Rules and Regulations

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS (“RULES”) SHALL GOVERN THE QATAR-SINGAPORE JOINT INNOVATION CHALLENGE (“CHALLENGE”). BY YOUR ENTRY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CHALLENGE YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE RULES. ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE (“ORGANISER”) RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AT ANY TIME, CANCEL OR AMEND ALL OR ANY PART OF THE CHALLENGE AND/OR THE RULES AS IT DEEMS FIT AND WITHOUT NOTICE. IT IS THE PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THEMSELVES INFORMED AS TO ANY CHANGES TO THE CHALLENGE AND/OR THE RULES. IN THE EVENT OF ANY QUESTION OR MATTER ARISING OUT OF ANY POINT THAT IS NOT EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN ANY OF THE RULES, THE DECISION OF THE ORGANISER SHALL BE FINAL.

IN THE EVENT OF ANY DISPUTE REGARDING THE RULES, THE CONDUCT OR RESULTS OF THE CHALLENGE, OR ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE CHALLENGE, THE ORGANISER’S DECISION SHALL BE FINAL AND UNCHALLENGEABLE AND NO CORRESPONDENCE OR DISCUSSION SHALL BE ENTERED INTO, COMMENT ISSUED, OR REASON GIVEN IN RESPECT OF ANY DECISION MADE BY THE ORGANISER.

This Challenge is sponsored jointly by Enterprise Singapore and the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (the “Organiser”) and by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), Qatar Company for Airport Operation and Management W.L.L. (MATAR) and Qatar Insurance Company Q.S.P.C., (“Challenger Owners”); with the full support of Agorize (the “co-Organiser”) for all aspects of the Challenge.

Organisers (the “Organiser”):

Enterprise Singapore, a statutory board established pursuant to the Enterprise Singapore Board Act (No. 10 of 2018), having its place of business at 230 Victoria Street #10-00, Bugis Junction Office Tower, Singapore 188024, is the government agency championing enterprise development. The agency works with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalize.

Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council, acting through Qatar Foundation a private foundation for public benefit established under Law 21 of 2006 of the State of Qatar having a principal place of business at Education City, Al Luqta Street, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar

Challenge Owners (the “Challenge Owners”):

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) is a service ministry (government organization) in the state of Qatar.

Qatar Company for Airport Operation and Management W.L.L. (MATAR), a Qatari company organised and existing under the applicable laws of Qatar (commercial register 101730) having a principal place of business and registered office at Qatar Airways Tower 1, Airport Road, P.O. Box 22550, Doha, State of Qatar.

Qatar Insurance Company Q.S.P.C., a Qatari public shareholding company registered under the laws of the State of Qatar and having its registered office situated at P.O. Box 666, Tamin Street, West Bay, Doha, Qatar.

Co-Organiser (the “Co-Organiser”): Agorize, a French Simplified Joint Stock Company (Société par Actions Simplifiée, or SAS), registered within the Commercial and Companies Register of Paris under number 530 774 439, and has its registered office at 15 Rue Béranger, 75003 Paris, France.

The Organiser, the Challenge Owners and the Co-Organiser shall be considered as joint Organisers (the “Joint Organisers”) of the Competition.

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

1.              The Challenge will be held from 2 November 2023 to May 2024, both dates inclusive ("Challenge Period"). The Organiser reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, modify or suspend the Challenge or any part thereof at any time or re-schedule the dates of the Challenge or extend the Challenge Period.

2.              THE ORGANISER MAY TERMINATE OR SUSPEND THE CHALLENGE AT ANY TIME AT ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION. SUCH TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION WILL NOT GIVE RISE TO ANY CLAIM BY THE PARTICIPANT. THE ORGANISER RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD FUNDING IF IN ITS OPINION NONE OF THE SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED IS OF SUFFICIENT MERIT.

II. ELIGIBILITY

3.              The Challenge is open to all Singapore-registered startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs) as well as foreign-based startups and SMEs who are registered as a legal entity in Singapore within six (6) months of being appointed as a matched company. All applicants/entrants/participants ("Participants") must be above the age of 18 years old as at the date of entry and must submit their project proposals (“Project Proposals”) detailing their solution to a particular challenge statement (“Challenge Statement”) launched under the Challenge, via the official website at https://qatar.innovation-challenge.sg

4.              Employees, representatives, and family members of the Joint Organisers should declare such relationships to the Joint Organisers that they are submitting their Project Proposals to.

5.              Project Proposals with solutions that have received funding from other programs run by government agencies or statutory boards should declare the funding received and project details to the Organiser.

6.              Institutes of Higher Learning and Research Institutes may only participate by:

Submitting a joint proposal with a startup/SME (the startup/SME has to co-develop the solution, lead the proposal submission and eventually commercialise the proposed solution).

7.              Funding eligibility

I.For all challenge statements under the Qatar-Singapore Joint Innovation Challenge, Enterprise Singapore may support awarded innovators* with the Proof-of-Concept (“POC”) Development Grant (for eligible enterprises). Eligibility for the grant, actual quantum, early stage POC milestones tied to the grant and payment tranche(s) will be assessed by Enterprise Singapore, in consultation with the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI Council), the challenge owners and the awarded innovator.

II. In addition, the QRDI Council may offer financial support to awarded innovators* for the purpose of solution development and conducting pilot testing. The specific financial terms and conditions governing such support shall be negotiated and established through collaborative discussions involving the QRDI Council, the challenge owner, and the awarded innovator.

Eligibility criteria and conditions apply*

*Both funding support will only be awarded to Singapore-registered startups and SMEs. Foreign-based startups and SMEs may be considered if they are registered as a legal entity in Singapore within six (6) months of being appointed as a matched company. For applications by a consortium or group of companies, the grant will be awarded to the lead applicant.

III. REGISTRATION

8.              Participants are required to register for the Challenge by submitting a Project Proposal via the official website of the Challenge at https://qatar.innovation-challenge.sg and the same must be received by the Joint Organisers on or before 1 March 2024 at 23.59 PM (midnight GMT+8) Singapore Time ("Entry Deadline"). Each submission must be accurate and contain all required information. Incomplete or late entries may not be entertained. The Joint Organisers accept no responsibility for any late, lost or misdirected submissions including delays and/or failure of any electronic or telecommunication systems, including but not limited to technical faults and/or network disruptions/congestions. The Joint Organisers are not responsible for any technical or human error which may occur during the registration and/or administration of the Challenge.

9.              In the case where submissions do not comply with the eligibility criteria, the submission of an application does not guarantee the Participant the opportunity to participate in the Challenge. The Organiser reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion, to reject or refuse participation of any Participant without providing any reason whatsoever.

10.           Participants may be required by the Organiser to provide further information and shall do so within the timeframe specified by the Organiser for the information to be furnished, failing which the Participant would be deemed to have withdrawn from the Challenge.

11.           The official language of the Challenge is English. All Challenge matters, including registration, correspondence, and project submission, etc. must be completed in English.

12.           As part of the registration process for the Challenge, Participants will disclose personal information which may constitute “Personal Data” for the purposes of the Personal Data Protection Act (“PDPA”) of Singapore. Each Participant is deemed to have consented to the Joint Organisers’ collection, use and processing of the said Personal Data for the purposes of administering and conducting the Challenge, and further consents to the receipt of marketing material from the Organiser, the Co-Organiser and/or the Challenge Owners and any of its related companies.

13.           By entering the Challenge, each Participant represents and warrants that he: (a) meets all eligibility requirements of the Challenge; (b) has complied with and will comply in all respects with these Rules, and all applicable laws; and (c) the information provided in the entrant's submission, including without limitation all contact information, is true, accurate, and complete in all respects.

14.           Any false information provided within the context of the Challenge by any Participant or non-compliance with any of these Rules, or the like, may result in the immediate elimination of the Participant from the Challenge.

15.           Without prejudice to any of the foregoing, the Joint Organisers reserve the right to suspend or terminate any Participant from the Challenge in the event that clauses 15 and 16 are breached.

IV. JUDGING

16.           The Organiser and Challenge Owners will reserve the sole discretion to shortlist solutions which may be further evaluated by a panel that may consist of representatives from the Organiser, the Challenge Owners and/or other Industry experts invited by the Organiser and Challenge Owners (“Panel”).

17.           The Panel’s decisions in all matters relating to the Challenge, including eligibility of the Participants and the selection of the winners, will be final and shall not be obliged to entertain any correspondence or queries in relation to the same. The Panel shall not be obliged to select a winner if, in their view, none of the Project Proposals is of sufficient merit. Participants are advised to understand the judging criteria well to improve their chances of success.

18.           The Challenge Owners may, in their sole discretion, and independent of the Organiser and Co-Organiser choose to further develop any Project Proposals with any of the Participants participating in the Challenge.

19.           The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify entries which, in their sole discretion, are deemed irrelevant, offensive, and/or do not comply with these Rules. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify or replace any winner if they or he or she is found to be in breach of these Rules or otherwise disqualified. Such disqualified winners will be required to refund the full amount of any funding awarded.

20.           From the moment of registration for the Challenge, all Participants acknowledge and agree to be present or designate a representative, for all meetings, presentation/pitching sessions, prototype testing trial sessions, the judging and award ceremony as scheduled by the Organiser (“Events”) if applicable. At least one (1) team member is to be present at any Event to represent the team. However, all team members are encouraged to attend and participate. In the event that the Participant(s) cannot be present, a valid reason must be given as early as possible. Failure to comply may result in the Participant and/or the team being disqualified from the Challenge.

21.           Participant(s) that are disqualified from the Challenge will be removed from the Challenge immediately and will have to refund the full amount of any funding awarded at any point during the course of the Challenge (including any extended period), to the Organisers.

V. CHALLENGE PROCESS

22.           Challenge Rounds. The Challenge consists of several rounds:

● APPLICATION (ROUND ONE) | Project Proposals will be accepted from 2 November 2023, 10.00 AM (GMT+8) to 1 March 2024, 23.59 PM (GMT+8).

 

●                SELECTION PHASE - Shortlisting + Clarification (ROUND TWO) | The shortlisting of participants will start on 2 March, 2024 and finish by 8 March, 2024.  The most innovative solutions will be selected and the list of shortlisted innovators will be announced on the platform by March 2024. Clarification will start from April to May 2024. Challenge statement owners will organise 1-to-1 sessions with shortlisted innovators for further discussion and clarification, via online calls or through the challenge platform if applicable. Shortlisted innovators will additionally have the opportunity to upload their improved deliverables by End April 2024. The list of awarded innovators will be announced by June 2024 and will engage in further discussions with the challenge statement owners and the Organisers.

Notification to Participants. Once selection has been completed, Participants will be notified directly on the platform chat about the results of each Round. The Joint Organisers will be free to alter the dates on which results are released should this become necessary due to the number of projects to be assessed.  The Co-Organiser will notify the Participants accordingly.

●                Round One

All Round One Project Proposals must be submitted before 1 March 2024, 23.59 PM (GMT+8). Project Proposals must meet the specifications set out in Section II, above, and include:

●                Answers to the participation form

●                5-10 slides PDF proposal deck, in English only, addressing the following issues:

1.              Details of Applicant

2.              Executive Summary

3.              Ability to execute

4.              Detailed project proposal, including

●                Technical feasibility of solution and novelty

●                Effectiveness in addressing the challenge

●                Potential benefits

●                Operational feasibility

●                Business feasibility of solution Capacity and expertise to execute

●                Details on POC/MVP if applicable; Desired deliverables/milestones and outcomes of projects Others (as specifically requested by Challenge Brief)

●                Round Two

Round Two will consist of Shortlisting and Clarification by the Challenge Statement Owners.

Shortlisting following Round One will proceed as follows:

“Criteria-based” voting will take place in March 2024.

The voters (the Organiser and Challenge Owners) (the “Voters”) may evaluate and select the Project Proposals based on their content and the following criteria:

●                Technical feasibility of solution and novelty (40%)

●                Business feasibility of solution (30%)

●                Capacity and expertise to execute projects (20%)

●                Clarity & comprehensiveness of proposal and test plans (10%)

Additional criteria might be added at a later stage. The Co-Organiser shall inform all Participants if this were to happen, as well as update the Challenge Website accordingly.

Shortlisted innovators will be announced by April/May 2024.

Clarification will proceed as follows:

Challenge statement owners, if applicable, will organise 1-to-1 sessions with shortlisted innovators for further discussion and clarification, via offline calls or through the challenge platform. Shortlisted innovators will additionally have the opportunity to upload their improved deliverables by May 2024.

The improved deliverables should include:

●                A more detailed Proposal Deck of the solution (20 slides maximum)

●                Introduction Video by Founder, CEO, top-level management explaining the solution, lasting approximately 2 minutes.

Based on the results the list of awarded innovators will be announced by June 2024 and will engage in further discussions with the challenge statement owners and the Organiser.

VI. ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES

23.           The incentives are awarded to the winners of the Challenge and are subject to compliance with the following cumulative conditions:

● The Project Proposals comply with clause 21

● Each Participant of a winning project complies with clause 22

● The winning Participants fulfil all applicable conditions of eligibility set out in Sections II and III.

The Joint Organisers reserve the right to not award incentives to winners who do not fulfil any of the above conditions, in which case the Joint Organisers reserve the right to withdraw the incentives and pick a replacement winner.

Subject to these Terms and Conditions, the benefits for the shortlisted and finalist Participants may include the following ("Indicative Benefits").

○                Innovators that meet eligibility criteria (refer to clause 7 and 8) for grant application may be provided with funding support for solution development in each challenge statement.

●                Depending on the challenge statements, other incentives may be provided by Challenge Owners – refer to the Challenge Statements tab for more detailed information

For the avoidance of doubt, the Joint Organisers make no guarantee as to the provision of the Indicative Benefits. The Joint Organisers shall not be responsible for any risk or be liable for any claims, demands, liabilities, expenses, losses, cost or damage in connection with the provision or non-provision of any of the Indicative Benefits.

No assignment or transfer of incentives is allowed by a winner. If a potential winner cannot be reached, is unable to accept the incentives or any portion of the incentives for any reason, Joint Organisers shall have no further obligation to such potential winner. Joint Organisers will not replace any lost or stolen incentives after being awarded to winners. Winners will accept the incentives “as it is”. Joint Organisers disclaims any warranty regarding the incentives.

In the event a Participant (a winner) cannot be reached, by email or by phone, for more than three (3) months after the first attempt to reach them was made, he/she will be deemed as having waived their right to claim the incentives and will not be entitled to any incentives or any kind of compensation.

If the incentives as initially planned are unavailable, Joint Organisers will be free to substitute another incentive of similar value. Any such decision is at Joint Organisers’ sole discretion.

Any Participant who does not fulfil the conditions of Participation as provided in the Rules during their registration and/or at any time during the Challenge will be summarily disqualified from the Challenge without prior notice and will not be entitled to any incentives. In the event that an incentive is awarded to a Participant who does not meet the conditions of Participation when registering or throughout the duration of the Challenge, Joint Organisers reserve the right to require the Participant to return the awarded incentives.

VII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (“IP”)

24.           By registering for the Challenge and submitting a Project Proposal, each Participant affirms that:

I. the Project Proposal is his/her/the company’s original work;

II. the Participant(s) have the necessary rights to submit the Project Proposal; and

III. the Participant(s)’ submission does not violate any law or regulation or any rights of any third party.

25.           The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any Participant in a scenario where the Organiser believes in its sole and absolute discretion that the submitted Project Proposal or any part thereof infringes upon or violates the rights of any third party.

26.           Participants shall indemnify and hold harmless the Organiser, the Co-Organiser, and their respective officers against any claims or costs relating to a breach of this term.

27.           Shortlisted Participants and Finalist Participants shall not enter their ideas or any part of the Project Proposal (including software, prototypes or products) in another competition unless the Challenge Owners that the Participants submitted their Project Proposals to, have turned down their first right of refusal (as defined below in clause 28), and in any case not before the end of the Challenge Period.”

28.           Shortlisted Participants and Finalist Participants shall grant the Challenge Owners a right of first refusal ("ROFR") to collaborate with said Shortlisted Participant or Finalist Participant on any commercialisation of IP generated during this Challenge ("Challenge IP"). The ROFR shall expire and cease to have effect 45 days after the end of the application phase on 1 March 2024, 23.59 PM (GMT+8). For the avoidance of doubt, the ROFR extends to intended commercialisation of the Challenge IP by the Shortlisted or Finalist Participant alone. Any extension of the ROFR validity period shall be negotiated between the Shortlisted or Finalist Participant and Organiser and/or Challenge Owners before its expiry. Participants shall fully retain their respective background IP rights, unless otherwise agreed between the Organiser and/or Challenge Owners and the Participant. Alternate or future arrangements of IP ownership shall be negotiated separately between the Participants and respective Challenge Owners and independent of the Organiser, after submission of the Project Proposal.

29.           The agreements and arrangements referred to in the preceding clause 29 are solely between the Participant and the Challenge Owners. The Organiser and the Challenge Owners are neither party to these agreements and arrangements nor responsible or liable for the same. Participants undertake in favour of the Organiser and Challenge Owners not to institute, commence or continue any proceedings (whether legal, arbitral, administrative or otherwise) against the Organiser and/or Challenge Owners in relation to the aforesaid agreements and arrangements between Participants and Challenge Owners.

VIII. TERMS OF ORGANISER AND CHALLENGE OWNERS

30.           Participants shall agree to fully observe the terms of the Organiser and Challenge Owners, if applicable.

IX. MEDIA USAGE

31.           By entering this Challenge, Participants consent to the use of their personal data defined above in clause 11 by the Joint Organisers for the purposes of any post-Challenge activities and/or publicity. Participants agree to take part in any publicity relating to the Challenge as well as to the use of their names and photographs in such publicity.

32.           Participants acknowledge and agree to participate and cooperate in all media and promotional activities relating to the Challenge, including but not limited to being interviewed, photographed and videoed. Participants grant the Organiser a no-royalty/fee, world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, display and/or create derivative works of such footages and photographs in all media worldwide, including online social media and networking websites without compensation (unless prohibited by law) and without prior inspection or approval.

33.           Participants agree to execute additional specific consents to such use if asked to do so.

X. LIABILITY

34.           Whilst reasonable precaution will be taken by the Joint Organisers to ensure safety of all the Participants, each Participant acknowledges and agrees that his or her participation in the Challenge is at his or her own risk. Upon registration for the Challenge, the Participant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Organiser, their subsidiaries/associated companies, the Challenge Owners and Co-organiser, including their respective officers, employees, contractors and agents, from and against any and all claims, causes of action, damages, obligations, losses (including any loss of opportunity), liabilities (including negligence), personal injuries, costs or debt, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) and all amounts paid in settlement arising from or relating to, whether directly or indirectly, special or consequential, to the Participant’s participation in the Challenge. The Joint Organisers may assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter for which Participants have agreed to indemnify the Joint Organisers. Participants agree to assist and cooperate with the Joint Organisers in the defense or settlement of any such matters.

35.           Each Participant is required to take all appropriate safety measures including obtaining appropriate insurance coverage (if necessary) throughout this Challenge covering but not limited to designing and developing the prototype, conducting the prototype trials including any visits to the Organiser or the Challenge Owners’ premises.

XI. GENERAL

36.           These Rules shall constitute the entire agreement between the Organiser and the Participant and supersede all prior representations, arrangements, understandings and agreements between the Parties (whether oral or written) relating to the subject matter herein contained.

37.           If any of the clauses of these Rules is found to be invalid for any reason whatsoever, such invalidity shall not affect the validity and operation of the other remaining provisions of these Rules.

38.           Headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Rules.

39.           Participants shall not be entitled to assign any of the rights and obligations under these Rules without the express written consent of the Organiser.

40.           Nothing in these Rules shall operate so as to create a partnership or joint venture of any kind between the Parties.

41.           The Joint Organisers reserves the right to amend the Rules at their discretion and without having to give prior notification. The Participant will be notified of the change after the terms are updated and the continued participation of the Participants in the Challenge will be deemed to indicate their acceptance of the changes.

42.           Unless expressly provided to the contrary, and save for the Challenge Owners, a person who is not a party to these Rules has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act, Chapter 53B of Singapore to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of these Rules.

43.           These Rules shall be construed, governed, and interpreted in all respects in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore and the Parties agree to submit all disputes and claims in respect to these Rules to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the Republic of Singapore.