Every time you tap your credit card, board a plane, or use your passport, there’s a good chance you’re interacting with technology made in Singapore by Thales.
The French MNC has grown tremendously in Singapore over the last 50 years. What began as Thales’ first avionics production site outside France in 1973 has evolved into a hub for digital identity and security and aviation solutions that touch millions of lives daily.
Hear from Emily Tan, Country Director and CEO of Thales Singapore on the French MNC’s presence in Singapore.
Singapore as Thales’ Global Manufacturing Hub
Singapore hosts Thales’ largest global site for digital identity and security solutions. We use cutting-edge technologies to safeguard user identity and finances, producing credit cards, SIM cards, passport pages, and ID cards used worldwide. This digital security expertise is complemented by Thales’ largest global centre for avionics manufacturing and maintenance.
The decision to expand these operations stems not just from Singapore’s stable governance, strategic location, and ease of doing business, but also from its collaborative R&D ecosystem.
R&D partnerships that drive innovation
It is this environment that has enabled crucial partnerships with key institutions – from developing homeland security solutions with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) to pioneering air traffic management technologies with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
Thales also has flourishing research partnerships in nanotechnologies with Nanyang Technological University (now in its 15th year), quantum technology research with the National University of Singapore (NUS), and aerospace innovations with the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
These successful collaborations and Singapore’s robust R&D ecosystem have supported Thales’ expansion. We recently established new Centres of Excellence for Air Traffic Management (ATM) and In-Flight Entertainment here, building upon existing capabilities.
As Thales looks to the future, its growing presence - with more than 2,000 employees across multiple sites - demonstrates our long-term commitment to nurturing the local talent pipeline, fostering innovation, and promoting growth in the region.
