Manufacturing Day Summit 2026: Empowering manufacturers to navigate change and lead transformation in the age of AI and sustainability

This press release was issued by Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) today hosted the Manufacturing Day Summit 2026, its annual flagship conference that brought together industry experts, policymakers and business innovators to explore how Singapore’s manufacturing sector can harness advanced technologies, human-centric approaches and sustainable practices in the Industry 5.0 era.

The sector recorded strong growth of 7.6%¹ in 2025, reaffirming its role as a key pillar of the economy. At the same time, however, manufacturers face evolving challenges, including geopolitical tensions, shifting trade dynamics and pressures on global supply chains, alongside the need to balance technological advancement with workforce readiness, safety and sustainability.

Against this backdrop, the Summit’s theme, “Industry 5.0 with Next-Gen: Co-Inventing the Future of Manufacturing for People and Planet” , examined how the industry as a whole can build on the sector’s strong momentum by accelerating the adoption of advanced manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), while embedding sustainability, human capability and resilience at the core of transformation.

This year’s Summit was graced by Minister of State, Ms Gan Siow Huang, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Trade and Industry, and welcomed regional dignitaries, including H.E Faisol Riza, Indonesian Vice Minister of Industry. Approximately 1,500 delegates across the manufacturing ecosystem, including industry leaders and government agencies, attended the 2026 Summit, strengthening existing relationships and creating new connections for learning and greater collaboration.

This year, SMF also announced several new developments at the Summit. Designed to promote the advancement of Singapore’s manufacturing sector, they include:

Reducing Barriers for Cross-Border Growth in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Batam-Bintan-Karimun (BBK)

Since the establishment of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in January 2025, interest among Singapore manufacturers in expanding into the zone continues to grow. Beginning July 2025, SMF has engaged over 100 companies to raise awareness of the JS-SEZ, facilitated site visits across the border for close to 50 companies, and supported manufacturers that are ready to progress through regulatory clarification and partner introductions. Through these engagements, SMF observed strong interest among manufacturers in the JS-SEZ, and the importance of convening information, aligning regulatory understanding, and providing practical insights to support confident cross-border expansion.

To facilitate this knowledge-exchange, the Manufacturing Day Summit 2026 saw the launch of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Playbook for Manufacturers: A Guide to Setting Up and Operating in Johor. This playbook is the first comprehensive resource specifically designed to guide manufacturers interested in operating within the JS-SEZ. Drawing on SMF’s on-the-ground experience, with contributions from Enterprise Singapore (Enterprise SG), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), DXC Technology, EY, and UOB, the playbook consolidates key considerations into a structured, end-to-end operating guide, covering critical factors at each stage of setup.

Complementing the playbook is an AI-enabled chatbot, which will be launched by SMF in one to two months’ time. A domain-specific assistant trained on JS-SEZ materials curated by SMF and other verified sources, the content will be updated regularly, ensuring users have timely access to the latest regulatory changes, incentives, ecosystem developments, and practical implementation pathways. Over time, it will provide increasingly personalised guidance, helping companies navigate opportunities most relevant to their specific sector, scale, or internationalisation ambition.

Together, these tools aim to reduce ambiguity, lower barriers to entry, and provide manufacturers with a common reference point to support more informed and confident decision-making.

Building on this support, SMF brought together Enterprise SG, MIDA, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and UOB during a breakout session at the Summit. Together, they focused on how companies can scale effectively and achieve win-win outcomes in the JS-SEZ.

In addition, the Batam-Bintan-Karimun (BBK) Free Trade Zone also came into the spotlight at the Summit. As a key hub for Singapore-based manufacturers seeking to expand in Southeast Asia, representatives from the Singapore Economic Development Board, the Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) Singapore and the Industrial Estates Association of Indonesia (HKI) gathered to discuss the incentives, operational realities, and essential considerations for setting up in BBK. The discussion showcased how companies can leverage the strengths of the Singapore-Johor-Riau Islands (SIJORI) growth triangle to access new opportunities across Southeast Asia.

Strengthening Leadership for AI-Enabled Manufacturing Transformation

The Summit also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SMF Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy (AMTA) and the A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (A*STAR SIMTech) to jointly launch the Manufacturing Leadership Elevation Certificate Programme, a flagship leadership development initiative for the manufacturing sector.

The programme aims to build the next generation of manufacturing leaders by equipping them with the skills to strategise, design and lead AI-enabled, value-centric transformation. It will emphasise frameworks such as Learn-Practise-Implement to enhance participants’ leadership decision-making skills, connect technology investments to measurable outcomes and support organisation-wide change.

Launching in March 2026, the pilot run of the programme will be tailored for women leaders from companies under the SMF Women in Manufacturing Committee, in response to strong industry interest in strengthening leadership capabilities amid rapid technological change. This pilot seeks to empower women leaders to navigate the evolving demands of AI-enabled manufacturing while advancing leadership diversity and contributing to a more inclusive and resilient manufacturing ecosystem.

Supporting Technology Adoption and Collaboration between MNCs and Local Enterprises

The Summit also marked the first year milestone for the launch of the MNC–LE Alliance, a programme by the SMF in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore and the Economic Development Board. Since its inception, the Alliance has served as a platform to connect multinational corporations (MNCs) with local enterprises (LEs) to co-create solutions, accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, and unlock new business opportunities.

To deepen and expand the Alliance’s impact, two MoUs were signed during the Summit between SMF and ecosystem partners HP Singapore, as well as IPI Singapore:

The MoU with HP formalises the company’s role as a strategic partner in the MNC–LE Alliance. The partnership aims to strengthen local manufacturing capabilities even further by supporting LEs in adopting advanced technologies, advancing sustainable practices, and scaling competitively in global markets. Together, SMF and HP reaffirmed their commitment to uplifting local manufacturing enterprises and reinforcing Singapore as a hub for co-creation, innovation and impact.

In addition, the MoU signed with IPI Singapore – a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore – will provide enterprises with access to innovative ideas, technologies, and advisory expertise to spur growth. Through this partnership, SMF and IPI Singapore will collaborate to support technology transfer, expand outreach through shared networks and forums, and catalyse innovation via international launchpads, strengthening pathways for impactful MNC–LE collaboration.

The Summit also saw the signing of a MoU between SMF and Life3 Biotech, which formalised Life3’s role as a strategic partner in the MNC-LE Alliance and will deepen collaboration between MNCs and LEs. By leveraging Life3’s expertise in AI and biotechnology, particularly in bio-manufacturing, the partnership aims to strengthen local manufacturing capabilities in the development of sustainable and functional food ingredients (including proteins and omega-3 fatty acids), bio-materials such as concrete and asphalt, and bio-fuels – a resource-efficient alternative to traditional production methods. Ultimately, this collaboration supports the advancement of high-efficiency manufacturing, contributes to global sustainability goals, and helps lay the foundation for a greener, more resilient bio-economy.

Promoting Safe and Responsible Manufacturing

Furthering this commitment to accessible education, the SMF Centre for Corporate Learning (CCL) is also launching a new Metalworking Microlearning Programme (MLP), in collaboration with the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC), specifically for the metalworking sector.

Delivered through the Learning Management System, these engaging, multi-language modules allow workers to refresh their safety knowledge and practices, anytime, anywhere on their personal mobile device/s. By integrating this technology-enabled learning, the programme helps workers apply safety principles directly on the job and stay prepared for recertification, directly supporting the national WSH 2028 Strategy. Through these verification and training initiatives, SMF strengthens a culture of safe machine operation, empowering businesses and upholding national standards for workplace safety.

¹ Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore (2026): Singapore’s GDP Grew by 5.7 Per Cent in the FourthQuarter of 2025 and by 4.8 Per Cent in 2025