Pivoting to 2021: how businesses in Singapore transformed for the year ahead

We head into the year ahead, with our lives transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic: from the way we connect with loved ones, to the way we work. Yet, despite the challenging global business environment in 2020, Singapore’s businesses found new ways to thrive, and workers reskilled and upskilled.

Key sectors, such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, digital, and innovation and new growth areas such as corporate venturing and agritech, continued to see development last year. Global partners invested S$17.2 billion in fixed asset investments in 2020. When projects are fully implemented, this will generate S$6.8 billion in total business expenditure annually, and create 19,352 jobs, with an expected contribution of S$31.2 billion in value-added per annum.

Companies are building long-term partnerships here: to innovate and transform, to collaborate with local enterprises, and to tap on growing markets in Southeast Asia.

Microsoft, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Schneider Electric and Meiban share how they have seized opportunities in 2020, and are future-proofing their business for this year and beyond.

WATCH AT 2:10 - Thermo Fisher Scientific is meeting global health demands from Singapore

Tapping on Singapore’s strong ecosystem for health and biomedical sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific is conducting R&D to develop life-saving technologies, such as COVID-19 test kits, and manufacturing products for global markets right here.

Mr Ravi Shastri, Managing Director, and Ms Si Kee Tan, Manager in Assay Development, share more on how Singapore plays a key role in ramping up their capabilities in Asia Pacific.

WATCH AT 4:15 - Meiban is unlocking growth with Industry 4.0

Singapore’s manufacturing sector is leading the way globally in Industry 4.0 transformation. As Singapore companies like Meiban are deploying smart factory solutions, they are also upskilling employees to transform their business using the latest advanced manufacturing technologies.

We hear more from Mr Cheok Kai Hock, Chief Executive Officer, and Ms Catherine Tan, Senior Quality Assurance Manager, on how Meiban is creating resilient growth with Industry 4.0.

WATCH AT 6:20 - Microsoft is marking 30 years (and more) in Singapore

In 2020, Microsoft celebrated 30 years in Singapore. When the pandemic hit, the tech giant collaborated with Singapore-based enterprises to build cloud and AI capabilities, and launched training initiatives to upskill future-ready tech talent.

Mr Kevin Wo, Managing Director, and Ms Joanna Lim, Modern Work and Security Business Group Lead, share how Microsoft is partnering the community and the tech ecosystem in Singapore and the region.

WATCH AT 8:40 - Schneider Electric is launching new businesses to drive growth

Singapore is home to over 40 ventures created by large corporates to start new businesses and tap on new growth in the region. Schneider Electric is one such company doing so from Singapore, in partnership with EDB. By building on core business advantages, the energy and digital company is addressing unmet needs in the region with a new venture.

Mr Alberto Muñoz Cuevas, Business Incubation Leader, and Mr Zheng Peng Lim, Consumption Sales Specialist, highlight how corporate venturing seeds new growth for Schneider Electric from Singapore.