Industry and trade
Results of the year of the Trade Representation of Russia in Singapore- Export growth by almost 60% to $ 1.31 billion in 9 months;
- Non-primary exports - for the same 9 months already at the level of 2019, more than $ 150 million;
- 21 events for Russian exporters, from a small "Hour with a trade representative" to the Business mission of Agroexport Agro-industrial Complex for 100+ companies, KEF 2021 Studio and the export accelerator The Skolkovo Foundation;
- 122 fulfilled requests of companies #made by Russia;
- Dozens of new Russian brands on the market - from a large Segezha Group to a small Scandic;
- New partnerships with Singapore's largest business associations;
- System solutions - e-commerce markets, dairy exports and the possibility of online inspections for meat producers.
Source
Finance
Singapore faces the need to tighten monetary policy.Singapore is expected to raise taxes this year, which increases pressure on the central bank and possibly tightening monetary policy as the country tries to contain inflation.
According to 12 analysts, Singapore's monetary authority is likely to use exchange rates as its main policy tool to help the local currency strengthen in April.
The Singapore dollar has lost 0.4% against the dollar since October 2021, mainly due to the strengthening of the US currency against the backdrop of Fed expectations.
Source
Technologies
Singapore increases production of its own agricultural productsSingapore, with a minimum amount of agricultural land, imports 90% of the food produced in the country. Singapore's goal is to cover 30% of the country's food needs with its own goods by 2030.
Source
Education
Singapore students have developed a new VR training system.Students of the Shenyang Polytechnic Institute have developed a VR training system for maritime patrol aircraft of the Republic of Singapore.
The system helps its employees to identify and classify vessels through surveillance systems. Currently, the training system is working in practice and has been used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force for several months.
Source
Culture
Works by Russian composers will be performed in Singapore.Orchestral concerts based on the works of Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky will be held in Singapore on March 4-5, 2022.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Andrew Lytton and violin performed by Chloe Hanslip, will take part in the program.
Source
The EU and Singapore have launched a cultural program to support emerging Asian artists
Young artists will live in Europe for three months, study with mentors and rotate in a cultural environment. As a result, they must paint a picture and present it at an exhibition in Singapore.
The project offers long-term cooperation to aspiring artists. Those who pass the competition will spend three months in Europe, develop under the guidance of mentors and communicate in a cultural environment. Based on the results of the new experience, novice creators should create a work and present it at an exhibition in Singapore.
Source
Aviation industry
New SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory to transform aviation industryA milestone event in the historic partnership of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and NUS was marked on 10 Jan, with the launch of the new SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory.
The Corporate Laboratory was officially launched by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Chairman of the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF).
Situated at the Innovation 4.0 Building at NUS Kent Ridge campus, the S$45 million research facility is the seventh Corporate Laboratory at NUS and follows the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between NUS and SIA, with the University as the Airline’s knowledge partner.
The Corporate Laboratory is set to co-create and potentially commercialise innovative technologies and solutions to accelerate the digital transformation of Singapore’s aviation sector, and redefine the air travel experience for passengers and crew alike. These include traveller-centric digital services, improved security and safety in air travel, and enhanced organisational effectiveness and workplace productivity for Singapore’s aviation sector.
Source
Rostec will create a VR simulator for training aircraft technicians (Rostec website)
The United Aircraft Corporation is creating a VR simulator for training technical personnel. The equipment will increase the efficiency of maintenance of the Su-57 and Su-35 aviation complexes. Tests of the system are scheduled to be completed in 2022. The VR simulator consists of a virtual reality helmet, hand controllers and a computer with a training program that recreates the aviation complex in detail. Thanks to this, ground personnel can virtually study and work out all technological processes and improve the efficiency of maintenance of a real machine. Rostec pays great attention to improving the after-sales service of aircraft. The new VR simulator will allow aircraft technicians to gain enhanced practical skills. First of all, the complex is designed to work out the maintenance processes of the fifth-generation Su–57 and generation 4++ - Su-35 aircraft. The tests of the complex are planned to be completed in 2022," commented Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation. The VR simulator can be supplied either separately or bundled with new aircraft. The complex is being developed by specialists of the Sukhoi company. "The implementation of the system will provide significant advantages in terms of reducing financial and time costs for performing maintenance, restoration and repair of aircraft equipment," said Mikhail Strelets, First Deputy Managing Director - Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau
Source
Additive technologies
Fast Radius with office in Singapore expands cloud-based software and manufacturing platform, adding technology and manufacturing jobs in CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2022Fast Radius, Inc. (“Fast Radius”), today announced the opening of its newest manufacturing technology campus on Goose Island in Chicago, including a microfactory and software technology center.
In 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognized Fast Radius’ first Chicago microfactory as one of the nine best factories in the world, implementing technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution at scale—from design to manufacturing to fulfillment. The Goose Island facility replicates the award-winning microfactory operating model. It will offer cutting-edge CNC machining and industrial additive manufacturing (3D printing), including Carbon Digital Light Synthesis and HP Multi Jet Fusion technology. The microfactory will produce component parts for companies across industries, including automotive, electric vehicles, medical and healthcare devices, and consumer goods.
Fast Radius has built a first-of-its-kind Cloud Manufacturing Platform that integrates a suite of software products and a network of state-of-the-art factories. The company’s software and services help customers to design component parts, optimize them for production, make them when and where they’re needed, providing transparency through the production lifecycle and supply chain.
All Fast Radius microfactories and the company’s network of suppliers are connected into our Cloud Manufacturing Platform. Customers are able to collaborate on part designs and gather real-time intelligence. They are then able to make and fulfill parts where and when they want, thereby increasing the sustainability of their work and eliminating wasteful logistics steps along the way.
Fast Radius’ microfactory network—including a microfactory in UPS’ Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky—has served more than 2,000 global customers. Customers like Rawlings, Aptiv, and Satair are already using Fast Radius’ microfactories and Cloud Manufacturing Platform for cost-effective production and management of industrial-grade parts.
Founded in 2017, Fast Radius, Inc. is headquartered in Chicago with offices in Atlanta, Louisville, and Singapore and microfactories in Chicago and at the UPS Worldport facility in Louisville, KY.
Source
Composite materials
NTU Singapore scientists invent energy-saving glass that ‘self-adapts’ to heating and cooling demandAn international research team led by scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a material that, when coated on a glass window panel, can effectively self-adapt to heat or cool rooms across different climate zones in the world, helping to cut energy usage.
Developed by NTU researchers and reported in the top scientific journal Science, the first-of-its-kind glass automatically responds to changing temperatures by switching between heating and cooling.
The self-adaptive glass is developed using layers of vanadium dioxide nanoparticles composite, Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and low-emissivity coating to form a unique structure which could modulate heating and cooling simultaneously.
Source
Recycling and green technologies
Schneider Electric and Nanyang Polytechnic Sustainability Experience Centre to help Singapore’s SMEs implement green technologiesGreen solutions are now high on the radar of most organizations advocating sustainability as employees slowly make their way back to the office. While remote and hybrid working is still being practiced by some organizations, the reality is most companies eventually will want to have their employees back on-premises.
Despite increased cases of COVID-19, most organizations in Southeast Asia have gotten their staff back on site. As such, workplaces now would have to adapt to the new lifestyles of returning employees. This includes making sure the buildings are safe for work as well as leveraging new technologies to create a better working environment.
In Singapore, Nanyang Polytechnic and Schneider Electric launched a one-stop Sustainability Experience Centre to help Singapore’s small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement green technologies at the workplace.
According to Singapore’s Energy Efficiency Programme Office, occupancy sensors for lighting controls can result in at least 50% energy savings after implementation at workplaces. Implementing such energy-efficient measures helps SMEs reduce operating costs and become more competitive.
Source