Biopharma investment destination

S$18.7B

worth of products manufactured by our biopharmaceutical facilities in 2023¹.

>9,000

skilled workers employed by our biopharmaceutical companies in 2023¹.

S$1.6B+

spent on biomedical sciences research & development (R&D) by our public institutions in 2022².

Access an advanced manufacturing ecosystem and innovation partners

Advanced manufacturing
Research & innovation

Researchers working in a state-of-the-art biopharma laboratory, symbolizing world-class manufacturing and innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development.

Biopharmaceutical production hub in Asia

Singapore has established itself as a leading global hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with industry output doubling over the past two decades to exceed S$18 billion in 2023. Today, eight of the world’s top 10 biopharmaceutical companies operate manufacturing facilities in Singapore.

Singapore hosts over 60 biopharmaceutical manufacturing plants, producing a wide range of products including small-molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), biologics, and new emerging modalities like cell therapies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs).

Industry platforms such as the Advanced Remanufacturing Technology Centre (ARTC) and Sectoral AI Centre of Excellence for Manufacturing (AIMfg), together with private-public partnerships like the Pharma Innovation Programme (PIPS) and Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme (BioPIPS), enable the sector to continuously drive manufacturing excellence and innovation.

This scale and expertise position Singapore as a trusted biopharmaceutical hub in Asia, strengthening global supply chains and delivering innovative medicines globally.

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Purpose-built infrastructure & flexibility

Singapore’s Tuas Biomedical Park offers ready access to power, water, telecoms, and shared utilities, enabling biopharmaceutical companies to set up operations quickly and scale flexibly.

Commitment to sustainable manufacturing

Singapore partners with biopharmaceutical manufacturers to achieve their sustainability goals through decarbonisation efforts and initiatives while maintaining operational excellence.

Companies in Singapore are building facilities that exceed net-zero goals. For instance, Takeda’s new building generates 115 per cent of its energy from renewables, while AstraZeneca’s upcoming ADC facility is designed to be zero carbon from day one.

Scientists in a laboratory setting with digital healthcare icons and data overlays, symbolizing process innovation, smart health analytics, and collaborative partnerships in advanced manufacturing.

Skilled talent pool

Singapore’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing talent pool has grown by 55 per cent over the last decade to 9,500 professionals today, supporting the industry’s complex, high-value manufacturing activities.

Targeted programmes like the Talent Advancement Programme (TAP) and Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP) ensure a steady pipeline of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) talent into the industry.

Solar panels with city skyline at sunset, symbolizing a rising R&D powerhouse in clean energy.

Asia’s hub for innovation

Biopharmaceutical innovation in Singapore benefits from strong government support. Our latest five-year Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan commits S$28 billion to focus on science and technology development, including health and biomedical science.

This translates into cutting-edge facilities, ample R&D funding including grants and co-investment programmes, and talent development initiatives, fostering an environment where new biotechnology and biopharmaceutical innovations can flourish.

National platforms such as the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS), the Experimental Drug Discovery Centre (EDDC) and the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi) accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics, shortening the path from science to market.

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Thriving biotech ecosystem

Singapore’s one-north district is a vibrant biomedical R&D hub, housing A*STAR research institutes alongside over 40 corporate labs. This close-knit ecosystem fosters collaboration across clinicians, research institutes, clinical trial units, and contract research organisations (CROs), accelerating drug discovery and development.

The number of biotechs in Singapore has grown sevenfold since 2012, with over 70 firms now operating here. This includes homegrown ventures such as Nuevocor, which focuses on cardiovascular therapies, and Engine Biosciences, which discovers and develops precision medicines for oncology using AI and high-throughput biology.

Singapore has also established itself as a regional venture capital (VC) hub. We are home to over 500 VC firms and 220 incubators across all sectors, including healthcare-focused investors such as ClavystBio, EDBI, and Vertex Healthcare. Global investors like Flagship Pioneering and MPM BioImpact, and corporate innovation arms like JLABS, have established regional offices here, collaborating with our vibrant biotech ecosystem to advance and commercialise innovations.

Scientist working with microscope in modern lab, representing a strong talent pipeline.

Launchpad to Asia-Pacific markets

Singapore is a leading biotech innovation hub in Asia-Pacific, offering companies seamless access to the region’s fast-growing healthcare markets. The country’s stability, strong intellectual property protections and world-class regulatory framework give firms a high-trust base for Asia-focused R&D.

In addition, Singapore’s strong regulatory alignment with US/ EU standards ensures that trials and production meet global requirements from day one.

From Singapore, biopharmaceutical innovators can efficiently conduct regional clinical trials, navigate diverse Asian markets, and drive commercialisation across Asia – making it an ideal springboard for biopharmaceutical R&D in the region.

Learn about how these businesses are leveraging Singapore to scale/grow

Sanofi brings world’s first modular concept manufacturing facility to Singapore

The facility’s novel concept shortens production timelines and enables rapid changes in production capacities across medicines.

AstraZeneca establishes Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) manufacturing facility in Singapore

The company breaks ground on 58-acre site, to cover the full manufacturing process for ADCs, with the aim of being operational by 2029.

Singapore a top draw for Pfizer as it looks to invest for the long run

What makes Singapore the go-to destination for US pharma giant Pfizer?

WuXi AppTec breaks ground on new site in Singapore

The new 50-acre facility provides active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) R&D and manufacturing services for small molecules, oligonucleotides, peptides, and complex synthetic conjugates.

WuXi Biologics breaks ground on CRDMO center in Singapore

The center will provide integrated biologics research, development and manufacturing services.

Novartis expands its biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in Singapore

The US$256 million investment will deliver breakthrough treatments to patients globally.

Insights into Singapore's Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals industry

View articles

References

Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals

Access an advanced manufacturing ecosystem and innovation partners

Advanced manufacturing