Growing with Singapore: Five global companies in manufacturing, R&D and tech that have expanded in Singapore

Festo’s 45 years in Singapore: Nurturing talent for future industrial automation

German automation company Festo started out as a family business in 1925. This year, they celebrate not only their 100th year since their founding, but also their 45th anniversary in Singapore.

In 1980, Festo recognised that Singapore had the potential to be more than just a strategic location to expand in, given its stable and business-friendly environmen.

These attributes, and more, convinced Festo to anchor its Regional Headquarters for Southeast Asia (SEA) and the Pacific here. The Singapore site in Jurong also hosts the Festo Experience Centre – a state-of-the-art facility designed to showcase Festo’s automation technologies and host customer engagements. Its regional warehouse is also based here, to enable fast delivery to its regional customers. 

Central to Festo's Singapore story, however, is its commitment to workforce development through Festo Didactic – the company’s technical education arm.

Festo Didactic plays a key role in bridging the gap between school education and industry needs. Since 2000, it has trained over 3,000 professionals in Singapore. Through partnerships with institutions like the Technical University of Munich Asia and SkillsFuture Singapore, Festo launched Singapore's first Specialist Diploma in Advanced Digital Manufacturing. The diploma equips learners with hands-on experience in advanced digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 knowledge.

Today, with 117 highly skilled employees, Festo Singapore continues to drive digital transformation across industries while preparing Singapore's workforce for the future of manufacturing.
 

Meiden’s 50 years in Singapore: From developing power systems to sustainability solutions
 

Meiden Singapore was first set up in 1975, as the manufacturing, engineering and R&D hub of Meidensha Corporation, a listed company in Japan. Back then, Meidensha wanted to tap on Singapore’s increasingly skilled and productive workforce and started out with maintenance of power transformers. By 1987, it was playing a pivotal role in the MRT North-South and East-West Line power systems, acquiring capabilities to embark on its regional expansion from Singapore.

The Meiden Singapore team went on to work on mass transit systems in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Hong Kong, and Dubai – sending local engineering experts and supplying power transformers and switchgear to build new mass transit systems abroad.
 

In Singapore, if you’re accessing your digital health records or other public services, you’re probably using a system that was built with the professional services company Accenture’s support. 

The company first established its Singapore operations five decades ago. Along the way, Accenture helped build some of the digital infrastructure that underpins our everyday life – including Singapore’s national digital identity and the world’s first National Electronic Health Record system.

Today, Accenture Singapore guides clients as they navigate AI, driving transformation with initiatives like their AI Refinery Engineering Hub, while helping businesses reinvent, scale, and unlock new value.
 

Over the years, Accenture Singapore also nurtured local leaders like Mark Tham. The country managing director has spearheaded initiatives that help clients harness technology to drive meaningful business transformation. He has also led teams in delivering major national projects that enhance public services and improve the everyday lives of Singaporeans. For Mark, working at Accenture has shaped who he is today.

“[Accenture] has given me countless opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact, while working alongside some of the most talented and driven people. The friendships and professional networks I’ve built here continue to inspire me. I am incredibly fortunate to have grown within an organisation that constantly challenges and empowers its people to be their best,” says Mark.

As Singapore advances its Smart Nation vision, Accenture continues to co-create transformative solutions that strengthen Singapore’s position as a technology leader, while creating high-value careers for Singaporeans in the digital economy.
 

VDL ETG’s 55 years in Singapore: From household appliance parts to semiconductor precision tools
 

VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) Singapore began as the Philips Machine Factory in 1970, producing product components for its parent company, Philips. Since then, it has evolved to focus on high-tech capital equipment, marking a key milestone when it became part of the global VDL Groep in 2006.

Today, VDL’s Singapore operations are its largest in Asia and third largest globally by revenue, supplying critical modules to the world’s leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
 

In June 2025, VDL ETG Singapore unveiled its new SQ1 facility. This 20,000m² site features advanced cleanroom manufacturing capabilities, enabling the company to develop next-generation precision engineering tools and automated systems. It will also support their expansion from 800 to over 1,200 employees in the coming years.

Beyond manufacturing excellence, VDL ETG Singapore actively nurtures young local talent through internship programmes and work-study initiatives with higher learning institutes. Employees are also encouraged to upskill and are given the opportunity to take on leadership roles.

Ng Wee Kiat transitioned from the military service to a project manager through the SGUnited Skills Programme. Stories like his exemplify the company's commitment to developing Singapore's advanced manufacturing workforce for the digital economy.

In the next five years, VDL ETG plans to invest S$100 million to grow its Singapore operations.

HP’s 55 years in Singapore: ‘Made-in-Singapore’ technologies for the world
 

The HP-35 calculator might look familiar to some of us... But did you know that it was assembled in Singapore back in the day?

The tech giant HP Inc. that we know today first opened its manufacturing plant in Singapore in 1970 with just 62 employees. Over five decades later, HP Singapore is home to the company’s APAC headquarters.

HP's legacy here goes beyond manufacturing. It is uniquely defined by its "made in Singapore for the world" innovations that have put local engineers at the centre of global breakthroughs. From assembling the iconic HP-35 calculator to developing pioneering commercial printing solutions using reclaimed water in printer inks, Singapore has been HP’s testing ground for technologies that eventually reach millions worldwide.
 

Among the local innovators and leaders is Ong Hwee Yee, a Master Technologist in Writing Systems, whose work helped build HP’s InkJet legacy out of Singapore. Writing systems are the core technologies that enable precise ink delivery and print quality in HP’s printers. Hwee Yee brings over 30 years of experience in R&D and is the first woman technologist in her department.

As Singapore advances its Smart Nation vision, HP remains committed to pioneering sustainable, inclusive innovation that strengthens Singapore's position as a global technology hub while empowering communities through initiatives like STEM education and startup mentorship programs.
 

Grow and scale your business from Singapore

These five companies are among the leading companies worldwide that have found Singapore to be a welcoming and strategic location to grow their business in Asia. Visit EDB’s website to learn more about our facilitative talent policies, innovation ecosystem, strong IP protection, global connectivity and world-class infrastructure.
 

Read past issues of our ‘Growing in Singapore’ series here:

• Procter & Gamble (P&G) Singapore Innovation Centre, Takenaka, Corning Singapore, and SMC
• Yokogawa Singapore and Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia
• Fujifilm, Siemens, Henkel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Roche
• Applied Materials, Makino Asia, P&G, Shimano, and Thales