Inside Singapore’s push to transform manufacturing through AI and automation

[HANNOVER] At one of the world’s largest industrial trade fairs, held recently in Germany over a week in late April, the future of manufacturing was on full display.

Inside Hannover Messe’s vast exhibition grounds – spanning over 1.4 square kilometres, roughly twice the size of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park – robotic arms whirred through automated processes as companies pitched solutions to boost productivity and cut costs.

At the Singapore pavilion, however, the focus was less on spectacle. A model of Jurong Innovation District drew visitors to a different story: how the Republic is reshaping its manufacturing base to stay competitive in a complex and cost-pressured world.