Standard Chartered Bank and SMU have collaborated to establish an innovation laboratory. The Standard Chartered iLab@SMU will conduct leading-edge research and development in business and financial products, services and technology for the bank’s global network. Standard Chartered will provide an annual funding of US$1 million for the iLab that will go towards research work undertaken by project teams comprising SMU faculty and students, along with the bank’s staff. The 90-metre square laboratory, located in the School of Information Systems at SMU, will be managed jointly by the two parties.

Standard Chartered and SMU both believe that the intersection of business challenges, research advances, technology development and diverse talent recruitment creates the ideal environment for innovation. The SMU curriculum, together with Standard Chartered business focus, creates a unique opportunity to develop and apply innovations. This programme underscores the bank’s commitment and belief in talent development by creating opportunities to groom future talent. In line with this, Standard Chartered and SMU also have jointly launched the Young Stars Programme in order to identify and attract top minds for early employment with the bank.