A thriving innovation ecosystem: Why global firms are building tomorrow’s products in S’pore

An ultra-slim vacuum cleaner. A spectacle lens designed to slow myopia progression in children. These are just some of the breakthrough products to come from renowned global names like Dyson and EssilorLuxottica. Impressively, these products were developed right here in Singapore.

Backed by strong research partnerships, pro-innovation policies and world-class talent topping the Global Talent Competitiveness Index, Singapore has grown into a recognised innovation hub, with an innovation ecosystem that ranks fifth globally and second in South-east Asia. In the past five years alone, companies have committed over $14 billion to research and innovation investments here.

Singapore: A global innovation hub

Under Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2030) plan, the government is committing $37 billion over the next five years to strengthen competitiveness and resilience across national strategic priorities. These include healthy longevity research and four key domains of human health and potential; manufacturing, trade and connectivity; urban solutions and sustainability; and smart nation and the digital economy.

The Republic also brings together companies, research institutions and academia to co-develop cutting-edge technologies, with leading pharma companies like GSK, Sanofi and Takeda partnering with Singapore’s public research institute A*STAR and universities to advance biologics and vaccine innovation. Local universities here are among the world’s top institutions, with NUS and NTU in eighth and 12th place respectively in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

Firms here are adopting diverse innovation models, from corporate venture building and co-innovation lab to incubators and accelerators. They are also tapping into more than 4,500 tech startups in Singapore, the top startup hub in Asia, as mentioned in Startup Blink.

Hyundai: Reinventing next-generation manufacturing

In 2023, Hyundai Motor Group established the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS), its first global hub and testbed for future mobility solutions. The facility serves as a testbed for AI- and robotics-driven manufacturing towards a Software-Defined Factory.

Nestled in Singapore’s Jurong Innovation District, HMGICS primarily focuses on the research and development (R&D) and validation of advanced manufacturing technologies, leveraging Industry 4.0 solutions such as AI and robotics to be scaled across the Group’s global production network.

The facility serves as a living lab for next-generation manufacturing approaches for deployment across Hyundai Motor Group’s global operations. In particular, HMGICS fosters a robust mobility manufacturing ecosystem through active collaboration with research institutes, universities and industry partners.

Dr Park Hyun-Sung, chief executive officer of HMGICS explains: “HMGICS serves as a living lab for Hyundai Motor Group’s Software-Defined Factory vision, bringing together technology, talent, and partnerships in Singapore to develop and validate next-generation manufacturing. Through close collaboration, we continue to set new standards for human-centred and innovative manufacturing.”

In October 2025, Hyundai Motor Group launched a Corporate Lab with Nanyang Technological University and A*STAR, a first-of-its-kind collaboration in Singapore’s automotive manufacturing sector. Located within HMGICS, the Lab advances technologies such as AI, robotics and 3D printing, bridging academic research with industrial applications while promoting manufacturing R&D and accelerating the adoption of next-generation technologies.

Lubrizol: Driving sustainable materials innovation

In 2025, specialty chemicals leader Lubrizol established its Innovation Centre for South-east Asia in Singapore within its Jurong manufacturing site. 

Equipped with advanced laboratories, immersive experience zones and technical training spaces, the Centre drives innovation in advanced materials and sustainable solutions across industries ranging from mobility, infrastructure and digital technologies to nutrition and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and renewable energy.

As an integral part of Lubrizol’s global innovation network, the Centre partners with local research institutions, industry players and customers to address complex challenges using science, data and artificial intelligence. This local-for-global approach combines global expertise with regional market insight to accelerate market-relevant solutions.

Says Mr Henry Liu, Lubrizol’s vice-president, Asia-Pacific: “Singapore plays a pivotal role in our global innovation network because of its robust R&D ecosystem and unique environment that enables innovation to thrive. This strategic Innovation Centre provides proximity to key stakeholders and fosters collaboration to progress innovations that contribute to industry transformation and economic growth.”

Since the Centre’s establishment, Lubrizol has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with companies including United Oil Company, Aster, Petronas and APP, to advance joint innovation in areas such as specialty chemicals, lubricants, energy transition and sustainable solutions. The Centre also serves as a platform for industry dialogue and collaboration with companies and universities.

FrieslandCampina: Scaling Asia-ready nutrition innovation

FrieslandCampina, one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives, opened its R&D Application Centre for Asia-Pacific in Singapore in 2025. The Centre translates advanced nutrition science into tailored ingredient solutions to meet the region’s diverse and growing nutritional needs.

Equipped with laboratories for functional foods such as yoghurts, bars, and ready-to-drink beverages, on-ground technical experts support product testing and development for customers in the region, strengthening the company’s capabilities in performance, children’s and active nutrition.

The Centre builds on FrieslandCampina’s longstanding presence in Singapore, where it has based its Asia-Pacific headquarters since 2011 and operates its only development centre outside the Netherlands. Its ready-to-drink portfolio was first conceptualised in Singapore and has since scaled across Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, with plans to expand beyond Asia.

Mr Tjalling Bekker, Asia-Pacific regional director of FrieslandCampina Ingredients explains: “The opening of our new application centre in Singapore demonstrates our commitment to the APAC market and the strategic importance we place on the region. The APAC market is changing rapidly. Consumers are prioritising daily health, emotional wellness and beauty-from-within. Our new application centre will accelerate application development and enable closer collaboration to navigate these exciting opportunities together.”

Being based in Singapore enables FrieslandCampina’s closer engagement with evolving consumer preferences, regulatory requirements and customer needs across Asia-Pacific. As a microcosm of regional tastes, the Centre also serves as a strategic testbed to refine taste, texture and formats for products such as protein bars.

Learn about the global businesses solving real-world challenges through their innovation hubs in Singapore.