HOME-GROWN robot maker Otsaw Digital is in the middle of preparing for a Nasdaq entrance, with an eye on a listing on the US technology board within the first quarter of next year. This was revealed by Otsaw chief executive officer (CEO) Ling Ting Ming at the opening of its S$2 million global headquarters in JTC Space @ Tampines North. 

Ling declined to comment on further details, only saying that the target is to raise US$50 million to US$80 million to accelerate its current growth stage.

Its new headquarters spans 20,000 square feet across a 2-storey ground level unit, housing its office, operations teams, research and development teams and final assembly factory. 

With the new facility, Otsaw expects to increase production from 20 robots a month to about 100 robots a month as well as expand its staff to over 100 employees from the current estimate of 60 in the Singapore headquarters alone. 

Alongside its latest outfit, Otsaw’s offices in Munich and Boston operate across the 3 continents of Asia, Europe and North America. The robotics technologies firm now has over 600 robots in more than 20 countries and aims to expand into more markets in the European Union and the US with the assistance of Enterprise Singapore.

Otsaw has developed robots to automate labour-intensive processes in sectors such as security, delivery, cleaning and healthcare. Its autonomous disinfection robot O-RX has been disinfecting Wisma Atria since 2020, while its automated guided vehicle Transcar has also been deployed in 41 hospitals globally. 

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Robotics is one of the key areas under Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2025 plan. “Robotics is particularly relevant for Singapore, and other ageing economies,” said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was the guest of honour at the opening of OTSAW’s global headquarters. “Across the world, we have seen how an ageing population and a declining workforce can cast long shadows on a country’s economic dynamism and social vibrancy. With automation and robotics, companies can potentially deliver more and better, with a smaller workforce.” 

According to LogisticsIQ, global autonomous mobility robots and automated guided vehicles are projected to reach US$18 billion by 2027. In Singapore, the robot density has grown at more than 25 per cent a year since 2015. Today, it has more than 6 robots per 100 workers. 

Ling observed that businesses and employees are more ready to embrace robotics after the pandemic and attributes the “recent 6-month surge in demand” to the need for businesses to pivot given the shortage of manpower.

“We have crossed the innovation-development stage. We are now into the main adoption,” said Ling, adding that scaling adoption comes about by reducing the cost of their robots.