Speech by MOS Alvin Tan at the Launch of Halliburton-A*STAR Next-Generation Energy Xccelerator Joint Lab (NEX Lab)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

1.             Last night, I was doing what many parents here are familiar with - helping my 11-year-old daughter with her science homework. We were discussing the fundamentals of energy and learning about difference between Potential Energy (energy stored within an object, waiting to be released) and Kinetic Energy (energy of an object in actual motion).

2.             As we talked about how we need a specific catalyst to convert one into the other, I realised I was describing the exact mission of today’s launch of the Halliburton-A*STAR Next-Generation Energy Xccelerator Joint Lab. 

3.             This S$35M joint lab is more than just a facility; it is a high-performance converter. It is designed to take the immense potential energy of our research and development and transform it into the kinetic energy of real-world industrial solutions. 

4.             In physics, acceleration is the rate at which that change happens. As global industries move faster, we cannot afford to let our ideas sit as "stored potential" for too long. Companies, researchers, and governments must work together to increase our acceleration - acting like a well-oiled machine where every gear turns in sync to solve complex challenges in energy, manufacturing, and sustainability. 

5.             This is how Singapore approaches advanced manufacturing. Since we launched our Manufacturing 2030 vision in 2021, we have been building up the "potential" of this sector. Today, the manufacturing sector contributes close to one-fifth of our GDP, and by 2030, we aim to grow manufacturing value-add by 50%. But as I explained to my daughter, potential energy only becomes useful when it is set in motion. 

6.             That’s why we partner with global companies like Halliburton specifically to create that movement. Halliburton has been a key part of Singapore’s industrial momentum since 1973. From establishing your first regional manufacturing centre here in 1990 to moving your global Completion Technology HQ here in 2011, you have consistently turned ideas into action. 

7.             Today, tools made right here are the kinetic force behind energy projects worldwide. This collaboration with A*STAR shows what that acceleration looks like in practice. 

8.             Since 2019, Halliburton has invested >S$2M on nine joint R&D projects with A*STAR. The new joint lab builds on this track record. We have named it an "Xccelerator" because its purpose is to increase the velocity of innovation - ensuring we move from lab concepts to global markets with greater speed and force. The energy sector today is becoming more demanding. To overcome the friction of higher performance requirements and the need for sustainability, we must keep breaking ground. We must be drilling out new materials, better designs, and smarter manufacturing processes to maintain our lead. 

9.             The joint lab will develop these capabilities right here. Researchers and engineers from both Halliburton and A*STAR will work side-by-side. By combining their expertise, they will solve the practical manufacturing challenges that often act as "drag" on innovation. Together, they will ensure that the potential of a new design is converted into a kinetic solution that can be manufactured at scale. The impact of this energy will ripple outward. Technologies developed here will transfer to local suppliers, helping them meet higher performance standards and "plugging" them into global supply chains. This transfer of kinetic energy is equally critical for our marine, aerospace, and other high-reliability industries. 

10.          At the same time, the lab builds Singapore’s human capital. It creates a demand for engineers, scientists, and technicians who understand the basic lesson I was teaching my girl last night: the vital link between theory and practice. We are developing talent that knows how to operate exactly where research meets production. 

11.          In this sense, the joint lab is a working testbed. It is where ideas are pressure-tested and systems are integrated, ensuring our solutions have the necessary velocity to succeed before they are scaled globally. 

12.          As we commission this lab today, we are doing more than opening doors; we are ensuring that the potential energy of our brightest minds is accelerated into the kinetic energy that drives our economy and powers the world. 

13.          I look forward to the breakthroughs that will emerge from this collaboration. I am sure they will reinforce Singapore’s position as a place where advanced manufacturing is not just a latent possibility, but an active, driving force for the future. 

14.          Congrats again to Halliburton and A*STAR, and thank you to all the partners who helped take this from concept, to construction, to commissioning. 

15.          May we turn today’s potential into tomorrow’s momentum, and keep the world’s energy in motion.