Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)

What Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA) does

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA) is an academic research institution and training center established in 2016 within Singapore Management University's Yong Pung How School of Law, headquartered at 55 Armenian Street, Singapore. SIDRA is mandated with three core research programs — Dispute Resolution Empirical Research, International Mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation, and Next Generation Dispute Resolution — and publishes the biennial International Dispute Resolution Survey (2019, 2023), among other outputs. It also delivers applied training, most notably the SIDRA-SMULA International Mediation Accreditation Workshop conducted in partnership with Singapore Management University Alumni, which feeds into Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI) accreditation. Its audience comprises legal professionals, arbitrators, mediators, government policymakers, and dispute resolution institutions; its deliverables are commissioned research, surveys, training/accreditation, and convening platforms such as the MENA-Singapore ADR Forum held during Singapore Convention Week.

SIDRA's business model is a professional services and commissioned-research model operating inside a public university structure rather than a commercial SaaS or licensing model. Revenue is generated from training-program fees (accreditation workshops) and commissioned research (for example, the 2024 Review of the Singapore International Arbitration Act for the Singapore Ministry of Law), with no publicly disclosed pricing. The institution is event-driven in its go-to-market, relying on conferences, workshops, closed-door forums, and co-organized sessions with partners including the Ministry of Law, UNCITRAL, ICSID, SIAC, SIMI, and regional bodies in the Philippines and MENA. The technology layer is research and knowledge dissemination — empirical surveys, academic reviews, blog contributions, and convening — rather than a software platform, and SIDRA has no app, API, SDK, or productized technology offering.

Name

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)

Legal name

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy

Website

https://sidra.smu.edu.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SIDRA is an academic research and training academy within Singapore Management University's School of Law that delivers empirical research, mediator accreditation, and policy advisory work on international dispute resolution to legal professionals, governments, and arbitration institutions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education and Dispute Resolution Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies (EDADACAL)

Keywords

• Dispute resolution training
• International arbitration research
• Mediation accreditation
• Alternative dispute resolution
• ADR policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: SIDRA offers mediation accreditation courses and workshops in partnership with SMU and international institutions. Programs include the SIDRA-SMULA International Mediation Accreditation Workshop.
2. Research Commissioning: SIDRA receives commissioned research projects from government bodies such as the Singapore Ministry of Law to review and analyze dispute resolution legislation and practices.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SIDRA is an academic research and training institute that conducts empirical research, delivers mediation accreditation programs, and publishes policy analysis on international dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration. It operates as the first regional hub dedicated to training and educational excellence in negotiation and dispute resolution, anchored at Singapore Management University's School of Law. Its offerings include three mandated research programs, the International Dispute Resolution Survey, commissioned legislative reviews, and professional accreditation workshops for mediators.

Product overview

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA) is an academic research institution and training center at Singapore Management University's Yong Pung How School of Law. SIDRA operates as a platform for thought leadership in international dispute resolution, offering a portfolio of research programs and educational initiatives rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include three mandated research programs: (1) Dispute Resolution Empirical Research, (2) International Mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation, and (3) Next Generation Dispute Resolution. These programs produce publications, surveys, and analysis on dispute resolution theory, practice, and policy. SIDRA also delivers training programs including the SIDRA-SMULA International Mediation Accreditation Workshop for mediator certification. The institution organizes forums and events such as the Building Bridges in ADR forum, and conducts commissioned research projects like the Review of the Singapore International Arbitration Act (2024).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dispute Resolution Empirical Research Research program examining appropriate dispute resolution through empirical research, analyzing current practices and trends in international dispute resolution.
• International Mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation Research program focused on international mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation framework, supporting Singapore's role as a hub for mediation.
• Next Generation Dispute Resolution Research program exploring how dispute resolution processes should be reshaped, examining collaboration between in-house and external lawyers, mixed mode resolution processes combining litigation/arbitration with mediation, and the impact of AI and online contracting.
• Review of the Singapore International Arbitration Act (2024) Commissioned research project by the Singapore Ministry of Law examining whether the International Arbitration Act remains state of the art, comparing developments with other leading arbitration jurisdictions.
• International Dispute Resolution Survey SIDRA's comprehensive survey research on international dispute resolution practices, with reports in 2019 and 2023 examining trends in mediation and arbitration.
• SIDRA-SMULA International Mediation Accreditation Workshop Accreditation workshop for mediators conducted in partnership with Singapore Management University Alumni (SMULA), led by Professor Nadja Alexander and Francis Goh, providing training and certification for mediators.
• Building Bridges in ADR: MENA Meets Singapore Forum Forum showcasing transformative initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region aimed at modernizing and strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, part of Singapore Convention Week.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of mediators trained across multiple continents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Omani & Partners LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025SMU will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Omani & Partners LLP at the MENA-Singapore Forum. The MOU establishes intention to explore jointly coordinated activities including seminars, conferences, workshops, capacity-building, and other events on international dispute resolution, as well as research projects for publication and related materials.
• Singapore Ministry of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SIDRA was commissioned by the Singapore Ministry of Law to conduct a comprehensive review of the Singapore International Arbitration Act (2024), examining whether the IAA remains state of the art and providing recommendations.
• Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023SIDRA participated in a webinar hosted by PIArb on trends in international commercial mediation, sharing research findings with Philippine practitioners.
• Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023SIDRA collaborates with SIMI on mediation accreditation programs and shares joint events in the Philippines supporting the broader Singapore mediation ecosystem.
• Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023Partner organization supporting SIDRA's mediation outreach activities in the Philippines.
• Philippine International Center for Conflict Resolution, Inc. (PICCR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023Supporting organization for SIDRA's webinar activities in the Philippines on commercial mediation trends.
• Fietta LLPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023SIDRA partnered with Fietta LLP to organize a review of recent developments and cases in investor-State dispute settlement.
• Rajah & Tann AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023SIDRA partnered with Rajah & Tann Asia for a panel discussion on contemporary issues in investor-State dispute settlement.
• Ministry of Law, SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023SIDRA co-organized closed-door workshops in conjunction with Ministry of Law, UNCITRAL, and ICSID on government capacity building and investor-State dispute settlement in August 2023.
• UNCITRAL: United Nations Commission on International Trade LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023SIDRA co-organized workshops with UNCITRAL on government capacity building and investor-State dispute settlement, contributing to international efforts in dispute resolution development.
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023SIDRA collaborated with ICSID on closed-door workshops regarding investor-State dispute settlement, supporting capacity building initiatives.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page, both organizations operate in Singapore's dispute resolution ecosystem with collaborative relationships.
• Singapore International Commercial Courts (SICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page, operating within Singapore's comprehensive dispute resolution infrastructure.
• Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page, part of the Singapore mediation ecosystem.
• Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page; SIMI provides mediator accreditation that SIDRA programs support.
• Singapore Mediation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page, part of the Singapore dispute resolution network.
• International Mediation InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related institution on SIDRA's Links page, providing international mediation certification.
• Kluwer Arbitration BlogminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSIDRA Research Associate Angela Abala joined the Kluwer Arbitration Blog editorial team as Assistant Editor for Southeast Asia, helping amplify SIDRA's research visibility to the blog's 150,000 monthly visitors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): Established international arbitration institution referenced for jurisdictional comparison in SIDRA's 2024 Review of the Singapore International Arbitration Act; serves the same corporate counsel and arbitrator communities.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: Global incumbent in international arbitration. Dr. Emad Hussein is empanelled with ICC; SIDRA's research on international arbitration conventions and practice directly overlaps ICC's policy and practitioner engagement.
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID): World Bank institution for investor-State dispute settlement; SIDRA co-organized closed-door workshops with ICSID on investor-State arbitration in 2023. Directly comparable scope in international arbitration training and research.

Emerging players

• Max Planck Institute for Procedural Law (Luxembourg): Academic research institution focused on international procedural and dispute resolution law. Comparable in that it produces research informing legislative reform and practitioner practice — the same role SIDRA plays for Singapore's arbitration framework.

Direct peers

• International Mediation Institute (IMI): Global mediator certification body listed on SIDRA's Links page. SIDRA Research Fellow Francis Goh is IMI Certified, and both operate as credentialing and training platforms for international mediators.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): Leading Asia-based arbitration and mediation institution. SIDRA Research Fellow Dr. Emad Hussein is empanelled as an arbitrator with HKIAC; both institutions serve the international arbitration and mediation community in Asia.
• Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI): Provides mediator accreditation that SIDRA's training programs support; SIDRA alumni are listed as SIMI Level 1 Mediators. Direct collaboration on mediation credentialing makes SIMI a tightly coupled peer.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): Singapore's flagship international arbitration institution, listed by SIDRA as a related institution. Both operate within Singapore's dispute resolution ecosystem and frequently co-engage with practitioners, arbitrators, and academics.
• Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC): Singapore-based mediation institution offering mediation services and training. Listed on SIDRA's Links page and operating within the same Singapore mediation ecosystem, with overlapping practitioner audiences.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb): Global professional body offering accreditation and training for arbitrators and mediators; SIDRA Research Fellow Francis Goh holds FCIArb credentials. Operates in the same dispute resolution training and credentialing market.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sgsmu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/smutubesg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sgsmu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/singapore-international-dispute-resolution-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgsmu
• TikToktiktok.com/@sgsmu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)