Opening Address by MOS Alvin Tan at the 12th National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) Global Additive Manufacturing Summit 2023

Dr. Ho Chaw Sing, Chief Executive Officer, National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC),

His Excellency Dr. Norbert Riedel, Ambassador, German Embassy in Singapore,

Distinguished guests,

1. Good morning.

2. Great to be back at NAMIC’s Global Additive Manufacturing Summit.

3. I was here in 2021, and spoke about how our additive manufacturing sector had grown significantly over a short span of time.

4. Two years later, we continue to see a strong growth trajectory.

Growth of the Additive Manufacturing Industry

5. ~ 200 companies adopt Additive Manufacturing in their business processes in Singapore today, >30 per cent increase compared to 2 years ago.

a. In Southeast Asia, additive manufacturing is expected to generate US$100 billion in economic value by 2025, and Singapore has a 40% market share[1].

6. Additive manufacturing is a key that can unlock many doors. This year’s summit theme, “Enabling Sustainability and Supply Chain Resilience with Additive Manufacturing” reflects two of these “doors”.

a. (1) Sustainability and (2) supply chain resilience. These are existential challenges for Singapore, and they require diverse and often complex solutions. Additive manufacturing is the key that unlocks the door to these solutions.

b. There is also a “third door” that additive manufacturing can unlock ­is (3) Innovation. I will speak about this third door later.

Unlocking Greater Sustainability

7. Let me begin with sustainability. Investors and consumers now expect businesses to be more sustainable. Additive manufacturing can meet these demands. By using more sustainable materials or by recycling, additive manufacturing can promote circularity and reduce waste.

a. For example, the National Technological University Singapore Centre for 3D Printing collaborated with local companies to research the use of recycled materials like glass, rubber, and incinerator ash in the building and construction industry. Last year, they 3D-printed a bench out of concrete and recycled glass, and are now commercializing and scaling-up their technology.

b. Homegrown SME Mencast Marine collaborated with NAMIC to 3D-print a copper-based ship propeller, in lieu of its traditional casting methods. Mencast Marine now has a greener product line and a more sustainable manufacturing approach.

c. Later we will witness the MOU signing between Alstom – a pioneer of sustainable rail solutions, NAMIC, and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. Their Joint Industry Programme will use recycled materials for rail repair and refurbishment, and the additive manufacturing of train parts will reduce the carbon footprint for transport and warehousing.

8. Glad these companies are taking the first step and hope to see more companies adopt additive manufacturing to unlock your sustainability journeys.

Unlocking Supply chain resilience

9. Second, additive manufacturing is a key to unlocking greater supply chain resilience.

10. Singapore is a globally connected economy with no natural resources, so we are vulnerable to external shocks and supply disruptions. Additive manufacturing allows our companies to create more products locally and makes them less vulnerable to such shocks.

11. This is especially relevant in our healthcare sector. Three years ago, our additive manufacturing community helped mitigate supply chain disruptions due to Covid-19, ramping up production of essential medical supplies, including Singapore’s own 3D-printed nasal swabs.

12. Today, additive manufacturing allows Singapore to produce an even wider range of medical products locally, that can be better customized for our needs.

a. Zeda[2] is a California-based medical 3D-printing company that set up a facility in Singapore with support from NAMIC and EDB. They have catalysed new research and development efforts for other locally 3D-printed medical implants. Last year, Zeda partnered with three local healthcare institutions[3] to develop medical implants for musculoskeletal and orthopaedic applications. They are also working with Tan Tock Seng Hospital to develop advanced patient-specific implant solutions.

b. Another good example is our homegrown biomedical startup Osteopore, whose 3D-printed bioresorbable implants have been used by more than 80,000 patients globally.

13. We will witness two more collaborations today. These will strengthen our supply chain resilience in two other critical sectors – aviation and maritime.

a. For aviation – SIA Engineering Company, or SIAEC will work with NAMIC on spare part digitalisation and on-demand additive manufacturing.

b. For maritime – the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore will collaborate with NAMIC and the Singapore Shipping Association to connect a digital inventory and a network of qualified suppliers, to facilitate the on-demand supply of parts.

14. These collaborations show us how public-private partnerships can achieve meaningful outcomes. Through NAMIC, we want to foster even more partnerships to advance Additive Manufacturing and translate research into commercial outcomes.

Unlocking Innovation

15. Third and finally, Additive Manufacturing is a key for unlocking innovation across a range of sectors, including in more unique areas like cellular agriculture.

a. Steakholder Foods is with us today. They are an Israel-based startup specializing in printing 3D steaks and other cell-based meats.

b. We also have homegrown startup KosmodeHealth. They developed the world’s only Plant Protein Composite Bio-ink and Bio-scaffold, and the world’s only Plant Protein Composite 3D Bioprinting facility, with the support of NUS Enterprise, NAMIC and Enterprise Singapore. They are working on bio-scaffold solutions which are critical for cellular agriculture, biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications development.

16. Startups like KosmodeHealth and Steakholder Foods play an important role in the ecosystem, and NAMIC has supported >150 local and international startups since 2015.

a. Singapore is now home to >40 Additive Manufacturing startups, and we will continue supporting these companies to innovate and expand.

17. NAMIC also funds Proof of Concept and technology translation projects in areas like digital workflows, and functional materials to encourage innovation. This helps companies adopt Additive Manufacturing to pivot into high-value added activities and product innovation.

18. Companies that have yet to adopt Additive Manufacturing will not be left out. Next year, NAMIC will launch the Digital Design Innovation Centre (DDIC) to help companies select parts, design and support digital inventory development to kickstart their Additive Manufacturing journey. The Centre will also launch an academy for training, skill accreditation, and apprenticeships.

Conclusion

19. Today I spoke about the three doors that Additive Manufacturing can unlock – sustainability, supply chain resilience, and innovation. But I believe there are even more. As we take hold of this ‘key’, we can create more solutions, attract new companies, create impact across many other sectors, and unlock many other doors to come.

20. Thank you, and I wish you all a fruitful Summit.

[1] Source: EnterpriseSG website; ASEAN Briefing

[2] Previously PrinterPrezz

[3] Singapore Health Services, National Healthcare Group, and National University Health System