing in the local market.
This is to allow for businesses to adjust their operating
models and deplete their existing stocks of such products.
These products include: nasal snuff, oral snuff, Gutkha, khaini
and zarda.
The ban is part of the ongoing enhancements to existing tobacco
control efforts in Singapore. Besides protecting the public from the health
risks associated with the consumption of emerging tobacco products, the
ban is aimed at ensuring that the targeted emerging tobacco products
do not gain a foothold or become entrenched in the Singapore market.
The ban will prevent these products from stimulating demand for and
thereby increasing the prevalence of tobacco consumption. It will also
prevent such products from becoming “gateway” or “starter” products
for non-smokers, writes MOH.
In the current situation it is not forbidden to import snuff to
Singapore. However, one must pay duty on what you bring in, no matter
how small the quantity of man with himself.
Snuff is classified under HS Code 2403.99.40. During this Code
classified all kinds of smokeless tobacco, “snuff” is among the products
specifically mentioned. Goods with the specified code number is toll of SGD
388 per kg.
Customs Agency information to travellers is available at Singapore’s customs
authority website.
August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 9

NBCP and Apples & Spears
supports Asean market ent
By Joakim Persson
Nordic Business Council Philippines
(NBCP) is a Manila-based trade &
investment and business support
organization between the Nordic
and Baltic countries and the
Philippines.
Apples & Spears is a Singapore-based market
entry consultancy that supports Scandinavian
start-ups and SMEs in exploring opportunities
to provide their products and/or services to the
Southeast Asian markets.
NBCP and Apples & Spears have partnered
10 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
up in 2016 to strengthen their regional presence,
and to provide broader range of in-depth market
knowledge for the clients of the two businesses.
The two have found what they believe is the
perfect match.
“We are very happy to have found the
right partner in the Philippines. Nordic Business
Council Philippines with their solid local market
knowledge, extensive network and invaluable
connections was the highest on our partner wish
list,” says Sandra Appelqvist, co-founder of Apples
& Spears.
”Thanks to the partnership, we are better
positioned to reach out to potential clients, but
we can provide a wider geographical range of
services to our existing clients. Also, our way of
working and objectives are well aligned, and as we
are both small organizations, so it makes sense to
craft partnerships,” says NBCP Executive Director
Joona Selin.
This partnership introduces a new channel
partner for NBCP’s market entry consulting
services.
“Asean [the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations] integration further stresses
the importance of having a regional approach
to Southeast Asia. While our focus is on the
Philippines, the partnership with Apples & Spears
adds a key element to our regional network,
enabling us to serve our members and clients
even better.”
Commenting further on what they foresee
with this new co-operation Apples & Spears
say: “Our partnership with NCBP is part of our
strategy to build a strong local partner network
with expertise in the region. Since many of the
companies we are talking to have a regional
perspective on their market entry strategy, it is
only natural for us to ensure deeper cooperation
and relationships in the most important markets.
The Philippines is one of them. The goal with
our partnership with NCBP is to take on shared
projects, but also to be able to refer clients to
each other.”
“For our clients, who often start their regional
market entry with Singapore as a hub, the
Philippines is another intriguing growth market,”
explains Apples & Spears co‐founder Agneta
Spjuth.
“Most companies planning a market entry
in Southeast Asia have a long-term regional
agenda, which we want to facilitate by building
up a strong partner network within Asean,” says
Sandra Appelqvist.
Apples & Spears are in ongoing dialogues to
broaden their network in the region.
“When we talk about partners, we also include
other types of competencies than we ourselves
or partners, like NBCP, can provide. Our network
also consists of local companies and consultants
within HR/recruitment, cultural training, sales, data
capture, accounting and administration etc. It is a
constant process to organically grow our network
of contacts and partners.”
Asean, it should be added, can be seen as
one single market but is also the umbrella name
for many, very diverse, country markets including
those in Southeast Asia.
Apples & Spears describes their approach:

synergy
rance
“Southeast Asia is not a homogeneous market
but have a variety of opportunities and challenges,
depending on which country we’re looking at.
For us, the most important starting point is to
understand how our client’s business, business
model, current markets, offering and strategy looks
like and based on those specific circumstances
drill deeper into relevant markets to identify
opportunities and seek out market gaps. If a
market is big, with high GDP growth and is called
an emerging market does not automatically mean
that it is a suitable entry market for all clients.”
Their clients, since the start in November
2014, are from several different industries such
as Medtech, Edutech, Healthcare and Cleantech.
“All these industries seek innovations and
services to better support the region’s long
term and sustainable growth from several angles.
Southeast Asia is transforming rapidly and that
process demands smart solutions and ideas both
from inside and outside the region. Our aim is to
continue to work with those companies that can
really bring added value to the market and make
a difference.”
Apples & Spears’ start was based on a study
that they conducted together with 30 Scandinavian
SMEs already established in the region and where
they identified the main challenges these were
facing when starting up their ventures here.
“The study clearly showed in what areas these
companies would have benefited from having
more support during their market entry process,
areas in which Apples & Spears together with our
local network could facilitate and support.”
“Southeast Asia is a growth region with
several emerging markets in need of creative
and innovative products and services to help the
region build a sustainable future. In this sense,
Scandinavian companies have a lot to offer, a fact
that was another driver when establishing our
business.”
NBCP’s Joona Selin first met the Swedish
consultancy duo late 2014 in connection to a
SBAS luncheon in Singapore where he held a talk
about business opportunities in the Philippines.
“With this partnership, we are targeting
Nordic SMEs who need external assistance
in finding business partners: clients, agents,
distributors, suppliers, or in studying the market
opportunities in the Philippines. These companies
might be present in the region, but not necessary
in the Philippines yet. We are not limited to
particular sectors, but most of our work has
been in the ICT, healthcare & pharmaceuticals,
and industrial equipment sectors - we are in a
strong position to serve Nordic companies in
these industries.”
As for the strongest indicators for business
potential in and with Philippines Mr Selin highlights:
“From the macro view the 6-7% annual GDP
growth and the ongoing real estate construction
and infrastructure development boom provide
a strong foundation for business opportunities
across a number of sectors and throughout the
value chain. From the micro perspective this
means new companies and brands flocking in,
and new stores and restaurants opening shop.
It means cranes and construction sites all over
the place. In short - it’s an extremely dynamic
environment where you sense growth and
opportunity around every corner.”
Philippines can function as a hub to the region
or destination for outsourcing – either as service
or delivery center or as a production hub.
“Major Nordic companies such as Nokia,
Grundfos, NNIT, and Maersk, but also SMEs
are running global in-house operations in HR,
finance & accounting, software development and
IT here. For third-party outsourcing provider
Transcom, the Philippines is their largest country
of operation with ca. 10,000 employees.“
“As for manufacturing operations for
the export market, the Philippines houses
Nordic multinationals of the likes of Sonion
(microacoustics) and Swedish Match (lighters),
while also SMEs such as the SAWO sauna factory
and Christmas decor and lighting factory Tema
Design have found their homes here.”
SMEs are the type of businesses Apples &
Spears will focus on as they continue approaching
Scandinavian companies that they think should
be present in Southeast Asia based on identifying
interesting products or services that these offer.
“The ambition is also to be more present in
Scandinavia during this coming autumn to meet
clients and potential clients as well as broaden
our network at home. We also actively work
to spread information and knowledge about
Southeast Asia through our blog and social media.
By sharing interviews with company leaders,
experts and specialists in the region we hope to
encourage SMEs who are starting their journey
towards this region – to take the leap.”
August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

Danish football hero
in Singapore
By Maria Andreasdottir Sørensen
What made the Scandinavians
Vikings world famous
was their successful raids,
and while the old Norse
seafarers went outside
Nordic borders and conquered most of the
European land, today’s Viking, Ken Ilsø, is capturing
the Asian football field. Today he plays for
Singaporean Club Home United, and this year
2016 will be his third year in Asia. ScandAsia has
met the Danish football player for a talk on how it
is to be a one of Denmark’s finest football talents
playing in the tropics.
Ang moh in Asia
How do you prepare to begin a career on
the other side of the world, train professionally
in very hot temperature and to interact with a
whole football team only using body language?
Ken Ilsø has no idea, because when Chinese super
league team Guangzhou R&F in 2014 offered
him a contract, he only had 36 hours to take it
or leave it.
”My answer was ”bye, bye Denmark,” says
Ken Ilsø, who had to travel to China immediately
and begin training.
It was not first time Ken Ilsø went abroad to
12 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
play for foreign football teams. In 2004, at the age
of 17, Ken was signed as a youth player by Dutch
side SC Heerenveen, and since then he has been
playing for both Danish and German teams on
highest levels. But Asia was a new territory for
him and a new adventure he couldn’t wait to
explore. He had been traveling in Asia before, and
even if he had studied Chinese culture at Danish
university level and knew a little Chinese, it didn’t
help him when he faced his first culture chock:
communication between his new colleagues –
the first tough lesson out of many on his Eastern
journey.
”I love to learn about new cultures, and I
believe the best way to learn more is to engage
yourself as much as possible, which you do by
living with and like the locals. Admittedly; it’s not
going to be easy all the way,” he says.
Besides the language barrier and a sports
injures, being the ang moh (white man) on the
team also means you are responsible if your
team are losing or winning. Team players would
not doubt that fact, no matter how good friends
you were.
“What really surprised me was the fact that
respect means everything. You have to assert
yourself, even if it takes being a thug, to gain
respect and become friends with your team
players. That’s the rule.”
After a reduction in his playing time and an
injury, he left the Chinese football club and went
traveling in the Philippines for several months,
taking a small break from football.
“I knew my time in Asia was not finished. I
never really made it in China, but I was eager to
give it another chance.”
Meanwhile, his traveling back and forth from
Philippines and Malaysia to Denmark didn’t equal
pure holiday; Ken Ilsø began studying law online
“because honestly, how great it is to study a
prestigious education from your own laptop?”
The flexibility suited his hunger for exploring
the world, and he knew for sure he was not done
with Asia. And just as great opportunities always
appear out of nowhere, he was in 2015 offered
a contract for Singapore’s Home United – which
he happily accepted.
Back in the game, lah
What he missed in China, he found in
Singapore: his chance to break through in Asia.
Singapore is mostly known for its jaw-dropping
skyscrapers and shopping experience, or, as Ken
describes Singapore himself: business and party,

and not a sporty city
state.
However, even
if the Singaporean
football culture is not
as huge compared to
what Ken is used to, his
career has reached new
heights. He has managed
to extend his goal scoring
streak with a total of 28
goals during 45 matches
as a Home United player.
He has been applauded
by 80.000 people at the
grandstand at the stadium, and on the side
he has achieved football-related jobs such as
TV expert commentator due to the UEFA
European Championship 2016. Just to name a
few.
“It’s not only on a professional level I have
experienced a positive development, but also on
the personal level. Adjusting to new work and
living conditions and trying new tasks have all
contributed to strengthen me. I guess my selfconfidence
was reborn here in Singapore, and it
came back with a whole new set of competences,
too. Oh, and not to forget: a more fashionable
sense, too,” he laughs.
During his TV jobs he learnt how to multitask
with a speaker in his earpiece and at the same
time keeping focus to his viewers, while he
analysed the different matches. But one of his
biggest accomplishments was to learn how to
work in a completely
different environment
– and still succeed.
“In Singapore,
football is very
different compared
to Denmark. The
sport itself is not
very important,
and there is not
the big feeling for
the national team.
Even the method
of playing is different,
because the insider knowledge of each player
and analysing the next step is non-existent.
Instead, Singaporeans are more likely to follow
orders given to them on the field.”
Eventually, challenges are good for self-growth.
A harder challenge is the fact that his family is on
the other side of the world. They love to visit him,
and aside from them, what he misses most from
Denmark is the “two-man-ship”.
“I am not a fan of always having to plan
everything in big groups when going out. I have
to admit I simply miss just calling your friend and
hang out the two of you, very randomly and
without hours of organising,” he laughs.
What the future will bring is still unknown.
Ken Ilsø’s adventurous mind is not excluding
anything. Only one thing is sure; like a true Viking
came ashore after months at the sea, Ken Ilsø
can return home with loads of success after his
Eastern trip.
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August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

Singapore and Denmark
partner on smart city
development
Leading smart city experts and officials
have come together to exchange ideas
and insights, paving the way for export
and collaboration through a Singapore-
Denmark Living Lab. A seminar was
held in Singapore in early July.
Singapore and Denmark are both at the
forefront of smart city development and have
been actively engaging one another to drive
the smart city agenda. Now, a public-private
consortium has been formed with plans to
co-create the first ever Singapore-Denmark
Living Lab on Singapore soil where technologies,
solutions and designs are tested in collaboration
between Danish and Singaporean companies and
organizations, reports the Embassy of Denmark,
Singapore.
“Smart City World Labs” is the name of the
project that is coming to fruition at a co-located
event at World Cities Summit. The project takes its
point of departure in existing Danish Living Labs
that demonstrate Denmark’s strong tradition of
holistic thinking, citizen involvement, sustainable
technologies and green transport.
Partners in the consortium are Greater
Copenhagen’s partner organisation Gate 21, the
Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore, Quercus
Group, and the Technical University of Denmark.
14 ScandAsia.Singapore • August 2016
The project is funded by The Danish Industry
Foundation.
”Smart City World Labs is an ambitious
initiative which will intensify the collaboration
and export between Singapore and Denmark. I
see great opportunities for exchange of ideas and
co-creation of sustainable solutions in the future,”
said Her Excellency Berit Basse, Ambassador of
Denmark to Singapore.
The Smart City World Labs Seminar gathered
industry experts and key representatives from
government and academia for a dialogue on how
to pave the way for the establishment of the
Singapore-Denmark Living Lab, as well as creating
a global network of visionary urban frontrunners,
which are able to drive the advancement of
liveable and sustainable cities through Living Labs.
Keynote speeches were delivered by CEO of
SG-Innovate, Mr Steve Leonard who shares on
Singapore’s Smart Nation vision and journey, and
Chairman of Greater Copenhagen Committee,
Mr Steen Christiansen, who shared on the capital
region’s smart city efforts and urban design
approaches.
Other seminar highlights included two panel
sessions on “The Citizens’ Smart City” and
“The Living Labs”, featuring panellists from IDA,
Cisco, Temasek, A*STAR, ERI@N, Copenhagen
Municipality, and Denmark’s Technical University.
About the Smart City World Labs
The project will run over 2 years as a pilot
project and then be scaled to other cities,
mainly in Asia. More than 40 Danish companies,
organisations, universities and municipalities have
already declared their interest in taking part in
the project.
A number of Singaporean partners have also
registered their interest in the Living Lab, and
the consortium is exploring opportunities for
collaboration with government agencies, such as
JTC, Economic Development Board and Nanyang
Technological University.

August 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

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