Singapore Mediation Center

What Singapore Mediation Center does

Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) is a Singapore-headquartered, private non-profit alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider launched on 16 August 1997 by then Chief Justice Yong Pung How and operated in close partnership with the Singapore Academy of Law, the Singapore Judiciary, and the Ministry of Law. SMC is one of four designated mediation service providers under Singapore's Mediation Act 2017, a statutory designation that enables mediated settlements to be converted into immediately enforceable court orders. The organization offers three core service lines — mediation, adjudication under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act, and neutral evaluation — and operates a portfolio of sector-specific schemes covering telecommunications (IMDA), retail leases, family matters (Collaborative Family Practice with the Family Justice Courts), infrastructure projects over S$500m (SIDP), intellectual property (IPOS), domain names (SGNIC), healthcare, insurance, estate agency, and private education.

SMC's underlying technology stack is modest: it runs an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) chatroom platform for the IMDA telecommunications ADR scheme and serves as administrative backbone for schemes administered on behalf of multiple Singapore statutory bodies. Differentiated intellectual property includes the INTEGRAF framework for unbundling complex commercial disputes and the Singapore Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy Service (SDRP). SMC also operates a professional training and credentialing business delivered via the WizLearn LMS, including Strategic Conflict Management Modules 1 and 2, Mediation Skills Assessment, and SIMI/IMI accreditation pathways.

SMC's revenue model is predominantly transactional: mediation and adjudication fees are pegged to claim quantum, with mediation fees starting at S$218 (claims ≤S$60,000) up to S$981+ per party per day (claims above S$60,000); neutral evaluation carries admin fees of S$763–S$2,180 plus hourly evaluator fees of S$500–S$1,200. Training programs (e.g., Module 2 at S$1,989.25) and recurring Singapore Mediation Charter signatory relationships (over 100 organizations) provide supplementary revenue. Distribution is direct via website self-serve application and the Supreme Court Lane premises, with no resellers; marketing leverages SAL co-branding, LinkedIn, the annual Singapore Mediation Lecture, the Asian Journal on Mediation, and free model mediation clauses embedded into commercial contracts.

Name

Singapore Mediation Center

Legal name

Singapore Mediation Centre

Website

https://mediation.com.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) is a Singapore-based, statutory non-profit ADR provider offering mediation, adjudication, and neutral evaluation across commercial, construction, family, IP, and infrastructure disputes. It serves enterprises, government agencies, and individuals under Singapore's Mediation Act 2017 designation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NAICS

Other Legal Services (54119)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mediation, Negotiation Support & Peace Processes (BPADAFAC)

Keywords

• Alternative dispute resolution
• Mediation services
• Neutral evaluation
• Mediation training
• Online dispute resolution

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Mediation Services: Fees for mediation services are pegged to the sum of the claim and counterclaim. For disputes above $60,000, the fee starts from $981 (inclusive of GST) per party per day. For disputes below or equal to $60,000, fees start from $218 (inclusive of GST) per party for a four-hour session, with hourly charges thereafter.
2. Adjudication Services: SMC is an Authorised Nominating Body administering adjudication applications under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act. Adjudication application fees and adjudicator fee deposits are collected from claimants.
3. Neutral Evaluation Services: Administrative fees for neutral evaluation range from $763 to $2,180 (inclusive of GST) depending on the sum in dispute, plus neutral evaluator fees ranging from $500 to $1,200 per hour.
4. Training Programs: SMC generates revenue from professional training courses including Strategic Conflict Management Modules 1 and 2, Mediation Skills Assessment accreditation, and customized corporate training programs. Module 1 costs range from S$366.60 to S$1,024.60 depending on funding eligibility. Module 2 costs S$1,989.25 inclusive of GST.
5. Singapore Mediation Charter: Free charter membership with benefits including discounted mediation fees ($500 off for claims above $250,000) and training discounts (15% off published rates) for member organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Singapore Mediation Centre is a private non-profit institution that delivers alternative dispute resolution services in Singapore, principally mediation, neutral evaluation, and adjudication. It runs domain-specific schemes for banking, construction, community, family, and medical negligence disputes, and is one of four designated mediation service providers under Singapore's Mediation Act 2017.

Product overview

Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) is Singapore's leading provider of alternative dispute resolution services, offering a comprehensive suite of services including mediation, adjudication, and neutral evaluation as its core offerings. SMC operates as a unified service platform rather than a modular software product—it provides direct dispute resolution services delivered by trained human mediators, adjudicators, and neutral evaluators. The core mediation service is complemented by specialized dispute resolution mechanisms including the Singapore Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy Service (SDRP) for IP disputes, Collaborative Family Practice (CFP) for matrimonial matters, the Singapore Infrastructure Dispute-Management Protocol (SIDP) for large construction projects, and INTEGRAF for complex commercial conflicts. SMC also provides sector-specific ADR schemes for telecommunications, retail premises, and various industry sectors. In addition to dispute resolution services, SMC offers professional training and credentialing programmes including Strategic Conflict Management Modules 1 and 2, Mediation Skills Assessment (MSA), and international accreditations through SIMI and IMI. SMC serves as one of four designated mediation service providers under Singapore's Mediation Act 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediation Services General commercial and civil mediation administered by SMC under its mediation rules, conducted by accredited SMC mediators. Used by businesses and individuals to resolve disputes privately, confidentially, and faster than litigation.
• Neutral Evaluation A non-binding expert assessment by an SMC neutral on the merits of a dispute, intended to facilitate settlement. Used by parties seeking an independent expert view to inform negotiations or mediation.
• Adjudication A binding or interim-binding determination of a dispute by an SMC adjudicator, typically used as a faster interim dispute-resolution mechanism in commercial and construction contexts.
• Banking Mediation Scheme (SMC-BAM/BAM-IMAS) A specialized mediation scheme for banking and financial services disputes between financial institutions and their customers or counterparties, run by SMC with the Banking Association of Singapore.
• Construction Mediation Scheme (SMC-REDAS) A specialized mediation scheme for construction industry disputes involving developers, contractors, consultants, and other industry parties, delivered by SMC in partnership with Singapore Institute of Architects and REDAS.
• Community Mediation Scheme Mediation service for community-level disputes among residents or community members, intended to resolve邻里/communal issues amicably outside of court.
• Family Mediation Scheme Mediation service tailored for family disputes (e.g., divorce, custody, family conflicts), delivered by SMC-accredited family mediators as a confidential alternative to contested family proceedings.
• Medical Negligence Mediation Scheme A specialized mediation pathway for medical negligence disputes, pairing medical-domain expertise with mediation to resolve healthcare-related claims.
• IMDA Consumer Mediation Scheme (Telecom) A consumer mediation scheme for telecom and infocomm consumer disputes, designated by IMDA and operated by SMC, providing individual consumers a structured low-friction pathway to resolve disputes with service providers.
• Mediation Training and Accreditation (Singapore Mediation Academy) Structured mediation training courses (foundational and advanced) and accredited mediator credentialing delivered through the Singapore Mediation Academy, for legal professionals, HR practitioners, aspiring mediators, and organizations.
• Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Service An online dispute resolution platform that enables parties and mediators to conduct mediation sessions remotely, supporting case management and communications for SMC-administered mediations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% of cases settle, with over 90% of settled cases resolved within one day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Singapore Academy of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 1997SMC was launched by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) and operates in close partnership with SAL. SMC's email domains and some communications reference sal.org.sg, indicating deep institutional integration.
• Singapore JudiciarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC is supported by the Singapore Judiciary and serves as one of four designated mediation service providers under Singapore's Mediation Act 2017. Former judges serve on SMC's panels and Board.
• Ministry of Law SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC is supported by the Ministry of Law and collaborates on developing mediation legislation and schemes.
• International Mediation Institute (IMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC is a founding member of the International Mediation Institute based in the Netherlands, which sets competency standards for mediators worldwide. SMC offers credentialing programs recognized by IMI.
• Asian Mediation AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC played a key role in the formation of the Asian Mediation Association, contributing to regional ADR development.
• Singapore Chamber of Maritime ArbitrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC collaborated with SCMA for Arb-Med-Arb (AMA) procedures under their respective Arbitration Rules, enabling integrated dispute resolution combining arbitration and mediation.
• Law Society of SingaporemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC collaborated with the Law Society for Arb-Med-Arb procedures under the Law Society Arbitration Scheme, enabling integrated dispute resolution pathways.
• Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMDA developed the Telecommunication and Subscription Television ADR Scheme which is fully administered by SMC. The scheme provides consumers and small businesses an avenue to resolve telecom and media disputes.
• Family Justice CourtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Family Justice Courts support the Collaborative Family Practice (CFP) scheme administered by SMC. CFP is a pre-action process that takes place before divorce or matrimonial proceedings.
• Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC administers the Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme (REMPS) for IP disputes, with mediation forms and fee schedules available through IPOS.
• SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC's training programmes are SkillsFuture Singapore accredited and eligible for SSG funding, making mediation training accessible to Singapore residents.
• Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC administers the Council for Estate Agencies Mediation Sub-Scheme for property disputes involving estate agents, with specific rules, forms, and fee schedules.
• Singapore Medical CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC administers supplementary rules for mediation under the Singapore Medical Council Scheme for healthcare-related disputes.
• Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC administers mediation under the Healthcare Mediation Scheme or Small Case Healthcare Mediation Scheme for healthcare disputes.
• Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC administers the Singapore Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (SDRP) adopted by SGNIC for resolving '.sg' domain name disputes out of court.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center: Specialized UN-affiliated center providing ADR for IP and technology disputes including domain name disputes under UDRP and SDRP. Direct overlap with SMC's SDRP service and IP mediation activity, though WIPO's scope is broader and globally scaled.
• Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB): Korea's national ADR institution providing domestic and international arbitration and mediation. Comparably positioned to SMC as a regionally backed ADR center with mediation and training programs, though serving the Korean market primarily.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: Large US private ADR provider offering mediation, arbitration and ADR training across multiple sectors. Comparable in operating mediation as a service business with retired-judge panelists, though at much greater scale and in a different jurisdiction.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA) / ICDR: Long-established US-based ADR institution providing mediation, arbitration and training for domestic and international disputes (ICDR for cross-border). Operates the same diversified ADR + training model as SMC, though at considerably larger scale.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): Hong Kong's leading regional ADR institution covering arbitration, mediation and domain name disputes. Comparable as a flagship Asia-based ADR center competing for cross-border commercial dispute flow and offering mediation alongside arbitration.
• International Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Services (ICC ADR): Global ADR Rules and case administration service operated by the ICC, providing mediation and arbitration for international commercial disputes. Comparable as a globally recognized ADR administrator with mediation and training offerings targeting high-value cross-border matters.

Direct peers

• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): Singapore's flagship international arbitration institution operated under the same auspices as SMC, providing overlapping dispute resolution services (arbitration vs mediation) and occasionally collaborating through Arb-Med-Arb procedures. Direct comparator for cross-border ADR volumes and talent.
• Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA): Singapore-based ADR body specifically focused on maritime arbitration but co-delivers Arb-Med-Arb pathways with SMC. Comparably small institution in Singapore's ADR ecosystem, with overlapping clientele in shipping and trade disputes.
• Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR): UK-based not-for-profit ADR and mediation center with established training, accreditation and mediation services. Closely comparable business model combining mediation services, commercial training and standards work, serving as a global benchmark for centers like SMC.

Emerging players

• Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI): Operates an international recognition scheme for mediators and offers credentialing closely tied to SMC's training programs. Sister institution in the Singapore mediation ecosystem with overlapping mediator accreditation activity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/singapore-mediation-centre
• Facebookfacebook.com/singaporemediation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Singapore Mediation Center