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SINGAPORE: Amid the disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore may work to become a “more digital and more resilient advanced manufacturing base in Asia for the world,” Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Tuesday ( October 20).
The country is committed to developing cutting-edge capabilities in advanced manufacturing, an area that has continued to grow and create new jobs and training opportunities despite the pandemic-induced recession, he added.
At the opening of the 2020 Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) industrial fair, Heng said that the manufacturing sector in particular will see “a higher premium on resilience” as the prolonged outbreak of coronavirus prompts companies to reconsider their production and supply. chains
There will also be an additional push for the relocation, regionalization and diversification of production bases and supply chains.
Furthermore, the future of manufacturing will be determined by the convergence of digital and other advanced technologies.
He said: “IoT (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence, robotics and additive manufacturing will redefine the nature of manufacturing.
“The pace of change will accelerate even more as companies seek to overcome the worker shortage and minimize contact between workers during this period.”
Singapore has been a “strong base” for advanced manufacturers in the region, he added.
“As we emerge from the worst of the crisis, we are strengthening the foundation for manufacturing by increasing digital connectivity, strengthening maritime connectivity, and restoring air connectivity.”
Heng noted that advanced manufacturing will be a central focus of Singapore’s research and development efforts. Other efforts to increase related capabilities include launching industry-led alliances under the Emerging Stronger Taskforce to “prototype new ideas in growth areas” such as robotics and digitization of supply chains.
Advanced manufacturing will also see continuous improvement and skill upgrading as a “permanent feature” given the speed of innovation and industry change, he said.
READ: More than 6,300 opportunities available in manufacturing through SGUnited: MOM program
NEW MANUFACTURING TRAINING OFFICE
To that end, Mr. Heng announced the launch of a new national program office in Singapore that will identify emerging skills and knowledge needed amid these changes.
Called the Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy (AMTA), it will evaluate and coordinate training offerings across the country, as well as facilitate the development of new courses to address any gaps in the training ecosystem in order to support the transformation efforts of industry and workforce improvement.
The new office is supported by various government agencies, such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR) and Nanyang Technological University.
It will be located within the A * STAR facilities in the Jurong Innovation District (JID), it will be governed by a training council made up of institutes of higher education, public agencies, industry and unions.
“AMTA aspires to collaborate with strategic partners to plan and provide training to meet industry needs and strengthen Singapore’s manufacturing competitiveness in the context of rapidly changing technology trends,” said Mr. Lee Kok Choy, who will lead the new program office. Lee is also currently the country manager for Micron Semiconductor Asia in Singapore.
CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL GROWTH
Being an “Asia global node for technology, innovation and enterprise”, Mr. Heng said that Singapore can further contribute to industrial transformation and growth in the region in three ways.
The first is in standard setting, so the Economic Development Board (EDB) will partner with the World Economic Forum to establish Singapore’s Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) as an international benchmark for transformation of Industry 4.0.
Launched in late 2017, SIRI comprises a set of frameworks and tools to assist manufacturers on their transformation journeys.
Heng said the new association will train nearly 100 evaluators in 20 countries over the next 18 months. These assessors will aim to conduct SIRI assessments for 1000 companies around the world.
“Through this collaboration, we hope to increase the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and create more opportunities for us to learn from each other,” he added.
In the second area of human capital development, the Asian Development Bank and Singapore Polytechnic will form a Global Technology Innovation Village (GTiV), a platform for Singapore to share its advanced manufacturing knowledge and experience with the regional government and governments. business leaders.
“This new collaboration will train regional business and government leaders in areas such as advanced manufacturing, 5G and AI,” Heng said.
“It is a collective effort that involves nearly 20 players from industry and government agencies.”
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), which supports the initiative, said in a separate press release that an Industry 4.0 consortium will be established under GTiV, comprising 19 technology leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), standardization organizations, SSG. and JTC.
Members of ADB will be able to draw on experience in applied research and development, startups and innovations through this consortium.
To begin, GTiV will implement six workshops in the advanced manufacturing, 5G, artificial intelligence, and food technologies domain areas in the first half of 2021. More than 100 government and business leaders from Asia are expected to participate in these workshops.
The third area of Singapore’s contribution is to strengthen trade links across borders, Heng said in his speech, citing Germany Connect’s updated version of the Singapore Business Forum.
The first edition will be held virtually during ITAP to deepen business and innovative collaboration.
“I look forward to new partnerships between participating Singapore companies and German companies with a presence in Southeast Asia. By working together and strengthening regional integration, Southeast Asia can develop its potential as a regional manufacturing powerhouse, “he said.
NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Separately, SSG announced at the trade show that around 2,300 advanced manufacturing training opportunities will be made available as part of SGUnited’s Jobs and Skills initiative to train mid-career job seekers for growing sectors. .
In particular, SSG will partner with leading Industry 4.0 technology companies such as Bosch, Siemens and Omron to deliver 500 of these opportunities under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Program.
These companies will “take the lead in preparing mid-career talent and facilitate recruitment company placements” for job seekers to take on emerging roles such as industrial design engineers, automation engineers, machine learning specialists, and product designers. .
These training and placement programs will begin progressively from next month.
NEW INVESTMENTS
In another announcement, JTC said that the Jurong Innovation District, an advanced manufacturing hub it developed, has attracted around S $ 420 million in new investment over the past year despite the pandemic.
This includes South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor, a “queen bee” company, according to JTC, which announced plans to build an innovation lab at the JID focused on future mobility technologies.
READ: Hyundai to Build S $ 400 Million Innovation Center for Future Mobility Studies in Jurong
Other advanced manufacturing startups include Makino, DMG MORI, Konica Minolta, and Fanuc.
Noting that the new AMTA will also be located at the JID, JTC said the new entrants “reinforce JID’s position as Asia’s leading advanced manufacturing center and demonstrate the confidence that companies have in Singapore’s long-term fundamentals. in the midst of the global pandemic. “
In its third edition this year, ITAP is the Asian edition of Germany’s Hannover Messe, which is touted as the world’s largest manufacturing trade fair.
Due to the pandemic, the trade event, which runs for three days through Thursday, is being held in a “hybrid” format with live lectures at the Singapore Expo being streamed live to virtual audiences.
In addition to ideas on industrial transformation under the Industry 4.0 theme, you will also cover topics such as enhancing workforce skills, organizational transformation, and digitization for a post-pandemic world.
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