[20 September 2005]
Opening of the UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre

The UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre is declared open today in the concourse of Singapore Management University 's new city campus in a ceremony graced by Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman & President, United Overseas Bank and Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore Management University .

The UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance, launched in April this year, has successfully raised S$3 million in sponsorship from more than 200 local businesses and individuals. As part of its commitment to nurturing local entrepreneurship, UOB has matched S$1 for every S$2 raised, up to a maximum of S$1 million. The UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Fund will help to finance business projects mandated by local enterprises and undertaken by SMU students. The business projects will be supervised by SMU professors or experienced business mentors such as CEOs and local entrepreneurs.

Associate Professor of Management Tan Wee Liang has been appointed Centre Director of the UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre. Associate Professor Tan is currently the Area Coordinator for Management with SMU's Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Widely known for his research and expertise in entrepreneurship and small businesses, Associate Professor Tan was recently appointed Wilford L. White Fellow by the International Council of Small Business (ICSB). Selection as a Wilford L. White Fellow is the highest recognition that the ICSB gives to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development, furtherance and benefit of small and medium businesses.

The UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre will administer the Alliance Fund and serve as the interface for the local business community to tap onto the readily-available resources and expertise in SMU as well as the panel of business mentors. The Centre will also organise various research and networking activities for the benefit of local enterprises and SMU students. These include breakfast seminars, CEO talks, workshops, CEO mentorship programmes, executive training sessions, annual conferences and dinners. The official website of the Centre is http://www.smu.edu.sg/USEA/

UOB Deputy Chairman and President, Mr Wee Ee Cheong said, “UOB is a dominant player in the SME market. And now we want to take our partnership in their growth to a new level – we hope to garner their continued support in this Alliance that will not only benefit them but also the future entrepreneurs of Singapore .”

SMU President, Professor Howard Hunter said, “The UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre is a laudable example of a tripartite collaboration where a leading regional bank lends financial commitment, a world-class university makes available student and faculty resources, and successful local businesses provide sponsorship and entrepreneurial experience with the objective of nurturing and developing the local business community. We are confident that this will be a boost to the foundation of our new generation of local enterprises as well as propel academic excellence in SMU.”