Whether they are going into our tummies or out into space — the best innovations are being pioneered right here in Singapore.
Flying formations overhead and firework displays remind us that it’s that time of the year again to celebrate the independence of our little red dot. During this year of global uncertainty and upheaval, Singapore remains steadfast to its commitment to progress.
Here at MullenLowe, we would like to believe we are just like Singapore: small, scrappy and relentlessly committed to innovation. In time for this year’s National Day, we thought to look more closely at areas where Singapore is leading the pack — and which help it earn its reputation as one of the most innovative cities in the world.
Food security and nutrition
Singapore is the first country to allow the sale of nuggets and snacks made out of chicken grown in a laboratory — which means meat cultivated from cultured cells in a petri dish.
Singapore is quickly becoming a leading hub in the food technology space, with startups developing groundbreaking solutions that go a long way to solving global issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable meat consumption and growing noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes.
These run the gamut from creating a healthier type of rice with a patented fibre blend which prevents blood sugar spikes, and the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin (found in human breast milk), to high tech farms that leverage robotics to monitor vegetable growth.
Space
It might surprise one to know that Singapore has a space sector — and that the country has more than 50 companies and 1,800 employees in this industry, which has steadily built up over the last decade. Singapore’s long-held expertise in electronics and supercomputing has made it well-placed for building space-related components and technology for small satellites. Since 2011, 20 satellites have been sent up into space from here!
Some of the innovations by local start-ups include developing radiation-hardened electronics to help satellites thrive in space and using geo-spatial insights to improve decision making for earth-based customers in the energy, maritime or finance sectors.
Sustainability
Singapore is no stranger to extreme weather, which is why sustainability is one of its priorities. The city is one of the best places in the world for green technology startups and SMEs.
Some of these smart and sustainable solutions being developed sound like the stuff of science fiction, including a smart road hump that absorbs kinetic energy from cars and transforms it into clean energy, and an odourless, sustainable paint that purifies air.
Whether it’s waste management or renewable energy — Singapore is at the forefront of several sustainability sectors, and becoming a top destination for bright minds that want to set up shop to take their ideas further.
We are proud to be a small part of Singapore’s vanguard of creativity and innovation, and we’re excited to see more innovations that could reshape our world for future generations.
Photo by Mike Enerio on Unsplash