Electronics Industry Transformation Map - Building The Electronics Industry Of Tomorrow

20/09/2017

Electronics Industry Transformation Map - Building The Electronics Industry Of Tomorrow

Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), launched the Electronics Industry Transformation Map (ITM) today at the opening of JTC nanoSpace @ Tampines. Developed by a multi-agency team together with industry partners, unions and trade associations, the ITM maps out strategies that will build the electronics industry of tomorrow. Through the ITM efforts, the industry is expected to achieve a manufacturing value-add of S$22.2 billion and introduce 2,100 new PMET jobs by 2020. 

The Singapore Electronics Industry – A Key Sector of Growth

The electronics industry is a key sector of growth for Singapore’s economy and is poised for continual growth. Starting out with labour-intensive system assembly of consumer products in the 60s, Singapore’s electronics industry has since transformed to the manufacture of high-value components, such as RF filters and semiconductor integrated circuits. In 2016, electronics manufacturing contributed 4.4% to Singapore’s GDP, accounting for close to S$90 billion in manufacturing output, and employing about 70,000 workers. 

The emergence of new applications areas such as autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence and healthcare, which are enabled by electronics, has brought about new growth opportunities for the industry. These new applications will drive greater diversity of demand for electronics and advancements in hardware. To tap into these opportunities, companies are embracing open innovation as a means to co-innovate and co-develop system solutions with their partners.

To prepare Singapore to tap into these global trends and opportunities, the ITM has identified a two-pronged strategy to ensure the continual growth of the electronics industry – firstly, to diversify into new growth markets, and secondly, to transform the existing base of electronics manufacturing and attract new investments in high-value components. The ITM will also focus on growing a strong pipeline of local talent, and upgrading the industry associations to better support the industry.

Diversifying into New Growth Markets 

The Government will strengthen the innovation ecosystem to harness new growth opportunities and support companies in developing new capabilities. Singapore will convene multi-party innovation platforms to create new solutions and shorten innovation cycles. This will bring together MNCs, SMEs and public agencies, to collaborate and develop new solutions. 

One example is the Nanyang Polytechnic’s IoT Open Innovation Community, a network that was set up in 2015 with SPRING’s support to enable SMEs to connect with technology and commercialisation partners, research institutions and other industry players for co-innovation. Today, there are more than 150 members on this platform coming together to jointly develop new IoT solutions. More technology platforms will be set up to help companies bring ideas into products.

To better support enterprises, the Government will foster collaborative projects between MNCs, SMEs and startups. They are encouraged to leverage the Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) scheme for knowledge transfer, capability upgrading and co-development of new solutions. To enable enterprise growth, support is available to incubators and accelerators through the Startup SG Accelerator programme by SPRING to catalyse growth opportunities for IoT and electronics startups. (Please refer to Annex A for more information initiatives by SPRING.)

Transforming and Growing Electronics Manufacturing

Singapore will continue to transform the industry to attract high value-add activities and capture new growth areas. The provision of future-ready infrastructure is key to enabling companies to make investment decisions quickly and JTC nanoSpace is a prime example of this. The facility, developed in close consultation with the industry, is strategically located within Tampines Wafer Fab Park. It offers a plug-and-play, quick-start space solution that meets the stringent operational requirements of semiconductor manufacturers. JTC will continue to invest in next-generation infrastructure solutions and innovative spaces to support the growth of local and global companies. (Please refer to Annex B for more information on JTC nanoSpace.)

The Government will also work with companies to improve their manufacturing efficiency and adopt advanced manufacturing technologies. This will bring about an increase in manufacturing productivity by reducing operating costs and optimising resources.  The ITM targets for 100% of manufacturing plants in Singapore to be best-in-class compared to their global operations. Advanced manufacturing will also bring about new skilled job roles in manufacturing such as system engineers and automation technicians.

Ensuring Good Jobs for Singaporeans

The transformation of the electronics industry is expected to bring about 2,100 new PMET jobs by 2020. To equip Singaporeans with the necessary skills to take on these jobs, SSG, WSG and the economic agencies, together with industry stakeholders such as employers, industry associations, unions, and education and training institutions have launched the Skills Framework for Electronics. 

The Skills Framework identifies two career pathways – the technical and engineering track, and the management track – covering 29 job roles, which individuals can explore career growth along or across. It also provides key information on the sector, and lists the 58 skills and competencies required, that include emerging skills and competencies, and the relevant training programmes for them. Emerging skills and competencies identified include those in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, Data Analytics, Robotics and Automation. The local workforce would need to ready themselves with these skills to meet upcoming challenges facing the industry. (Please refer to Annex C for more information on Skills Frameworks.)

The Skills Framework also informs of other key initiatives which support those in the electronics industry on their skills and career journey. These include the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme, Enhanced Internship, Singapore Industry Scholarships and Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs).

As part of WSG’s Adapt and Grow initiative, PMETs can tap onto the PCPs to help them reskill and transit into a new industry. To support the shift towards higher value jobs, two new PCPs for the Electronics industry were launched today to prepare Singaporean PMETs with the necessary skills and also concurrently reskill talent from other sectors. The PCP for Electronics Engineer and the PCP for Electronics Assistant Engineer are in addition to four existing PCPs rolled out in 2016 to reskill PMETs for the Wafer Fabrication and Assembly & Test sectors. The four existing PCPs have since benefited close to 130 PMETs. (Please refer to Annex D for more information on PCPs.)

EDB and WSG will be co-organising an Adapt and Grow Career Fair for the electronics sector on 26 September with 20 companies offering more than 600 job vacancies. (Please refer to Annex E for more information on the Adapt and Grow Career Fair.)

Trade Associations and Chambers as a Key Partner

Taking a broader industry perspective, the Government will partner with Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) such as the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) to transform the industry. In support of the ITM, SSIA has set out a three-year plan to transform its charter and expand its resources to better support the industry. SSIA has already taken an active role in key industry programmes such as serving as the administrator of WSG’s PCP. The association has also embarked on a leadership programme to jointly groom the next generation of local leaders for the industry. (Please refer to Annex F for media release by SSIA.)

Annex A: Initiatives by Spring

Annex B: JTC Nanospace @ Tampines

Annex C: Factsheet on Skills Framework by SkillsFuture Singapore

Annex D: Factsheet on Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) for Electronics Engineer and Assistant Engineer

Annex E: Factsheet on Adapt and Grow Career Fair for Electronics on 26 September 2017

Annex F: Media Release by Singapore Semiconductor Association (SSIA)
 

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