Nearly two-thirds of investment professionals who invest in Singapore expect the technology sector to draw the most investment over the next three years, according to PwC’s 2025 Global Investor Survey published Dec 9.
The survey, which ran from Sep 1 to Oct 6, drew responses from 1,074 investment professionals across 26 countries and territories. More than half of the respondents work at organisations who manage more than US$50 billion in assets.
According to the survey, 65% of Singapore-focused investors see technology as the most attractive sector to invest in, which is in line with the overall global sentiment at 61%. The next most attractive sectors would be power and utilities, at 27%, followed by asset and wealth management, at 22%.
“The message from investors is unequivocal – Singapore enterprises must articulate and execute strategic initiatives that are finely attuned to global economic cues. Discerning investors are focusing on companies which are driving profitability growth with enterprise-wide AI transformation,” says Patrick Yeo, markets leader at PwC Singapore.
Singapore-focused investors are more optimistic than their global peers when it comes to seeing improvements in productivity (91% vs 86%), profitability (79% vs 71%), and revenue gains (70% vs 66%) in the companies they invest in. According to PwC, 86% of them express a willingness to at least moderately increase investments in companies developing and investing in enterprise-wide AI transformation efforts.
In addition, investors in Singapore are calling for greater transparency in areas such as AI strategies, policies and risks, how AI is used to reinvent business models, as well as the estimated return rates on AI investments.
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“What’s missing in many cases is structured reporting on AI strategy, investment rationale, and business impact. As AI adoption accelerates, detailed visibility into companies’ strategies will not only satisfy investors but can also help advance Singapore’s AI ecosystem,” says Anthony Dias, PwC Singapore’s AI hub leader.
AI and chips a major focus of Singapore’s national R&D agenda
On Dec 5, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong launched Singapore’s five-year research development and masterplan for 2026 to 2030. The plan, known as Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030, will see the government commit $37 billion, or 1% of its annual GDP, to the nation’s research and innovation efforts.
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Lee, who was Singapore's prime minister from 2004 to 2024, says the city-state is looking to grow its semiconductor industry as one of its flagship projects for RIE2030.
"The Semiconductor Flagship’s goal is to make Singapore a strategically important R&D node in the industry, and it will anchor and expand high-value corporate research and manufacturing in Singapore, to support the growth of globally competitive local companies and deep tech startups," Lee says.
Singapore currently produces 10% of the world’s chips and is responsible for 20% of global semiconductor equipment output. The country has secured more than $18 billion worth of semiconductor investments over the past two years.
