JTC and A*STAR today officially opened new facilities by A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and National Metrology Centre (NMC) at the Jurong Innovation District (JID), furthering the District’s commitment to advance sustainable manufacturing technologies and deepen collaborations among industry partners and SMEs to fuel technology adoption. The two research institutes are sited at CleanTech Park’s CT2B and CT3, respectively. 

The facilities were opened by Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong during JTC’s inaugural JID Day. The event saw some 300 industrialists participating in facility tours and industry sharing sessions at JID to learn more about and collaborate on I4.0 manufacturing technologies, workforce transformation and sustainable manufacturing practices.

The opening of the facilities by SIMTech and NMC starts a new wave of sustainable manufacturing at JID that will aim to realise net-zero emissions by 2045. The research institutes will partner the industry to co-develop capabilities and accelerate the move towards net-zero manufacturing.

• A*STAR SIMTech will co-develop high-value manufacturing technology and human capital with industry partners to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore’s manufacturing industry. One of SIMTech’s key initiatives is its Manufacturing a Net Zero Future initiative. It supports Singapore’s collective efforts to reach net zero emissions by partnering with the industry in three key areas: improving resource efficiency in manufacturing, enabling circularity in the manufacturing ecosystem, and supporting the industry’s transformation towards net-zero manufacturing.

• At its lab in JID, A*STAR NMC’s measurement standards and research on data-driven sensor calibration provide reliable sensing of indoor air quality for energy efficient building ventilation, and on temperature and vibration fluctuations for reliable factory machine prescriptive maintenance and product quality prediction to reduce wastage in production. The enhanced accuracy of measurements and standards provided by NMC help to promote fair trade, a safer environment, productivity and product reliability.

In supporting businesses in their workforce transformation efforts alongside their I4.0 transformation, the Sectoral Job Redesign (JR) Initiative was rolled out. Driven by the trade associations and chambers and in partnership with Workforce Singapore (WSG), JTC tenants can receive enterprise-centric support to identify key productivity drivers, implement sector specific solutions, and reskill their workforce to take on redesigned job roles in growth areas. 

The participating companies can expect a structured and guided journey and will be provided with comprehensive assessments and solutions on the business, technology and organisation fronts. Through WSG's Job Redesign Reskilling Career Conversion Programmes (JRR CCPs), eligible companies can seek support for their workers in undertaking new or redesigned job roles. The JRR CCPs will identify job roles that are vulnerable due to business transformation plans and to equip existing workers with the required knowledge and new skills to take on higher-value or redesigned job roles impacted by business transformation.

Trade associations and chambers can leverage JTC’s Industry Connect Office@JID as a platform to reach out to JTC customers and beyond on the Sectoral JR Initiative. The one-stop centre was launched in 2021 to help manufacturers redesign jobs and reskill their workforce, thereby accelerating their I4.0 transformation. With over 13,000 customers in various JTC industrial estates, JTC plays the role of effectively promoting business and workforce transformation to these companies by connecting them to relevant solutions providers, trade associations and chambers as well as government agencies, under its Industry Connect initiative.

Mr Frederick Chew, Chief Executive Officer, A*STAR, said, “A*STAR is happy to be an integral part of JID and to partner JTC in realising sustainable advanced manufacturing, in line with Singapore’s Net Zero goal. A*STAR’s SIMTech and NMC are committed to supporting partners at JID to push the boundaries of smarter, greener and more connected manufacturing.”

Mr Tan Boon Khai, Chief Executive, JTC, said, “JID has gained ground and momentum in its development as a catalyst for the growth of an advanced manufacturing community. Today, it is a dedicated advanced manufacturing campus for more than 100 players along the value chain, from research and capability developers and advanced manufacturers to Industry 4.0 solution providers, training providers and institutes of higher learning. We are happy to officially inaugurate A*STAR’s SIMTech and NMC into our JID community. The labs’ programmes to support the development and adoption of technologies to make manufacturing more sustainable will further enrich our advanced manufacturing ecosystem.”

Ms Dilys Boey, Chief Executive of WSG, said, “WSG is heartened to witness this significant leap towards advancing sustainability in manufacturing at JID, and we look forward to the fostering of further innovations and to assist local businesses in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies for a sustainable and competitive future. WSG is committed to support this transformation through reskilling initiatives and innovative workforce strategies, ensuring that our workforce is well-equipped to contribute to a more sustainable and technologically advanced industrial landscape.”