Immersive Field Courses: IFCs require a firm commitment and carry a financial obligation. Financial aid is available in the form of a student loan, a need-based HBS scholarship, or a combination of both depending on your individual circumstances. The Add/Drop process at the start of the term is the mechanism for any IFC enrollment changes, and, after that point, the course fee is non-refundable. Refer to the GEO website for full details on IFCs and be sure you understand the Course Policies and Course Fee & Financial Aid. Visit IFC Financial Aid for a quick assessment to determine your eligibility and process or contact finaid@hbs.edu for more information.

Enrollment: Limited to 45 MBA students (due to the nature of IFCs, auditing is not permitted)

Career Focus

The course will expose participants to the environment in Singapore, offering an in-depth exploration of the

country's ecosystem with particular focus on the government’s efforts to facilitate an innovation hub that is

durable and relevant. The course is specifically designed to expose and evaluate the government’s role in fostering Innovation. We will also examine the role of Singapore in the evolving geopolitical environment. We will spend time on the various ways in which the Singapore Government has helped create the infrastructure, workforce, policies and incentives that attract entrepreneurs and private investors.

How much government support is enough? Is there a point at which support stifles innovation? How sustainable is the level of support?

The course will address these questions, examining the challenges of ensuring growth and long-term success on a global stage. Through interactions with government entities, investors, startups, multinational companies and academic centers, students will gain comprehensive insights into how each pillar functions. Our meetings will contemplate Singapore’s position in the APAC region, explore the role of its diverse population, stability, and transparency relative to other markets. We have secured a strong lineup of speakers, each leaders in their respective fields, to offer students a broad range of perspectives as they engage with the coursework.

Educational Objectives

Through immersing students in Singapore’s burgeoning biotech and technology innovation landscape and assessing the role of government programs and financial investment in driving this growth, exploration, and learning will center on a few key questions:

• The State of Singapore – How does the country’s industrial policy work?
• Singapore’s industrial policy has attempted to catalyze its innovation economy. How has this worked in practice and how will Singapore attract, retain, and develop top talent? Are its education and immigration policies sufficient to support this growth?
• What impact does Singapore’s geographic location have on its growth?
• As a strategic hub in the Asia-Pacific region, how does Singapore's position enhance its appeal to global businesses and investors? Is there an arbitrage on China, and will Singapore have to pick sides?
• What is Singapore's five-year and ten-year vision, and what are the potential advantages and challenges?
• How do students assess Singapore's strategic goals over the medium and long-term horizon?
• What are the likely advantages and challenges that will emerge as the country aims to further cement its role as a global hub?
• For the individual companies we visit throughout the course, how do Singapore’s policies and attributes help or impede their missions?

Course Content and Model

Overview and Introduction: In Fall 2025, we will hold approximately three sessions to provide students with a foundational understanding of Singapore’s rapidly expanding innovation landscape, framed around the government, finance, technology and biotech sectors. These sessions will highlight both the opportunities and challenges of launching and operating a venture within the region. Experts from Singapore’s private and public sectors will share their insights, offering a balanced perspective. The Fall classes will cover (preliminary): political history, geopolitical positioning, business environment and economic development, public/private partnerships and key sectors with a focus on information technology and biotechnology.

Upon arrival in Singapore in January, student teams will partner with one of the four pillars. Throughout the week, they will attend meetings across all four pillars while getting to know and working for their assigned entity and engaging with its representatives. At the end of the week, each team will present their findings, focusing principally on the role the region has played, on how their entity is influenced positively and negatively in the Singapore ecosystem and its intercross with the other pillars. The cohort will reconvene and present their view of the ecosystem to representatives.

Deliverables: Each student will present their personal take-aways at a Capstone event. Final grades will consider: (i) participation and attendance during the class sessions in the Fall semester, as well as in Singapore; (ii) engagement with project partners; (iii) on-site activities; (iv) feedback from organizations; and (v) a final report.

Tours: Students will have the opportunity to take part in company and government visits as well as various cultural activities. Students will come to appreciate the unique operating environment in Singapore.

Course Credit and Fees

Students will receive 3 credits upon successful completion of this course.

HBS will provide logistical support for the immersion (including accommodations, select meals, and local travel arrangements). Students will be charged a course fee towards defraying a portion of these costs. Students are responsible for booking and paying for their own round-trip air travel and any costs associated with required visa documentation and immunizations. Students should ensure adequate processing time for all visas, as travel fees are not refundable if a student does not secure visas on time.

For detailed information about what the course program fee includes and excludes, as well as information about student accommodations, please visit the GEO website or email geo@hbs.edu.

GEO continuously evaluates the safety and logistical feasibility of running Immersive Field Courses in each location. Please be aware that IFCs can be canceled at any time due to changes in global health and safety or other unforeseen circumstances. Students will not be redistributed into another IFC, nor will a new course be developed. Course fees will be refunded.

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