Enterprise
Singapore (ESG), formed through the merger of International Enterprise
Singapore and SPRING Singapore, is dedicated to helping Singapore
companies build capabilities, innovate
and internationalise.
According
to latest
press release, ESG is leading a business delegation to Germany to support
Singapore companies in capturing new markets, innovations and partnerships.
ESG and
the Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology
Association (SPETA), in partnership with the Singapore
Economic Development Board (EDB), are currently leading a delegation of 39
Singapore companies to Germany on business missions and to participate in the
first-ever Singapore Pavilion at the world’s leading industrial technology
trade show Hannover Messe.
This
year’s Hannover Messe is taking place from 23 to 27 April 2018. In October
2018, Singapore will host the inaugural Asian edition, Industrial Automation
Asia-Pacific (ITAP).
Singapore Pavilions at Hannover Messe
According
to the press release, manufacturing is a key industry driving Singapore’s
growth, contributing to about 20% of Singapore’s GDP. According to the World
Bank, Singapore is the fourth largest exporter of high-tech goods in the world.
On
the other hand, Germany is globally recognised for Industry 4.0, the
digitalisation of the manufacturing supply chain to optimise the manufacturing
process. Automation and digital technologies benefit the manufacturing sector with
improved efficiency and new business models, through networked factories and
supply chains, shorter product delivery cycles, higher product quality and more
flexible and customisable products.
Given
Singapore’s vibrant innovation ecosystem with strong manufacturers and
manufacturing solution providers, as well as startups and research institutes,
the city-state’s companies and startups are ideal partners for German companies
seeking expansion into Asia.
At
the two Singapore Pavilions at Hannover Messe, 19 Singapore companies are
showcasing their advanced manufacturing products and services. After the show,
22 companies from the manufacturing and energy sectors will continue on two business
missions.
Germany-Singapore Business Forum 2018
At Hannover
Messe, ESG and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) also
organised the biennial Germany-Singapore Business Forum (GSBF) 2018. Over 180
delegates from Singapore and Germany attended GSBF 2018, which featured panel
discussions on co-innovation and partnerships to tap business opportunities in ASEAN,
followed by B2B business matching sessions.
This
significant ESG-SPETA-APA partnership aims to facilitate collaboration between
Singapore SMEs and German Mittelstand. This will help Singapore SMEs to expand
their global networks, learn best practices, access new capabilities, form new
partnerships and tap new customer segments.
“Germany
is well known in the world for its technology and innovation. Enterprise
Singapore is glad to be able to work closely with EDB, SPETA and our GSBF
partner APA to enable Singapore enterprises’ participation in Hannover Messe,
and help them establish partnerships with German Mittelstand to learn best
practices and jointly explore business opportunities in both Europe and Asia,”
said Mr Ted Tan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Singapore.
Partnership with German Accelerator to
boost market access
To
improve market access for startups from both countries and promote Singapore as
an ideal regional launchpad for German startups, ESG signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the German
Accelerator at GSBF 2018.
Both
organisations will facilitate bilateral partnerships for innovation, knowledge
exchange and the sharing of best practices. The MOU signing was witnessed by Singapore
Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) Mr S. Iswaran.
“The
MOU we just signed with the German Accelerator today is a new initiative to
provide support for startups from both countries to partner each other. Our
SMEs and German Mittelstands can also tap on this to identify innovative
solutions by startups as they embark on their I4.0 journey,” said Mr Peter Ong,
Chairman of ESG.
Two new Singapore-Germany partnerships
Two
new partnerships were also announced at GSBF 2018, with the MOU signings
witnessed by Minister Iswaran.
ESG
facilitated SPETA’s partnership with German industry association IVAM
Fachverband für Mikrotechnik (IVAM) to collaborate on the adoption of Industry
4.0 technologies and microtechnology. As a start, both parties will list their
members in each other’s member directory to enable companies to connect to
potential partners.
According
to Mr Steven Koh, Executive Director of SPETA, “the accelerated pace at which
technology is advancing and reshaping the world is intensifying the speed that
Singapore companies must take to transform their businesses”.
“We
are happy to partner Enterprise Singapore in bringing Singapore companies to
exhibit and find new partners at Hannover Messe, and will continue to work
closely with them to help our SMEs adopt Industry 4.0 technologies, innovate
and internationalise,” he said.
The other
MOU was signed between Composite Cluster Singapore (CCS), Sakura Tech and
German companies Covestro and Hufschmied to establish a Composite Application
Centre (CAC) in Singapore as a regional centre of excellence.
Composite
Cluster Singapore (CCS) is active in R&D, engineering, manufacturing,
training and services related to high-performance composites, while Sakura Tech
is a Singapore plastics solutions provider, principally engaged in the
manufacturing of high-precision components and contract manufacturing.
The CAC will work closely with international
leaders in composites research and provide a platform for companies to tap the
latest technologies and create industry solutions. The four parties will drive
innovation efforts and promote their products and services in overseas markets,
especially in Asia.
