Biological labs, robotic assistants

AT UGENE Laboratory Services, some microbiological tests are carried out by non-biological workers that do not need MCs or lunch breaks, just good upkeep. Two robots, named Ms and Mr Ugene, have become so indispensable that founder and technical director Eunice Ng considers them part of the company’s headcount of around 30.

Ugene Labs’ core business is microbiological testing, which “helps save lives” by ensuring that manufactured food is fit for human consumption, said Ng.

This takes place in a facility that spans nearly 8,000 square feet, which she reckons is the largest in Singapore. Many of the company’s top 20 clients are multinational corporations.