Regional News

StarHub and Mediacorp have announced a strategic partnership aimed at reshaping Singapore’s media and entertainment sector. This collaboration will integrate StarHub’s TV+ content, including the Premier League and over 7,000 hours of live sports, into Mediacorp’s mewatch platform, offering audiences a more comprehensive viewing experience. The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony on 27 October 2025 at StarHub Green.

The partnership seeks to address the increasingly fragmented viewing habits by providing a unified content destination. This move allows viewers to access a wide range of entertainment, from global blockbusters to local favourites, through flexible subscription packages. Additionally, advertisers will benefit from enhanced targeting capabilities, leveraging the combined reach and data-driven insights of both companies.

Nikhil Eapen, Chief Executive of StarHub, highlighted the partnership’s potential to “unlock new advertising solutions powered by data and precision,” whilst Tham Loke Kheng, Chief Executive of Mediacorp, emphasised the creation of “greater value for audiences and advertisers alike.”

This collaboration not only aims to strengthen Singapore’s media ecosystem but also positions the local industry as a formidable alternative to global streaming platforms. By expanding content access and fostering innovation, StarHub and Mediacorp are committed to delivering long-term value for audiences and advertisers, and supporting the growth of local creative talent.

Sembcorp Industries has announced two major clean energy initiatives on Jurong Island, Singapore. The projects include the expansion of the country’s largest utility-scale energy storage system and the launch of the Sembcorp Jurong Island Solar Farm. These developments aim to enhance Singapore’s renewable energy capabilities in line with the Green Plan 2030.

The energy storage system has been upgraded from 285MWh to 326MWh through a pioneering vertical expansion, allowing increased capacity without additional land use. This innovative approach marks the first such expansion of an operational energy storage system in Singapore. Sembcorp plans to explore further battery stacking opportunities across the island, reinforcing its leadership in advanced energy storage solutions. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) will collaborate with Sembcorp to assess the system’s ability to provide inertia, crucial for maintaining grid stability.

The solar farm, with an installed capacity of 118MWp, is the largest ground-mounted solar project in Singapore. It spans six vacant industrial land parcels and generates enough energy to power approximately 33,200 four-room HDB flats annually. This project highlights Sembcorp’s capability to repurpose unused land for renewable energy, supporting the nation’s sustainability goals.

Koh Chiap Khiong, President and CEO of Gas and Related Services at Sembcorp, emphasised the company’s commitment to integrating and scaling clean energy technologies. “These initiatives demonstrate our ability to integrate and scale clean energy generation and storage technologies, reinforcing a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem,” he stated.

These projects underscore Sembcorp’s role in advancing Singapore’s energy transition and its dedication to sustainable development.

Jurong Island, a cornerstone of Singapore’s Energy and Chemicals (E&C) industry, celebrates its 25th anniversary by pivoting towards low-carbon innovation. Home to over 100 global E&C companies, the island is integral to Singapore’s manufacturing sector, contributing around 3% to the nation’s GDP. As the industry shifts towards sustainability, Jurong Island aims to meet the growing demand for decarbonisation solutions and new energies.

Since the launch of the Sustainable Jurong Island plan in 2021, the island has seen a 14-fold increase in sustainable product output, with a target of 15-fold by 2030. Companies like ExxonMobil are investing in cleaner fuel production, whilst a partnership with SHub—a consortium of Shell and ExxonMobil—aims to develop a cross-border carbon capture and storage project capable of storing 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) has awarded 35 projects with the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions, supporting innovative solutions to reduce emissions. Projects from companies such as Evonik and Air Liquide are expected to significantly cut carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 80,000 cars from the road.

Looking ahead, Jurong Island will focus on becoming a hub for speciality chemicals and sustainable materials, with over 30 new projects since 2021. Additionally, the island will serve as a testbed for new energies and low-carbon technologies, with initiatives like Sembcorp Solar’s 118 MWp solar deployment and the development of Singapore’s largest low-carbon data centre park.

As Jurong Island continues to evolve, its role in driving Singapore’s low-carbon future remains pivotal, aligning with the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Sinch, a global leader in cloud communications, has launched its multichannel messaging platform, Sinch Engage, in Singapore. The platform enables businesses to create scalable connections with customers on popular channels like WhatsApp and SMS, without requiring technical expertise. Sinch Engage’s features include no-code AI-supported campaigns, native integration with HubSpot, and interactive automated responses for lead capture and appointment reminders.

Sinch Engage aims to redefine digital customer communication by allowing companies to reach consumers in real-time. Angus Manfield, SVP of Sales & Partnerships at Sinch, highlighted WhatsApp’s popularity in Singapore, stating, “The data is clear: WhatsApp is one of the most used and impactful platforms in Singapore. This is why Sinch is bringing Engage to Singapore businesses to help them better tap into consumer demand for additional communication through this channel.”

The platform’s integration with HubSpot’s Service Hub is a key feature, enabling users to send personalised campaigns directly from workflows. Kelly Sarabyn, Director of Technology Partner Programmes and Strategy at HubSpot, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that Sinch Engage provides Singapore HubSpot users with more options for customer connection.

Sinch Engage is trusted by numerous global companies and complies with data privacy standards such as PDPA and GDPR. It also boasts ISO-20071 certification and built-in spam filtering, ensuring high security and privacy standards. The launch of Sinch Engage in Singapore marks a significant step in enhancing business communication capabilities in the region.

FairPrice Group has launched FPG ADvantage, Singapore’s largest omnichannel retail media network, designed to connect brands with consumers across the nation. This new initiative leverages FairPrice Group’s extensive network of 570 touchpoints, including FairPrice supermarkets, Cheers convenience stores, Unity pharmacies, and Kopitiam food courts, to engage customers where they shop, dine, and live.

FPG ADvantage offers brands access to 1.7 million customers using the FPG app and over two million members of Link Rewards, Singapore’s largest loyalty programme. The network includes more than 1,000 digital screens, in-store radio, AI-enabled smart carts, and app-based interactions, facilitating over one million customer engagements daily.

The platform provides consumer-goods brands with insights into their digital media investments through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Meta and The Trade Desk. This enables brands to connect digital campaigns directly to sales, allowing for quick strategy refinement and ensuring measurable sales outcomes.

Since early 2025, FPG ADvantage has delivered significant results for partners such as the Health Promotion Board, Singtel, and Nestlé Milo. Notably, Nestlé achieved a 42x return on ad spend and a 30% sales uplift across channels.

Vipul Chawla, Group CEO of FairPrice Group, highlighted the platform’s ability to offer brands a trusted advertising solution built on insights from Singapore’s largest retailer. The launch underscores FairPrice Group’s commitment to evolving the retail landscape in Asia, aiming to create meaningful connections and enhance everyday life for Singaporeans.

Veolia has announced that its hazardous waste treatment facility in Singapore has received the country’s first licence from the National Environment Agency (NEA) to treat aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This approval marks a significant step in Singapore’s environmental protection efforts, particularly as the nation phases out firefighting foams containing PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS by 1 January 2026.

The licence allows Veolia to employ high-temperature thermal treatment, a method proven to achieve a destruction and removal efficiency of up to 99.9999% for targeted PFAS. This development is crucial for local industries needing to comply with upcoming regulations, ensuring safe and effective disposal of PFAS-contaminated waste.

Bruno Forissier, CEO of Veolia in South East Asia, stated, “This first-of-its-kind licence from the NEA validates our advanced BeyondPFAS solutions and reinforces Singapore’s position as a regional leader in environmental innovation.”

The BeyondPFAS initiative will serve multiple sectors, including manufacturing, electronics, and defence, providing a compliant and sustainable solution for managing PFAS waste. Veolia’s facility will play a pivotal role in offering safe disposal pathways, aligning with Singapore’s broader depollution and sustainability goals.

With this licence, Veolia positions itself as a key partner for industries seeking effective PFAS waste management solutions, further supporting Singapore’s commitment to environmental innovation and sustainability.

The Singapore Media Festival (SMF) is set to return for its 12th edition from 26 November to 7 December 2025, showcasing Asian media that empowers, inspires, and connects. Hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the festival will include four partner events: the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), and Nas Summit. The festival aims to bring together media professionals, leaders, talents, and consumers to experience diverse innovations and forge industry partnerships.

This year’s SGIFF will feature over 120 films from more than 45 countries, with a focus on Singaporean stories. Highlights include the world premieres of “Sandbox,” “At Home with Work,” and “Cendol.” The festival will open with “Girl,” a coming-of-age drama by Shu Qi, who will attend the opening gala alongside festival ambassador Rebecca Lim.

SGCC, running from 5 to 7 December, will host its largest edition yet, featuring six major tabletop tournaments and exclusive collectibles. Attendees can meet global and local pop culture icons, including Power Rangers Erin Cahill and Jason Faunt, and renowned illustrator Stanley “Artgerm” Lau.

ATF, from 2 to 5 December, will focus on the emerging microdrama genre, offering a keynote session, panel discussion, and masterclass. The event will also facilitate co-productions between Singaporean companies and international partners.

Nas Summit will return in a hybrid format on 1 and 2 December, featuring over 40 sessions led by global and regional personalities. A new SME track will focus on leveraging AI for content creation.

The festival will also introduce initiatives to support filmmakers, including the APNECG Pitching Forum, connecting regional filmmakers with global distributors and financiers. For more information, visit the SMF website.

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) recently hosted senior officials from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) for a four-day visit, aimed at enhancing government-to-government cooperation in healthcare. From 21 to 24 October, the delegation, led by Brigadier Dr Naseer Al-Manthery, Director General of Medical Services for Security Services, toured leading Malaysian hospitals and patient facilitation centres to assess clinical capabilities and care coordination systems.

This visit marks a significant step in the ongoing partnership between MHTC and ROP, which began in January 2025. The collaboration seeks to address the medical needs of Omani security personnel and their families through structured healthcare initiatives. The familiarisation programme allowed ROP leadership to directly evaluate Malaysian healthcare infrastructure and international patient services.

The delegation visited several key medical facilities, including KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, Prince Court Medical Centre, PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre Tun Abdul Razak in Melaka, and Sunway Medical Centre. These visits facilitated discussions with hospital leadership on referral pathways, international patient services, and potential collaborations in clinical training and fellowship opportunities.

Suriaghandi Suppiah, MHTC’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the importance of such engagements, stating, “This programme represents the next phase of our partnership, providing ROP leadership with direct assessment of Malaysian healthcare infrastructure and international patient services.” The visit underscores the commitment of both parties to strengthen healthcare ties and explore further collaborative opportunities.

The 5th International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) Summit took place on 24 October 2025 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, marking the first time the event was held outside the US. The summit, part of the Singapore International Cyber Week 2025, was organised by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and brought together nearly 150 representatives from 60 countries, international organisations, and private sector entities. This gathering underscores the global commitment to combating ransomware.

The CRI, established in 2021, is the only multilateral platform focused on international collaboration against ransomware. Co-chaired by Singapore, Australia, Germany, the UK, and the US, the initiative now includes 74 member countries and organisations. Notably, this summit saw the participation of private sector entities, including Ensign InfoSecurity, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing ransomware threats.

Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, emphasised the collective resolve against ransomware, stating, “No country, no matter their capabilities or experience, can combat this wicked problem effectively by going it alone.” The summit facilitated discussions on enhancing international cooperation and resilience against ransomware, with members agreeing to improve communication between private organisations and governments, develop capacity-building initiatives, and adopt effective recommendations.

A key outcome was the endorsement of a Guidance for Organisations to Build Supply Chain Resilience Against Ransomware, led by Singapore and the UK. This guidance aims to bolster supply chain security and reduce the impact of ransomware incidents. The summit reaffirmed the CRI’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in cybersecurity efforts.

Augmentus, a Singapore-based leader in AI robotics, has announced a strategic investment from Applied Ventures, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials Inc. This investment is set to propel Augmentus’s mission of advancing intelligent autonomous robotics for high-mix, high-variability manufacturing worldwide. The company’s flagship innovation, the AutoPath robotics stack, integrates advanced 3D vision and adaptive intelligence, enabling robots to perceive, understand, and act with unprecedented precision.

The AutoPath system generates detailed point clouds, allowing robots to capture intricate geometries and surface deviations. This capability translates into dynamic, real-time path generation, enabling robots to adjust their movements on the fly, thus maintaining accuracy in complex environments. This innovation eliminates the need for expert programming, allowing robots to be deployed and reconfigured in minutes, transforming them into adaptive collaborators in manufacturing processes.

Daryl Lim, co-founder and CEO of Augmentus, stated, “Our vision is to enable factories to adapt as quickly as the world changes.” With the backing of Applied Ventures, Augmentus aims to bring agility, precision, and resilience to global manufacturing. Abhishek Sud, Senior Investment Director at Applied Ventures, highlighted the investment’s significance, noting the growing importance of adaptive robotics in enhancing efficiency and resilience in the industrial sector.

Augmentus, with operations in both Singapore and Austin, Texas, offers a no-code AI-powered platform that integrates 3D scanning and adaptive robotic motion. This technology is already deployed across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and energy, significantly reducing setup times and enhancing operational flexibility.