Singapore’s industrial development agency JTC Corporation is accelerating the transformation of the nation’s industrial landscape by developing next-generation industrial estates designed specifically for advanced manufacturing. A high-profile example is the recently completed Bulim Square facility within the Jurong Innovation District (JID), part of a broader effort to attract cutting-edge technology companies, global talent and investment by offering future-ready factory space with integrated research, prototyping and production capabilities. JTC’s strategy reflects Singapore’s recognition that advanced manufacturing ecosystems must go beyond cost competitiveness to offer smart, sustainable and collaborative environments that support innovation from concept to market.
Bulim Square adds more than 110,000 sq m of high-spec industrial space to Singapore’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with infrastructure tailored to heavy machinery, robotics, automation and digital systems, while also offering sustainability and connectivity features that appeal to global firms. Its design includes ready-to-occupy space and digital-ready infrastructure such as sensors and data integration for smart facility management, underscoring how physical space is being re-imagined for Industry 4.0 requirements. By co-locating production with research and development, prototyping and services, JTC aims to facilitate seamless collaboration across the innovation value chain.
The Jurong Innovation District (JID) itself, a 600-hectare next-generation estate, is central to Singapore’s advanced manufacturing ambitions, serving as a mixed-use ecosystem where industry, academia and innovators converge. This district is expected to generate tens of thousands of new jobs in research and technology fields once fully completed, further strengthening Singapore’s position in high-value manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, precision engineering and clean technologies. Its design also incorporates sustainability and community elements, with green spaces, connectivity to public transport and features intended to attract a diverse workforce.
Overall, JTC’s next-gen estate initiatives signal a shift in Singapore’s economic strategy toward building world-class advanced manufacturing capabilities that can compete globally. By offering purpose-built, smart and sustainable industrial infrastructure, the country hopes to attract multinational corporations and startups alike, nurturing innovation, boosting productivity and fortifying its position as a hub for future technologies in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
(Sources: The Straits Times; JTC; EDB Singapore)
