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| Source: IPI Singapore. The Panasonic booth at TechInnovation 2025. |
IPI Singapore, a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore and a catalyst of Singapore’s open innovation ecosystem, hosted a wide range of perspectives about technology and business growth at TechInnovation 2025. The annual event connects global partners with local technology seekers to speed up adoption and reduce risk through “best fit” solutions.
Speaking at TechInnovation 2025, Alvin Tan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade & Industry, and the Ministry of National Development, said, “Over the past 13 years, TechInnovation has become a trusted marketplace for technology adoption and business transformation, hosting more than 30,000 participants and showcasing over 3,000 technologies from around the world. It has generated countless partnerships and success stories for our enterprises.”
Ho KwonPing, Founder and Executive Chairman, Banyan Group; and Dr Juliana M. Chan, CEO, Wildtype Media Group, spoke in an opening dialogue about how Singapore can remain resilient and relevant in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Ho underscored the need to integrate non-Western knowledge
into AI to build a more inclusive global system, and highlighted the
role of empathy and adaptability in both business and leadership. He
noted AI’s potential to enhance productivity but cautioned against
over-reliance, stressing the importance of humility and proactive action
amid challenges such as climate change.
Ho said: "We (Singapore) could be the Alexandria of the world… Singapore can bring different civilisational knowledge bases together so AI creators can build a truly universal AI capability.”
Cross-border collaboration in pursuit of innovation was another of the highlights at TechInnovation 2025. IPI Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KILSA Global, an organisation with a strong focus on supporting South Korean companies looking to scale their operations and connect with global partners.
The agreement aims to boost international co-innovation and technology transfer for Singapore-based companies, while cementing Singapore’s role as Southeast Asia’s leading innovation gateway.
The organisation also renewed a MoU with Panasonic R&D Centre Singapore, strengthening co-development projects and collaboration between industry and technology partners.
In his keynote, Kotaro Matsuo, GM of Business Development, Panasonic R&D Center Singapore, shared how the company is advancing open innovation to address global and societal challenges. Through its partnership with IPI Singapore, Panasonic has published over 40 technologies on IPI Singapore’s Innovation Marketplace, resulting in more than 100 business engagements and 13 ongoing projects.
Matsuo also highlighted the JCTI Launchpad, a joint initiative developed by IPI Singapore, Panasonic, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and N9, which continues to grow with new members such as Murata and Nitto, reinforcing how platforms like TechInnovation foster cross-border collaboration and accelerate technology adoption.
Collaboration and guidance through IPI Singapore can help established industries modernise, improve their efficiency, and increase sustainability. Eric Leong, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Mlion, shared how the company transformed from a traditional steel supplier into a technology-driven innovator with support from IPI Singapore.
Mlion developed solutions such as GoListed, an online marketplace for surplus steel, and GoTagging, an RFID system that enhances traceability and reuse. An AI Copilot was also introduced to streamline sales and reduce manual work.
In a keynote about standards as growth enablers, Choy Sauw Kook, Director-General, Quality and Excellence, Enterprise Singapore, emphasised that standards are not just compliance tools but strategic enablers of trust, innovation, and growth.
She encouraged enterprises to start with standards that align with their business goals, engage the wider ecosystem, and leverage certification to gain a competitive edge. Choy also underscored that standards form the scaffolding of trust and the shared language of global business by helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporates scale with confidence, reduce risk, and unlock new market opportunities.
She said: "Together, we have the expertise, ambition, and vision to not just compete in the global economy, but to define it."
A panel about standards dived deeper into the topic. Tan Yee Teck, Executive Director, Quality and Excellence, Enterprise Singapore; April Chin, Co-CEO, Resaro; and Dr Lim Yujing, CEO & CTO, Osteopore, moderated by Elvin Too, Founder & Director, LeadWorks, talked about how standards strengthen trust and enable innovation.
Tan highlighted Enterprise Singapore’s role in supporting national quality infrastructure and industry growth, while Dr Lim shared how standards ensure safety and reliability in high-risk medical devices. Chin noted the growing importance of AI standards and the need for clear guidelines to ensure robustness and accountability.
The panel concluded that collaboration and well-defined standards can strengthen trust, competitiveness, and innovation across industries.
A different panel analysed how legacy businesses can stay relevant in a changing world. Consisting of Ramachandran Rajamanickam, Innovation Advisor at IPI Singapore as the moderator; Tan Ting Wei, Transformation Lead, Fire Armour; Jamie Lim, CEO, Scanteak; Jackie Lau, MD, Seng Heng Engineering; and Alvin Choo, Director, Kwong Cheong Thye, the panel shared how innovation keeps family enterprises going.
Their message was clear: adapt to new markets, stay grounded in core values, and lead change with purpose.
Choo said: "To sustain a business for five generations, it’s not just about growth but also about passion and values. As our older generations remind us, you must always remember your roots. And for us, those roots are our customers.”
In another panel, Chok Yean Hung, Innovation Advisor at IPI Singapore, discussed cracking new markets with Alan Lai, CEO, ProfilePrint; Patrick Lim, CEO, ACE .SG; and Samantha Teo, Executive Director, International Business Division of the Singapore Business Federation. The panellists stressed the need to validate opportunities early, partner with local agencies, and build trust through cultural understanding.
Another key takeaway is that expanding overseas takes more than a business plan; it requires time on the ground, commitments, trusted partnerships, and a genuine understanding of local markets to build lasting success.
Lai noted: "The biggest barrier to internationalisation, in my opinion, is whether founders are willing to commit to spend years, or at least, spending more time in the targeted market to understand and deepen connections. When you do that, issues around regulation, culture, or funding become manageable.
“Once you and your team truly connect with people there, it’s no longer an international market; it becomes your local market."
Richard Eu, Group Chairman, Eu Yan Sang International said: "When I joined in 1989, our turnover in Singapore was about S$3 million a year, and it had stayed that way for decades. I believed we could grow to S$20 million by changing how we worked, opening more branches, and reaching new customers. In the years that followed, that vision became reality.
"Real growth, to me, begins when you challenge old mindsets and have the courage to try new ideas."
TechInnovation is IPI Singapore’s flagship event. The 13th edition, with the theme Discover, Connect, Collaborate, brought together more than 4,000 attendees from around the world. Over three days, it served as a platform for enterprises, innovators, and partners to connect across borders, collaborate on real-world solutions, and turn ideas into impact. The event also showcased emerging technologies across healthtech, sustainability, circular food innovation, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier technologies.
Michael Goh, CEO of IPI Singapore, said in a statement ahead of the event: “TechInnovation enables SMEs to make confident moves, access global partners, adopt the right technologies, and take the next step in their growth journey.”
IPI Singapore’s Innovation Advisory, a network of more than 40 veteran executives, helps guide SMEs on product-solution fit, market entry, and building leadership confidence in innovation.
Hashtags: #TechInnovation2025, #IPISingapore, #DiscoverConnectCollaborate
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