Welcome Remarks by MOS Gan Siow Huang at the Singapore Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum 2026

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Chairman, A*STAR 

Distinguished Speakers and Guests, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

1.     I am delighted to be here with you today at the Singapore Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum. 

2.     First, let me extend my heartfelt appreciation to all our industry partners and the event co-organisers A*STAR and AAIS, for bringing the 9th edition of the Forum to life. Singapore is home to over 130 aerospace companies and I want to thank all of you here today for your outstanding contributions. 

3.     Aerospace is an important growth sector for Singapore, contributing close to 1% of our GDP and more than 4% to Singapore’s manufacturing output in 2024. Globally, the equivalent of 1 in 10 aircrafts and 1 in 5 engines are serviced here. As global fleets operate longer, our “nose-to-tail” MRO ecosystem is well positioned to remain vibrant and continue expanding.^[1] In fact, we expect to create close to 600 new jobs in the aerospace industry over the next 5 years. 

4.     The growth of Singapore’s aerospace sector would not have been possible without strong industry partnerships. In particular, public-private collaborations in R&D, fostered under A*STAR’s Singapore Aerospace Programme (SAP), continue to drive innovation and competitiveness. Since 2008, the programme has launched over 260 collaborative research projects, covering areas such as robotics, shopfloor intelligence, green materials and electrification. 

5.     One notable example is the collaboration between A*STAR and Pratt & Whitney Singapore, which led to the development of an AI-Driven Connected Factory Analytics solution. By applying machine-learning models to shopfloor data, this solution predicts equipment performance and improves maintenance planning. Deployed in live operations, it has reduced unscheduled equipment downtime by 75% and improved spares management efficiency by around 90%. This is a testament to how industry-research partnerships can deliver impactful solutions for the aerospace industry here and beyond. 

6.     As we look ahead, the challenges and opportunities before us are immense. The global aerospace sector is evolving rapidly, driven by growing air travel demand, longer aircraft lifecycles, and increasing expectations around productivity, safety, and sustainability. In this dynamic environment, our ability to work together, share knowledge, and translate ideas into business outcomes will be key to our continued success.

7.     I encourage all of you to use this Forum as a platform to deepen relationships, identify new areas for collaboration, and celebrate the community’s shared achievements. 

8.     Congratulations and thank you once again to AAIS, A*STAR and all our partners. I wish you a fruitful and memorable Forum.

[1] https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/our-industries/aerospace.html