The secret is out: how Singapore is manufacturing the future

The secret is out: how Singapore is manufacturing the future

Singapore is well known as a financial and business hub. But you might be surprised to learn one of our nation’s best-kept secrets: our edge in advanced manufacturing, which accounts for approximately 20% of our GDP. For perspective, that puts us on par with industrial powerhouses like Germany and Japan, and well ahead of many other developed economies.

Products and components manufactured here power the global economy. Take healthcare, for example: eight of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical giants manufacture right here in Singapore, producing critical, life-saving supplies – including Covid-19 vaccines. Behind this success is a robust manufacturing ecosystem, developed over decades by the Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

And that’s just the baseline. Today, a new wave of homegrown innovators is redefining what it means to manufacture in Singapore.

Here are the names you need to know.

Space tech: onward to new frontiers

Many of the advanced technologies and components that power modern satellites are designed right here in Singapore.

Aliena

Year established: 2018

Claim to fame: Inventing tiny plasma engines that run on much less power than conventional propulsion engines. This makes them perfect for satellites flying closer to Earth to capture rich images and data.

Global impact: This makes vital Earth observation data and global telecommunications more accessible and affordable for industries worldwide.

Transcelestial

Year established: 2016

Claim to fame: Building CENTAURI, a shoe-box-sized device that uses highly precise lasers to beam fibre-optic-speed internet without the need for physical underground cables.

Global impact: Accelerates the setup of telecommunications infrastructure to connect underserved communities, upgrade city grids, and power highly secure defence and space communications.

Robotics: engineering the new workforce

As the global economy faces labour shortages, Singapore is developing automation technologies that allow businesses to do more with less. This is supported by the National Robotics Programme, whose initiatives are designed to accelerate everything from research to industry adoption.

dConstruct

Year established: 2021

Claim to fame: Developing d.ASH, a powerful software platform that enables autonomous robots to navigate complex and hard-to-reach places without relying on GPS.

Global impact: By allowing industries like construction and defence to scan buildings and hazardous environments with robots alone, dConstruct’s technology improves operational efficiency while keeping human workers out of harm's way.

LionsBot

Year established: 2018

Claim to fame: Introducing the world's first subscription-based commercial cleaning robot service, using some of the world’s most water-efficient (and personable!) machines.

Global impact: Thousands of LionsBot’s AI-powered robots are deployed in more than 30 countries. By handling heavy scrubbing, the machines free up human crews to work on more complex tasks. The drastic reduction in water usage supports cost efficiency and sustainability, too.

Medtech: designing the future of care

Singapore has evolved from producing basic medical supplies to leading medical breakthroughs. Sophisticated systems developed here allow doctors to see the unseen and treat the previously untreatable.

Sunningdale Tech

Year established: 2005

Claim to fame: Engineering high-precision plastics trusted by major healthcare, tech, and automotive brands to build their most complex components.

Global impact: Manufactures sometimes invisible, yet essential parts that power our daily lives – from critical elements in life-saving medical devices to lightweight components for electric vehicles – across advanced facilities in nine countries.

Advanced MedTech

Year established: 2019

Claim to fame: Pioneering the world's first non-invasive shockwave treatment for kidney stones through its subsidiary, Dornier MedTech.

Global impact: Raises the standard of urological care for millions of patients worldwide. Beyond shockwave treatment, Advanced MedTech is pushing the envelope further with highly effective, less invasive treatments ranging from precision surgical lasers to smart digital health apps.