CommerceNet Singapore

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CommerceNet Singapore Limited
Image:CNSG.gif
Type	Public, Limited by Guarantee
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Singapore
Key people	Tay Kheng Tiong, Chairman Wong Jeh Shyan, CEO
Products	Technology incubation
Employees	155 in group
Website	www.cnsg.com.sg

CommerceNet Singapore is a not-for-profit organisation. It is part of the global CommerceNet^[1] consortium of business partners that organises resources from the industry, plans and executes key strategies. On its website, CommerceNet Singapore expressedly that they seek to sustain market initiatives that promote security, innovations and develop human, intellectual, financial and cultural capitals within the self-sustaining enterprise ecosystems.

1 Goals
2 History
3 Projects
4 Investments
5 Partners
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Goals

The consortium has been involved actively in initiatives that pioneer and advance new and usually untested technology. The consortium's main aim is to keep up a strategic role as a pilot project initiator, usually influencing and encouraging innovation and driving progress in its area of operation. Although the name implies the geographic region of Singapore, the consortium is known to operate beyond its territory. As most members of the consortium are MNCs operating out of Singapore, CommerceNet Singapore follows its members to new markets regionally. This anomaly occurred as Singapore is known to host the 'operation headquarters' of many MNCs.

CommerceNet Singapore has established a reputation as a neutral technology facilitator and catalyst. It helps create environments that encourage the flow of new ideas and concepts. Initial activities include creating a unified eCommerce and eBusiness movement. It is now the leading independent non-profit technology organisation in ASEAN. Member-driven initiatives today include diverse test-beds that advance eBusiness, industry-wide strategic initiatives, creation of business value, advanced education, mediation and certification worldwide. Among some of its better known certification is the TrustSg initiatives. It is one of the few organization still actively promoting online commerce in Singapore and ASEAN.

In a strong departure from its earlier years, from 2006, CommerceNet Singapore had refocused to take on and implement a portfolio mix of long-term and short-term initiatives. Among the initiatives requested by its members are those of high-risk, untried and theoretical ideas that fulfil the promise of the general commercialisation of technologies, especially pertaining to the Internet.

The structure of CommerceNet Singapore is designed to tap market intelligence for more effective decision-making. New complex programmes are usually redefined when incubated or implemented intelligently by CommerceNet Singapore. The resulting lowering of transaction costs and allowing the creation of new categories of products and services enables the viability and sustainability of new enterprises.

Fundings for the consortium come largely from membership dues, government grants, pilot projects grants as well as project management fees.

[edit] History

The CommerceNet consortium history in Singapore is well documented. Its early days saw the consortium engaging many of the industry players in its daily activities. This has brought in large amount of financing to the consortium allowing it to grow rapidly.

The protem committee of CommerceNet Singapore signed the Global Partner MOU with CommerceNet. That brought Singapore member companies into the fold of the 500-strong CommerceNet members worldwide. The consortium also sits on Global Electronic Commerce Board (GECB). Following the MOU, CommerceNet Singapore was formed and incorporated in February 1998 as a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee. Among the key initiators are entrepreneur Mr. Charlie Tan assisted by Dr. Toh See Kiat, a prominent former Member of Parliament in Singapore.

The first inaugural board meeting was held in March 1998. Membership grew rapidly, and by April 1998, the consortium achieved 20 funding members. The consortium sent its representatives to GECB meeting in Amsterdam in April 1998. The first corporate members' meeting was held in May 1998, setting the tone and pace of the consortium in Singapore. CommerceNet Singapore become the first Singapore organisation to launch XML and Metadata seminar, held in November 1998. The high-profile international seminar attracted a keen following with more and more industry players joining the consortium.

The consortium set its sights beyond its members and launched a Common Accreditation Scheme to Enhance Trust known as "CaseTrust" in collaboration with Retail Promotion Centre and Consumer Association of Singapore in April 1999. It was a founding partner in Global Trustmark Alliance^[2] with BBBOnLine.

The consortium was actively promoting intellectual property protection, sitting on IP Taskforce^[3] and had worked with BSA to achieve its goal.

[edit] Projects

Curriculum Development
Specialist Diploma Priogrammes
ePublic Eye
CaseTrust
ConsumerTrust
BusinessTrust
PrivacyTrust
TrustSg
Market Intelligence Reports
ITCN Asia
E-Global Conference
E-Global Awards
PRT Assistance Programme
Digital Printing Promotion
Dadabhoy University
Online Gaming Initiatives

[edit] Investments

One specialty of CommerceNet Singapore is its ability to arrange funding for very early-stage and very high-risk projects. It has built a very close working relationship with CNSG Consulting Group, which comprises mostly of ex-CommerceNet Singapore's consultative partners, or CPs.

The common investment quantum varies from bite-size US$100,000 to syndicated US$10,000,000 for technological projects that has an industry-wide impact. Smaller amounts are usually given out as one-off grants, mostly to Singapore- and ASEAN-based companies. More than 515 companies in Singapore alone had received grants from CommerceNet Singapore from 2005 to end-2007 alone.

[edit] Partners

CommerceNet Singapore collaborates actively with international consortia and agencies like KIEC^[4], KOTBA^[5], KOTRA, JIPDEC, ECOM, IE Singapore, SEDB, Singapore IDA and others including private sector industrial R&D Labs as well as universities, colleges and institutes of higher learning. CommerceNet Singapore also played an active role in Asia Trustmark Alliance (ATA) and work closely within ATA framework with bodies like GBDe^[6].