SMU officially launched its Retail Centre of Excellence (RCoE) on 10 October 2017 – the first and only retail insight-sharing hub in Singapore – focused on generating and disseminating actionable knowledge for retailers in Singapore, Asia and beyond. A joint initiative between SMU, SPRING Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board, the RCoE aims to empower retailers with the know-how through research and insights, and build an ecosystem (comprising retailers, retail experts, knowledge partners, SMU faculty and student talent) to ride the winds of change.  The RCoE also aims to attract and develop a talent pipeline for the retail industry, with SMU offering its undergraduates a new retail services management track. The first cohort of students will graduate by April 2019.

Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said at the launch of the RCoE that it is increasingly important for retailers to be aware of wider retail trends in order to adapt and seize new opportunities in light of new challenges.

The Centre, helmed by SMU Professor of Marketing Kapil R. Tuli, is joined by a group of Founding Members – DFS Venture, Microsoft, Harvey Norman, IKEA, Popular Holdings, Decathlon and Tiffany and Co.