Global Incubator Programme: Singapore – Advanced Manufacturing 2025

We are looking for businesses with the ambition and commitment to scale globally. The programme best suits businesses that already have some traction and sales in the UK that are now looking to innovate their products and services through building global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate their growth and scaling journey. Where the business proposition could grow faster in Singapore than the UK, for example in certain industrial biology applications, we are receptive to applications from earlier stage businesses. We are also open to Advanced Materials propositions where engagement with the Advanced Manufacturing ecosystem is critical to global expansion.  The CEO, founder or a senior decision maker from the company needs to commit to being involved in all stages of the programme. To be eligible for the Global Incubator Programme, you must be a small or medium sized company based in the UK.

The three stages of the programme are as follows:

Prepare

Online preparation workshops will be delivered to the entire cohort whilst in the UK. You will be allocated an Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist to work with in the UK who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and working with the incubator, and support to better present and articulate your business and the value proposition. We will provide one-to-one support to help shape your first visit.

Pursue

This 6-month stage of the programme is about working with the incubator. The programme will see a visit to the market at the beginning (31/3-4/4), providing the opportunity to consider technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular (weekly or fortnightly) virtual sessions with the incubator team, mentors, and experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. The final part is a second visit to the market (13-17 October), including a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort and attendance of the ITAP expo (14-16 October), continuing to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.

Exploit

Work with your Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist to continue to exploit the programme, building on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained. You should now be in a much better position with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey.

To apply for this programme, you must:

• Be the CEO, founder or a senior decision maker in the business
• Be a UK based business with fewer than 250 employees
• Have a focus on Advanced Manufacturing

The Singapore Manufacturing 2030 Vision sets out a 10 year plan to grow the sector by 50%. As the world progresses towards industry 4.0, sectors in advanced manufacturing are growing in importance to help materialize this vision. Leading firms across industrial sectors such as GE Aerospace, Micron, and Merck have chosen Singapore as a strategic manufacturing hub.

Singapore is the world’s 4th largest global exporter of high-tech goods and produces 4 of the world’s top 10 drugs. Singapore is a critical manufacturing base producing a diverse range of medical technology products from implantable pacemakers, to contact lenses and life science instruments for global markets. Virtually every key gadget today has parts created in Singapore. You most likely own a piece of Singapore’s electronics industry, industry, from Seagate’s hard disk drives and HP Inc’s print heads to Energizer’s iconic batteries.

Our Incubation Partner

Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) is Singapore’s leading innovation platform and venture builder that empowers founders to rapidly build, validate and scale Industry 4.0 startups. Through their innovation and venture builder programmes, SDTA works with businesses to reduce the environmental footprint and solve global challenges through revolutionary solutions.

SDTA’s portfolio of companies represent industry-leading solutions across the advanced manufacturing sector. SDTA is supported by Enterprise Singapore, HighTechXL, XNode, AStartCentral and National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC). For more information about SDTA, visit sdta.sg

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and additional fees such as for conference attendance for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative.

Only one representative from each company will be funded; second delegates from businesses are welcome at your expense. On acceptance to the initiative a commitment fee of £2000 will be obtained from each business, which will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan.

Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fee.

We would welcome applications from innovative companies who are developing technology that enables or improves processes and productivity. Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance primarily supports deep-tech businesses, by which we mean businesses built on patented (or patentable) technologies. Applicants with software-only solutions will need to clearly articulate technical depth and competitive advantage. The Innovate UK materials and manufacturing vision 2050 identifies these key themes:

• Materials for the future economy.
• Smart design.
• Resilient supply chains.
• World-class production.
• Longer use and reuse of products and materials.

• Advisory support – Guidance from sector experts and experienced entrepreneurs in Singapore and from an Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist.
• Tools and services – Webinars, information sessions, peer-to-peer guidance, and access to marketing and communication expertise.
• Access and introductions – Connections to Singapore-based customers and partners.
• Connections to capital – Introductions to VCs and corporates looking to invest in new ventures.
• Connections to talent – Support with finding and recruiting skilled workers from Singapore and the world.
• Professional network – Participate in a vibrant community of Advanced Manufacturing entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
• Exploit the opportunity – support to help maximise the opportunity.
• The programme will be delivered through a combination of online sessions and two visits to Singapore.

To learn more about the programme, and hear how this has worked for previous delegates, watch the recording of the applicant briefing from the 10^th December 2024.

Application form can be found here: https://bit.ly/ApplicationFormAdvMan25

Offline application form can be found here: https://bit.ly/GoogleDocAdvMan

Closing date for applications: 20 January 2025

Shortlist interviews: 4 or 5 February 2025

First market visit: 31 March – 4 April 2025 (29 March – 6 April with travel)

Second market visit: 13 – 17 October 2025 (11 – 19 October with travel)

For more information, assistance with your application or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact the Kevin Hallas: kevin.hallas@iukbg.ukri.org.