Speech by MOS Low Yen Ling at the Opening Ceremony of Leica Microsystems’ new facility

His Excellency, Dr. Norbert Riedel, Ambassador of Germany to Singapore,

Mr Greg Milosevich, Vice President and Group Executive, Danaher Lifesciences Innovation Group,

Ms Annette Rinck, President, Leica Microsystems,

Mr Ho Choo Kiong, Managing Director, Leica Instruments (Singapore),

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

1. Good morning. I am pleased to join you at the opening of Leica Microsystems’ new facility in Singapore. My heartiest congratulations to Leica on this significant milestone.

2. Leica is a longstanding partner of Singapore. It has come a long way here since its early days of assembling precision optical components in 1971. More than five decades on, Singapore has become a key global manufacturing site for Leica and today, we are delighted to mark your latest expansion with this new facility.

Leica Microsystems is a valued partner of our advanced manufacturing ecosystem

3. Manufacturing remains the bedrock of Singapore’s economy, accounting for over 20% of our GDP and employing more than 480,000 workers. As part of Singapore’s Manufacturing 2030 vision, we are deepening our strengths and sharpening our city’s edge as a global business, innovation and talent hub for advanced manufacturing.

4. Leica is our valued partner as we journey together to achieve our goals and progress in manufacturing.

a. Singapore is home to Leica’s sole global manufacturing site for medical microscopy products and accessories. This line of products contributes to around 40% of the company’s global sales. We are delighted that with a significant investment of US$60 million, the new facility in Singapore will double Leica’s production capacity.

b. This next-generation manufacturing facility uses Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to facilitate real-time data analysis for higher productivity and better quality control. I also understand that Leica has introduced a Manufacturing Execution System here to optimise end-to-end supply chain planning and automate their optics precision manufacturing lines.

5. Leica’s adoption of these Industry 4.0 technologies is an excellent example of how Singapore companies embrace advanced manufacturing to enhance productivity. We are excited to see Leica pushing medical microscopy technologies to new heights. I am confident Leica is poised to capture more opportunities in the MedTech space.

Singapore is well-positioned to help companies seize MedTech opportunities

6. Global demand for healthcare will continue to rise due to ageing populations and a growing middle class in Asia desiring greater access to care. As a leading biomedical sciences hub in Asia, Singapore is well-positioned to enable MedTech companies to seize this growth potential.

a. Today, we are home to over 60 multinational MedTech companies with various activities spanning manufacturing, regional headquarters functions, and R&D.

b. Their presence bears testament to our deep pool of skilled talent, robust manufacturing capabilities, and vibrant research and innovation ecosystem. Together, these attributes serve as a strong value proposition for companies like Leica to continue to expand their operations here.

7. Supported by EDB, Leica’s new facility will conduct R&D to develop end-to-end digital imaging chain capabilities for medical microscopy. This advancement will enhance surgical precision and workflows by providing surgeons with a more detailed and high-definition view of the procedures. The new manufacturing facility will also double the size of the company’s R&D and product management teams in Singapore.

8. The future of healthcare and biomedical sciences hinges on harnessing technology to improve patient outcomes. I am confident that this new facility will enable Leica to do just that – by achieving further breakthroughs in optical precision and innovative technologies for surgical applications.

Importance of partnerships in capturing new opportunities and fostering innovation

9. As a brand synonymous with precision and quality, Leica’s culture of innovation and collaboration has strengthened its manufacturing capabilities. The company leverages its partnerships with the strong supplier base in Singapore to support its manufacturing activities.

a. For example, Leica has partnered with local enterprises such as PLC Industries and Grand Venture Technology to supply complex precision machining and sheet metal components. These partnerships let Leica enjoy a resilient supply chain in their Singapore operations.

b. We encourage more companies to do the same. Such partnerships allow MNCs to leverage the niche capabilities of SMEs to capture new market demand. It also lets the SMEs enhance their capabilities and access new opportunities by tapping the MNCs’ deep expertise and vast networks.

10. To complement these efforts, the Government is working with leading companies, including Leica, to grow innovation activities with our research ecosystem.

a. To this end, we have set aside S$25 billion for our Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 Plan. This is equivalent to about 1% of our GDP. We aim to enhance our scientific base, promote technology translation, and strengthen our enterprises’ innovation capabilities.

b. Leica has partnered with our research institutions, such as A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), to develop new lens production technologies and conduct product development reviews.

c. We look forward to supporting your plans to deepen collaborations with Singapore’s research ecosystem for product clinical testing and development.

Conclusion

11. Let me conclude by thanking Leica again for being a valued partner all these years. I am sure Ambassador Riedel will agree with me that Leica exemplifies the best of Germany's rich manufacturing heritage and that this new investment also celebrates the strong economic partnership between Germany and Singapore.

12. Singapore profoundly values the trust investors place in us and will continue working with firms like Leica to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

13. We look forward to seeing Leica advancing microscopy technologies and taking optical precision to greater heights. Here’s to another 50 years of innovation, excellence, and unparalleled precision!

14. Thank you.