Industry 4.0 a national priority

European Union member states have a wide variety of strengths, with plenty of opportunities for Singapore firms that are looking to invest, find partners, or enter new markets. Here is an overview of promising sectors, and key markets for each one.

THE EU is a leading manufacturing hub, with most member states having made Industry 4.0 a national priority. European manufacturers are staying globally competitive by adopting "future of manufacturing" solutions, such as the Internet of Things (IOT), blockchain technology, and robotics.

Opportunities for Singapore companies

Singapore, too, is transforming its manufacturing sector with Industry 4.0 technologies. A robust infrastructure of testing, inspection and certification services ensures that quality benchmarks are met and standards upheld, particularly for manufacturing. Last year, for instance, the Singapore Standards Council published a new Technical Reference for the use of additive manufacturing in military and non-military applications here.

There is potential for Singapore companies with Industry 4.0 solutions to partner EU manufacturers in coming up with products and solutions, or expanding into Asia.

GERMANY

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A global manufacturing powerhouse, Germany has a strong emphasis on "Industrie 4.0" thought leadership and research & development.

It offers a conducive environment in which Singapore companies can find partners, with a large base of corporates and "Mittelstand" or medium-sized firms.

Singapore businesses can leverage the reliability of this sector, providing outsourcing services to German manufacturers in areas such as aerospace, food, furniture, medical technology, and offshore wind energy.

Facts and figures

CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, POLAND, AND SLOVAKIA

Known collectively as the Visegrad 4, these countries are key manufacturing and R&D centres for international automotive, aerospace and white goods companies, as well as first-tier component suppliers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Besides being part of the global manufacturing supply chain, the Visegrad 4 also have their own domestic products. In particular, the Czech Republic and Poland have a long history and are major global players in the manufacturing of lightweight aircraft.

The Visegrad 4 countries enjoy a high level of labour productivity, thanks to education systems that combine theoretical and practical training, and relatively lower labour costs, making them attractive as a destination for manufacturing operations.

Facts and figures