A*STAR Bolsters Whole-of-Government Effort at Premiere of Industrial Transformation Asia Pacific

From 16 to 18 October- Singapore hosted the premiere of Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP)- the Asian edition of Hannover Messe- the world’s largest trade fair for industrial technology.

As the flagship manufacturing event in Asia- ITAP is a boost for the advanced manufacturing sector- a key driver of Singapore’s future economic growth. A*STAR was part of a multi-agency effort in organising the event- which included the Future of Manufacturing Summit- the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Forum and a showcase of game-changing technologies.

The event saw the unveiling of a slate of initiatives such as A*STAR’s Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS)- and A*STAR’s Industrial- Internet of Things Innovation (I3) Platform. The winners of the first "Singapore-Germany 2+2 Cooperation Framework"- a bilateral call for research grants under by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Singapore's economic agencies- led by A*STAR- were also announced.

A consortium agreement valued at S$34 million was inked to drive the transformation of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and pre-position it for the future economy. With the sector facing global pressures on drug pricing and mounting competition- the consortium will focus on increasing productivity and operational efficiency through leveraging advances in manufacturing technologies and data analytics.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING

Speaking at the Future of Manufacturing Summit- Senior Minister of State (SMS)- Ministry of Trade & Industry- Dr Koh Poh Koon highlighted that new and innovative approaches to public-private collaboration are required to harness the full potential of the technological advances impacting manufacturing.

SMS Koh added that the government has put in place a number of platforms to catalyse the collaboration between the public and private sectors- one of which is A*STAR’s Industrial- Internet of Things Innovation (I3 ) Platform. I3 was established as a consortium to develop and integrate smart manufacturing technologies- for applications that extend beyond the factory floor. 17 companies- along with several other companies have expressed interest to be part of the consortium- which will link end users to solution providers across the IIoT value chain- to co-develop new technologies with A*STAR research institutes and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Singapore.

Dr Sharon Nai- a researcher from A*STAR’s SIMTech (left) was one of the grant recipients under the "Singapore-Germany 2+2 Cooperation Framework"- who received a grant award by SMS Koh.

SMS Koh also presented awards to successful companies for three promising research projects that have been selected in the area of advanced manufacturing- under the first "Singapore-Germany 2+2 Cooperation Framework" by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Singapore's economic agencies- led by A*STAR.

This initiative takes the form of a bilateral grant call involving public sector research performers- and industrial partners from both countries. A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) is the research performer representing Singapore in these selected projects which cover the areas of Additive Manufacturing and Enhanced Ultraprecision Manufacturing.

THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING SUMMIT

The Summit included a group fireside chat which took a broader look at transformation from the perspective of SMEs.

Themed “Getting Real with the Business of Industry 4.0”- the Summit brought together thought leaders- manufacturers and technology providers- to drive conversations on business opportunities and challenges- and implementation strategies for Industry 4.0 in the Asia Pacific region.

On the second day of the Summit- A*STAR led the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Forum focusing on developments and applications of IoT within different industries- how IoT affects and brings value to businesses and partnerships in Manufacturing and adjacent sectors.

FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING ON SHOW

A*STAR showcased its research expertise and technologies in advanced manufacturing- highlighting its public-private partnership platforms such as the Model Factory Initiative- capabilities in continuous manufacturing- and how industry is tapping into these capabilities for growth via open innovation initiatives.

Read more below:

18 OCTOBER

• The Business Times: Skilled workforce key in shaping future of manufacturing in Singapore
• Lianhe Zaobao: Government to train workers to deal with the needs of the future workplace

17 OCTOBER

• The Straits Times: 3 pharma giants in $34m local tie-up to improve processes
• The Business Times: Collaboration among partners crucial for Industry 4.0 to take off: Tharman
• Lianhe Zaobao: DPM Tharman urges businesses to participate in cross-disciplinary collaborations