Siemens is teaming up with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to help local manufacturers reduce emissions and boost productivity through industrial automation and digital twin technologies.
It is working with A*STAR’s Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment to drive decarbonisation in the chemicals and energy sectors. The collaboration includes deploying Siemens’ digital twin software to simulate and optimise engineering and operations in factories, which could help improve a company’s sustainability footprint.
“With a digital twin, companies in those sectors can start thinking [and seeing] areas where energy loss or material wastage occurs and simulate possible solutions before executing in the real world,” says Siemens CEO Roland Busch in a media interview. He noted that the technology can also help companies assess where and how to integrate hydrogen energy into their operations if they intend to use cleaner energy.
Siemens is applying the same approach to its upcoming high-tech factory in Singapore, scheduled to open in early 2027. By combining digital twins of production, buildings and infrastructure, the company created a unified 3D model to guide design and construction. This is expected to result in a 30% reduction in both production time and cost, according to the company. That holistic twin is also expected to drive efficiency once the facility becomes operational, enabling data-informed decisions across the plant’s lifecycle.
Supporting an innovation sandbox
Additionally, Siemens will be the first technology partner for A*STAR’s new innovation sandbox called the Smart and Sustainable Advanced (SSAM) Catalyst.
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The SSAM Catalyst will allow companies in sectors such as aerospace, fast-moving consumer goods, biomedical, and semiconductor equipment manufacturing to trial advanced technologies—including industrial automation, AI, and digitalisation tools—alongside A*STAR’s proprietary capabilities.
As part of the partnership, Siemens will showcase an integrated portfolio spanning automation, electrification, industrial software, and AI, offering end-to-end solutions from design and engineering to production and operations. The technologies will bridge the digital and physical worlds, helping manufacturers become more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
“Together with Siemens, we are developing solutions that will accelerate digital transformation and support decarbonisation efforts in the region. This represents A*STAR’s continued commitment to translational research, bridging the gap between frontier research and real-world applications with industry partners,” says Prof Lim Keng Hui, assistant chief executive for Science and Engineering Research Council at A*STAR.
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Hosted at A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), the SSAM Catalyst will focus on three core capabilities:
- Advanced simulation and validation to cut development time, reduce physical prototyping costs, and improve design accuracy.
- Industrial AI for data-driven decision-making, operational optimisation, and resilient IT/OT integration.
- Lights-out manufacturing to enable fully automated, self-optimising production lines that reduce risk and increase consistency.
