Speech by MOS Gan Siow Huang at A*STAR SME Tech Day 2025

Mr Beh Kian Teik, Chief Executive Officer, A*STAR,

Distinguished Guests and Fellow Innovators,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

1.    Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you today at SME Tech Day 2025. It's wonderful to see many of our SME leaders here, together with colleagues from A*STAR and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG).

2.    Today, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and collaboration that is necessary to drive our SMEs towards a future of growth and global impact. In a world where technological advancements are reshaping industries and economies, our SMEs stand at the forefront of this transformation. 

Deep Tech for Global Impact

3.    This year’s theme is Deep Tech for Global Impact. Today, businesses face tough challenges – from global supply chain shifts to rising costs and manpower constraints. For our SMEs, these pressures are felt strongly, making it harder to sustain growth and stay competitive.

4.    Yet, these pressures also create space for innovation. Deep tech areas such as Artificial Intelligence, biotechnology, and new materials are changing the way companies compete. Forward-looking enterprises who embrace deep tech will be the ones who can seize new opportunities for growth and stay relevant amidst global disruptions.

5.    A*STAR and EnterpriseSG are here to support you by providing two key enablers – the two ‘Ts’ that drive innovation and open new markets.

Accelerating Innovation with Technology

6.    The first T is technology. Deep tech often involves complex and specialised know-how, which many businesses may not have in-house. This is where A*STAR comes in, by offering research expertise to help companies enhance operational efficiency, improve product design, or even create entirely new ones.

7.    An example is Zincode Technologies, a company specialising in machine vision. The company worked with the A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (A*STAR ARTC) to jointly develop the FlexSys Inspection System, an AI-enabled robotic system that can inspect highly complex parts, from medical devices to aircraft engines, in real-time. Through ARTC’s advanced prototyping facilities and test-bedding capabilities, Zincode was able to accelerate the design and validation of this new product.

8.    FlexSys has led to a 40% increase in inspection throughput and over 30% savings in quality control costs for Zincode’s customers. FlexSys also opened new doors, helping Zincode move up the value chain and serve customers in industries like aerospace, Medtech, and specialised electronics. With potential new revenues from these higher-value markets, Zincode is now expecting up to 15% growth year-on-year.

9.    Beyond R&D, we also recognise the importance of establishing a scalable business model for commercialisation. EnterpriseSG’s Startup SG Tech scheme supports Proof-of-Concept and Proof-of-Value projects, by providing early-stage funding to fast-track the commercialisation of proprietary technology solutions.

10. The ability to draw on innovation networks and overseas market opportunities is equally important. Through EnterpriseSG’s Global Innovation Alliance, our SMEs can now tap a vast network of partners in over 50 countries, to achieve better and quicker product-market fit and access resources needed to scale globally.

Unlocking New Opportunities with Talent

11.         The second T is talent. Since 2003, A*STAR’s Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading Programme, or T-Up, has seconded more than 300 research scientists and engineers to over 170 local firms over the past 5 years. The secondees bring with them technical expertise and help to build in-house R&D capabilities, thereby enhancing the business competitiveness of our SMEs.

12.         One such beneficiary is AMILI, a homegrown gut microbiome company. Dr Germaine Yong of A*STAR brought her microbiome analytics expertise to AMILI, and co-developed Asia’s first in vitro gut health predictive model. The model can rapidly assess how foods and ingredients affect the gut microbiome and more accurately predict real-world outcomes. This product has been taken up by 15 global clients and has generated over S$1.5 million in revenue for AMILI.

13.         Another great example is A*STAR’s collaboration with Matwerkz Technologies, a local company specialising in heat management materials for battery packs and electronics. Dr Jonathan Lee and Dr Wang Xiao Bai from A*STAR provided materials science capabilities and computational tools to the company, which helped validate the performance of its new fireproofing product while shortening the product testing cycle. Together with secondees from A*STAR, Matwerkz developed new materials that were more efficient and scalable. Today, Matwerkz has expanded its operations to Suzhou and has partnerships in Japan, Europe, and India.

14.         These success stories show how public-private collaboration can allow SMEs to develop new capabilities and unlock growth opportunities. I was pleased to learn that the T-Up programme has delivered strong results. Enterprises participating in T-Up saw 44% higher revenue than non-participating firms on average within three years of starting the T-Up project.

T-Up Awards 2025

15.         Last but not least, let me congratulate the winners of this year's T-Up Awards. You are the people behind these innovations. By applying science to enterprise needs, you have helped propel the growth of deep tech in the SME landscape.

Conclusion

16.         Looking ahead, Singapore will continue to invest in and support enterprise innovation and build global connections. There are many opportunities in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and environmental sustainability. My call to all our SMEs is this: Dare to go into Deep Tech. Seize the opportunities. Work with our scientists, with our agencies, and with each other. Let’s work together so that the impact of your innovations will travel far beyond Singapore and shape the world of tomorrow.

17.         Thank you.