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The Chief Innovation Officer Programme: Designing and Leading Innovative Organisations

  • Innovation & Business Improvement
  • Leadership & Management
Next Intake: 26 Nov 2025 (Wed)
  • Intermediate
  • SkillsFuture
  • Short Courses
Next course starts on
26 Nov 2025 (Wed) See Full Schedule
Fee
SGD3,270* (as low as SGD381 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

3 Days

Level
Intermediate

Who Should Attend

Business Leaders and Heads of Departments who are responsible for driving and leading innovation in their organisations, with substantial working experience.

Overview

Innovation is key to organisation and industry competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy. Beyond advanced technologies (such as robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mixed reality), digitalisation, globalisation and new business models have disrupted the way enterprises compete, flourish and thrive.

Increasingly, enterprises have also created corporate level Chief Innovation Officers (CINO) to ensure industry competitiveness, and to transform their companies into Innovative Organisations. 

The Chief Innovation Officer Programme aims to provide both theoretical knowledge and innovation methodologies with practice-based frameworks and experiential projects to equip professionals with the competencies and capacities to transform their companies into Innovative Organisations. 

Topic/Structure

At the end of the 3-day module, participants will be able to:
• Master Innovative Organisation Design
• Apply Innovation Methodologies & Toolkits
• Audit and propose the transformation of an  organisation into an Innovative Organisation via project work/ case study
• Visit Innovation center if situation permits or learn from industry guest speakers 

Assessment

Participants have to meet a minimum attendance rate of 75% and have to complete all assessment(s) required by the course. Only upon meeting the minimum attendance and passing the assessment will participants be issued a Certificate of Completion.

Participants who fail the assessment will be given a chance for re-assessment at a fee of SGD100.00 (excluding prevailing GST). Each participant is allowed 1 re-assessment. The re-assessment has to be taken within 7 calendar days from the end of the course date.  It will be held on a weekday specified by SMU Academy and conducted during office hours. Please note that re-assessment fees are not supported by SSG Funding.

Participants who meet the minimum attendance rate but do not achieve a pass for the assessment will be issued a Certificate of Participation.

Participants are required to bring their laptop to access the course materials, class exercises and individual assessment(s). 

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more infomation about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$981

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$981

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$381

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$3,270

(No Funding)

$3,270

(No Funding)

$3,270

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

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Trainers

Dr NEO KOK BENG
Professor of Practice (Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Zhejiang University
Dr NEO KOK BENG
Professor of Practice (Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Zhejiang University
Dr Neo is an acclaimed engineer, educator, and entrepreneur, specialising in technology innovation strategies and DeepTech ventures. He has received numerous awards, including the President's Design Award and the US Veterans' Affairs Innovation Initiative Award. With a background in academia and industry, he has held visiting positions at prestigious universities worldwide. With over a decade of experience in the Singapore Technologies group, he has excelled in various sectors, including aerospace and information technology. He is involved in over 10 Deep-Tech ventures, spanning medical technology, engineering, and SMART Lifestyle. Dr. Neo holds advanced degrees in innovation, business administration, and engineering, and is recognised for his contributions to engineering accreditation and professional committees.

Testimonials

The Chief Innovation Officer Programme conducted by Dr. Neo Kok Beng is very useful for organizations to learn about Innovation, create an innovation culture, and set up Innovation Lab to succeed in this Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world.
Sathishkumar Ramakrishnan
Senior Engineering Leader / Agile Coach
SPH Media Limited
The course opened various opportunities for me to learn the methodology, strategy, and tools used for Innovation. Dr. Neo has a wealth of experience, skills, and rich, diverse industry connections, that enables him to share and impart as much to us in the 3-day programme. Very satisfied, privileged, and honored to have attended this fantastic SMU Academy course taught by Dr. Neo Kok Beng.
Tan Tee Hwee, Alex
Senior Head of Strategy &amp; Planning
Noble Sky Institute
Practical-oriented course that is very applicable. Innovation should be the central focus of every organisation and this course will provide you with the tools and practical knowledge to help bring your company forward onto the next lap.
Ang Tiat Leong
Partner
Clover Group LLP
Content was very well scoped-out and presented. Dr. Neo is highly competent and experienced, and can empathise with business owners and their needs. If I had attended this programme 10 years ago, my journey as an entrepreneur would had been more successful and delightful.
Michael Ang
Director
HHMK PRODUCTION PTE. LTD.

Additional Details

​​Certified Professional Business Manager (CPBM)

This programme is part of Certified Professional Business Manager. Participants who successfully complete 6 courses/modules with a minimum of 15 training days, from a list of qualifying programmes (terms and conditions apply) within 5 years will receive the Certified Professional Business Manager (CPBM). For example:

Please click here for CPBM details and list of qualifying programmes.

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