American healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) needs no introduction. With operations in 60 countries and a global market for its pharmaceutical, medical devices, and consumer health goods across 175 countries, J&J is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world.

With the global economic centre of activity shifting eastward, Asia Pacific (APAC) has become the fastest-growing market for J&J. APAC’s 3.7 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are facing ageing demographics, as well as chronic and critical diseases.

To unlock better healthcare and improve the quality of lives in the region, J&J's APAC formula consists of three key ingredients: innovation, talent, and collaboration.

All three components of J&J’s formula are strengthened by its APAC regional headquarters (RHQ) in Singapore, in operation since 1974. As part of its global innovation ecosystem strategy, J&J expanded its presence here in 2018 through investments in a Leadership Lab, a Design Lab and a Human Performance Institute, creating opportunities for products, solutions and services that deepen J&J’s regional healthcare leadership.

Unlocking innovation for APAC from Singapore

Since adopting an open innovation ecosystem model in 2009 – a key component of J&J’s winning healthcare formula – the company regularly taps on its global networks to spearhead collaborative development of intellectual property (IP).

This has boosted J&J into the ranks of the top three pharmaceutical companies in research and development (R&D) worldwide.

J&J’s Singapore regional base enables the company to extend its innovation capabilities across APAC. “Where Singapore plays a differentiated role compared to other leading cities,” notes Ms Ong Ai Hua, J&J’s Group Chair for APAC, is its ability to “[churn] the innovation wheel efficiently and frequently.”

For one, the country’s cosmopolitan demographics offer a gateway to APAC consumers, helping J&J to identify region-specific consumer needs and sharpen go-to-market strategies for APAC quickly.

“This sophisticated, small-sized market and diverse multiracial population has its unique value for companies seeking to pilot new ideas, new offerings, and deeper insights into the epidemiology of the Asian population,” shares Ms Ong.

In addition, Singapore has been ranked the world’s most innovative IP office. The city-state’s leadership in IP allows J&J to protect its cutting-edge scientific and technological advancements.

“Although IP protection laws are country-specific, the IP environment for example where and how the IP is held are crucial considerations. Singapore has a favourable legal environment for IP, hence it is an obvious choice for IP ownership in the region,” affirms Ms Ong.

As proof of its Singapore RHQ’s innovative edge, its team here is designing and deploying technology-intensive products and business performance solutions.

J&J’s Singapore Design Lab, a first for the company outside the United States (US), is applying 3D printing in research areas such as beauty and vision, skincare, and myopia. Meanwhile, its Singapore finance team has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based financial planning and accounting system that helps its leaders track performance and distil insights to make data-driven decisions. The team is currently developing predictive machine-learning capabilities for its model and is rolling the system out to J&J offices worldwide.

Nurturing regional healthcare leadership for Asia

Talent development is the second key ingredient in J&J’s formula for APAC healthcare advancement. To further its goal of open innovation, J&J’s Singapore RHQ taps on extensive networks to create programmes that deepen regional healthcare expertise.

For instance, J&J’s Leadership Lab in Singapore, also its first outside the US, serves as a Centre of Excellence for APAC’s healthcare leaders. The Lab pioneers sustainable behaviour change training, driven by design thinking and research insights. Its talent initiatives bring healthcare experts, resources, and skillsets together to deliver 200 classes and training for 4,000 Asian healthcare leaders annually.

At its Human Performance Institute, top executives are guided by elite coaches to enhance holistic health through performance psychology, exercise physiology, and nutrition programmes customised for APAC.

Beyond its RHQ, J&J supports talent development programmes that seed industry knowledge and accelerate entrepreneurship.

Its flagship capacity development programme is J&J Vision, a thought leadership platform modelled after an established bio-design programme at Stanford University. Developed in 2019 in partnership with research institute Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), this programme showcases innovative ophthalmology research and nurtures medical technology innovators for APAC, creating future solutions for the region’s healthcare needs.

Driving valued partnerships for regional healthcare solutions

The third component of J&J’s APAC healthcare formula is collaboration. To tackle unmet healthcare needs in APAC, J&J’s Singapore RHQ taps on the country’s ease of doing business and strong governmental support to actively partner companies, research institutes, and healthcare organisations in Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem.

For instance, one solution from J&J’s collaborations is a new biomarker-based prognostic that better predicts risk and personalises treatment for patients with diabetes, a major epidemic in APAC. This was a result of the J&J Innovation JLABS 2017 Quickfire Challenge, developed in collaboration with Exploit Technologies, A*STAR, and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

Another example of J&J’s promising healthcare collaboration is in the area of eye health. Under a public-private funding model with the Singapore National Eye Centre and Singapore Eye Research Institute, J&J Vision is spearheading the largest myopia collaboration in Asia, opening up clinical research opportunities to tackle one of the largest threats to eye health in APAC.

Singapore’s world-renowned hospitals and research institutes, high prevalence of myopia, and diverse population make it an ideal R&D hub for breakthrough myopia solutions, notes Mr Biten Kathrani, J&J’s Head of APAC R&D in Vision Care.

Beyond 2020: the future of J&J’s Singapore RHQ and innovation hub

Even as other Asian countries emerge as competitors, Singapore remains a destination of choice that furthers J&J’s mission to advance healthcare solutions for APAC. Over 46 per cent of Asia RHQs are based in Singapore, proof of the value the country brings to companies actively growing their capabilities in the region.

J&J’s formula of innovation, talent, and collaboration closely aligns with Singapore’s openness to changing business needs and continued support of an innovation ecosystem.

With its long-standing history and growing footprint in Singapore, J&J is forging ahead, turning innovation into a sustainable growth engine for the company.