WHEN semiconductor startup Silicon Box decided to establish its first manufacturing and research facility in 2022, the Economic Development Board (EDB) saw an opportunity to anchor one of the industry’s most promising emerging technologies in Singapore.
Working with EDB, JTC and other government agencies, Silicon Box moved from investment decision to operations in just 18 months. In July 2023, it unveiled its S$2 billion state-of-the-art facility. It has since established its global headquarters here with over 600 employees.
Silicon Box specialises in advanced semiconductor packaging, with a focus on high-density chiplet integration and panel-level packaging. These areas are gaining momentum as technology sectors require more powerful chips. In 2025, the company proved its flagship Tampines Wafer Park facility could mass-produce advanced chips at viable commercial yields. The breakthrough helps ease critical packaging bottlenecks for applications including AI, robotics, electric vehicles and satellite technology.
The investment has reinforced Singapore’s position as a leading semiconductor hub, with companies across the industry value chain, including wafer fabrication, integrated circuit design, and assembly and test. One in 10 chips and one-fifth of global semiconductor equipment produced annually comes from Singapore, and the industry contributes close to 6 per cent of GDP and employs more than 35,000 people.
Silicon Box’s presence has introduced new capabilities to the ecosystem, including training the next generation of advanced manufacturing talent. Its journey in Singapore reflects EDB’s work to deepen Singapore’s leadership in sectors from semiconductors to industrial solutions to health care and aerospace.
At the same time, Singapore’s strong and diverse base of existing industries provides a foundation from which to pursue new engines of growth. EDB is working on both fronts: helping companies already here move into higher-value activities, while bringing in new capabilities and businesses in emerging growth areas.
Transforming manufacturing from within
Strengthening Singapore’s manufacturing leadership also means helping long-standing investors harness new technologies and expand into higher-value activities. This has created new job and leadership roles for Singaporeans.
For tech company HP, what began as a 62-person plant producing computer memory components in 1970 has evolved into one of its most advanced manufacturing and R&D operations globally. Today, Singapore is a strategic hub for HP, producing sophisticated printheads and sustainable latex inks while pioneering AI-enabled manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
The Singapore Printhead Manufacturing site has been recognised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Global Lighthouse Factory, where automation, data analytics and AI have strengthened productivity, quality and resilience.
Rockwell Automation’s Singapore story reflects continual reinvention. The company started with a regional sales office here in 1991 before expanding into R&D, manufacturing and regional sales. Today, engineers here develop industrial automation solutions deployed across Rockwell’s global network, while integrated R&D and manufacturing operations shorten development cycles and accelerate innovation.
Rockwell’s Singapore site has also been recognised as a WEF Global Lighthouse, after deploying more than 50 digital and AI-enabled solutions that increased labour productivity by 43 per cent and shortened worker training time by 67 per cent.
