Industry News

The National University Hospital (NUH) and LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, have unveiled a pioneering Sustainable Medicine Design Lab, designed to foster innovative solutions for sustainable healthcare systems. This collaboration, the first of its kind, unites clinicians, designers, and students to create impactful design interventions.

The lab, part of LASALLE’s BA (Hons) Design for Social Futures programme, partners with NUH’s Department of Ophthalmology and the National University Health System’s Office of Sustainability. Associate Professor Victor Koh from NUH highlighted the initiative’s potential to integrate design thinking into clinical settings, enhancing efficiency and patient care. Nur Hidayah, Dean of LASALLE’s Faculty of Design, emphasised the role of design in tackling complex healthcare challenges.

Six projects emerged from the lab’s inaugural year, each developed through extensive research and collaboration with stakeholders. These projects include a future-ready cataract operating theatre by Bridget Lim, a redesigned surgical tray by Tan Yee Jing, and interventions to reduce pharmaceutical waste by Inda Kiranthie. Other projects focus on humanising clinical environments, improving patient health literacy, and addressing systemic misalignments in healthcare.

The lab represents a significant collaboration between the healthcare sector and an arts institution, aiming to drive sustainable practices and nurture interdisciplinary talent. The projects will be showcased at LASALLE’s McNally Campus from 22 May to 3 June 2026. This initiative sets a precedent for future healthcare models, promoting continuous innovation and practical application in real-world settings.

Tiger Brokers has reported a robust 26.3% increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, reaching US$154.9m. The company also saw a significant rise in total client assets, which grew by 28.4% year-on-year to US$58.9b. The number of funded accounts increased to 1.28 million, whilst total trading volume soared by 49% year-on-year to US$323.9b, driven by strong net asset inflows and momentum in key markets.

Singapore played a pivotal role in this growth, achieving nine consecutive quarters of order growth. The quarterly net asset inflows in Singapore surpassed US$1b, reflecting strong investor confidence. The total trading volume in Singapore reached a new high, increasing by 140.5% year-on-year, with trading orders up by 28.9%. Singapore stock trading volume more than doubled, whilst US stock and options trading volumes also saw substantial increases.

The Tiger BOSS Debit Card, offering fractional share rewards, continued to gain popularity, with cardholders increasing by 25% year-on-year. Monthly spending on the card exceeded S$1m for 11 consecutive months. Additionally, Tiger Brokers expanded its local lifestyle partnerships by adding 14 new brand partners.

The company also invested in platform innovation, upgrading TigerAI to a multi-agent architecture, which led to a nearly fivefold increase in platform conversations year-on-year. This innovation, along with new trading and wealth features, underscores Tiger Brokers’ commitment to enhancing user experience and expanding its market presence.

April 2026 marked a significant uptick in Singapore’s property market, with new home sales reaching their highest level since October 2025. According to CBRE Research, 1,548 new private homes were sold, a 19.1% increase from March’s 1,300 units and a staggering 129.3% rise compared to April 2025. This surge was primarily driven by robust demand for new major launches.

Two key projects, Tengah Garden Residences and Vela Bay, were instrumental in this growth. Tengah Garden Residences, located at Tengah Garden Avenue, nearly sold out with 855 of its 863 units purchased at a median price of $2,111 per square foot (psf). Vela Bay, situated at Bayshore Walk, sold 370 out of 515 units at a median price of $2,865 psf, setting a new price benchmark for the Outside Central Region (OCR).

Tricia Song, CBRE Head of Research for Singapore and Southeast Asia, noted that despite economic uncertainties and the ongoing Middle East conflict, homebuying appetite has remained resilient. “The success of these projects highlights the continued demand for well-located developments near MRT stations,” she said.

The OCR dominated April’s sales, accounting for 88% of the total, whilst the Rest of Central Region (RCR) and Core Central Region (CCR) contributed 10% and 2%, respectively. Looking forward, CBRE anticipates a moderation in sales due to fewer major launches in May, but expects activity to pick up with upcoming high-profile projects.

CBRE forecasts that 7,500 to 8,500 new homes will be sold in 2026, with private home prices projected to grow by 2% to 4%.

Captivea Singapore, a subsidiary of Captivea Group, has announced the entry of Isatis Capital as a significant minority shareholder. This strategic move aims to enhance Captivea’s sales capabilities and service quality in Singapore, supporting local companies in their digital transformation efforts. The partnership aligns with Captivea’s commitment to human ambition and shared values.

Isatis Capital, a French asset management firm with over 23 years of private equity experience, manages €480m in assets and has supported more than 125 French SMEs. The firm is known for its human-centric approach, actively engaging with business leaders to foster growth. Sébastien Riss, founder and president of Captivea Group, selected Isatis Capital for its entrepreneurial spirit and alignment with Captivea’s values.

The transaction, involving both cash-in and cash-out elements, will enable Captivea to pursue an ambitious acquisition plan, with five targets already under review. This initiative aims to accelerate Captivea’s international growth and establish it as a global leader in digital transformation. Key Captivea managers are also becoming shareholders, demonstrating a collective commitment to the company’s vision.

Sébastien Riss expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, “By welcoming Isatis Capital to our shareholder base, we are giving ourselves the means to accelerate our growth, both organically and through acquisitions.” Nicolas Bugy, Investment Director at Isatis Capital, added, “We are delighted to support Sébastien in this ambitious new phase of development.”

Captivea Group, founded in 2007, is a leader in Odoo ERP integration and operates in seven countries with over 200 employees. The company generated approximately €10m in revenue in 2025.

NOVI Health has announced a strategic partnership with Novo Nordisk to improve access to structured weight care support in Singapore. This initiative will offer physician-led programmes that integrate personalised health coaching, addressing the complex factors influencing weight management. The collaboration seeks to provide GLP1-based therapies combined with lifestyle, nutrition, and behavioural support, recognising that sustainable weight loss requires a multifaceted approach.

Adj Associate Professor Dr Sue-Anne Toh, CEO of NOVI Health, emphasised the importance of accessible and responsibly delivered medical weight care. “This partnership allows us to expand access whilst ensuring patients receive care within a structured, physician-led programme,” she stated. The initiative aims to provide holistic support beyond initial treatment, catering to the needs of individuals struggling with weight issues.

Vincent Siow, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Singapore, highlighted the significance of addressing obesity as a chronic condition with long-term health impacts. “Through our partnership with NOVI Health, we are working to expand access to personalised, evidence-based support that improves health outcomes for Singaporeans,” he said.

This partnership is part of NOVI Health’s broader efforts to strengthen its integrated care ecosystem, making structured programmes more accessible to those seeking medical weight care. Launched in 2019, NOVI Health has served thousands of patients, offering integrated programmes across weight care, metabolic health, and longevity.

The University of Manchester is addressing the increasing demand for educator leadership in Singapore through its Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in Practice (ELiP). This part-time, blended-learning programme is designed for teachers, trainers, school leaders, and academic staff who are taking on responsibilities beyond traditional teaching roles.

As Singapore emphasises lifelong learning and educator development, professionals are expected to engage in curriculum planning, institutional change, and policy implementation. The ELiP programme, delivered by the Manchester Institute of Education, supports educators in navigating these expanded roles. Dr Paul Armstrong, Programme Director, highlighted that the course helps educators contribute beyond immediate teaching duties, including leading teams and responding to policy changes.

The programme combines online study with short residential conferences in Singapore and Hong Kong, allowing participants to continue full-time work whilst learning alongside peers from diverse educational systems. Graduates like Jon Pavey, Deputy Head of Pastoral at Tanglin Trust School, have found the programme invaluable for reflecting on leadership within educational settings. Stephanie Chai, Cluster Head of a major pre-school group, noted the benefit of learning from professionals across the sector, particularly in understanding how policy and inclusion influence school leadership.

As Singapore’s educational landscape evolves, the ELiP programme aims to prepare educators for roles that require leadership, change management, and policy translation within their institutions. More information on the programme is available on the University of Manchester’s website.

DBS has launched a pioneering ‘tap-to-phone’ feature, allowing businesses to accept card payments directly through Android smartphones. This innovation, announced on 2 June 2026, positions DBS as the first Singapore bank to offer such a service, enabling merchants to transform their phones into payment terminals without additional hardware.

The feature is integrated into the DBS MAX app, which provides a comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions, including contactless cards and QR code payments via DBS PayLah! and PayNow. This development caters to the increasing demand for cashless transactions in Singapore, a trend highlighted by a PwC report projecting the digital payments market to grow at an 18.3% compound annual growth rate to US$480.6b by 2030.

Merchants can now easily set up the ‘tap-to-phone’ service, streamlining their payment processes and expanding their customer base. This is particularly beneficial for pop-up stalls and businesses targeting tourists, as Singapore’s tourism receipts reached S$23.9b in the first nine months of 2025.

Tesy Mathew, Group Head of Cash Product Management at DBS, emphasised the importance of this feature in enhancing business resilience. “Convenient, secure and reliable payments and collections form the bedrock of any merchants’ operations,” she stated. The new feature allows businesses to transact more efficiently and scale confidently.

DBS MAX, introduced in 2018, continues to evolve as a one-stop cashless collections solution, integrating funds collections and automated book-keeping into a single mobile app. This latest addition further solidifies DBS’s commitment to leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking.

Singapore’s full-time workers are taking more paid time off (PTO) than their counterparts across the Asia-Pacific region, according to new data from Deel. In 2025, Singaporean employees took a median of 19 vacation days, surpassing Hong Kong’s 16.5 days and Australia’s 16 days. This trend highlights a shift in attitudes towards leave in the region.

The analysis, which reviewed data from over 4,500 full-time workers in APAC, revealed that 57% of Singaporeans used all their entitled vacation leave, with 77% using at least 80%. These figures were the highest among the markets studied, indicating a strong inclination towards maximising leave entitlements.

Interestingly, Singaporeans often exceeded their median vacation entitlement of 18 days by utilising rollover days from previous years. This practice underscores a cultural shift towards prioritising longer, uninterrupted breaks, which research suggests can reduce burnout and enhance mental wellbeing.

Lauren Thomas, an economist at Deel, noted, “In Singapore, we see that when people have both access and permission, they actually use their leave—and they use it in ways that help them properly switch off.”

The findings suggest that flexible vacation policies encourage more time off, with Singaporean workers on such policies taking a median of 20.75 days off compared to 19 days for those on fixed entitlements. This pattern was consistent across several countries, except Indonesia, where fixed leave policies resulted in more vacation days.

As businesses strive to build resilient teams, understanding leave patterns becomes crucial. Employers are encouraged to integrate PTO into work design and capacity planning to maintain healthy, productive workforces.

A recent report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) reveals a paradox within Singapore’s finance sector: whilst 80% of finance professionals are confident in their ability to learn and apply artificial intelligence (AI) skills, nearly half fear that AI could threaten their jobs. The Global Talent Trends 2026 report, which surveyed over 11,000 finance professionals worldwide, including 140 from Singapore, highlights the tension between technological advancement and job security.

The report underscores several key concerns among Singapore’s finance workforce. Trust in AI for recruitment is notably low, with only 41% of respondents believing AI algorithms can make fair and unbiased hiring decisions. This scepticism comes at a time when automation in recruitment is on the rise.

Additionally, the report highlights the importance of organisational values, with 70% of finance professionals considering a company’s stance on social and human rights issues as crucial in their employment decisions. Environmental roles are also attractive, drawing 63% of respondents, a figure higher than in many developed markets.

The generational diversity in the workplace is another challenge, as Singapore’s workforce now spans five generations. Over half of the respondents (53%) report that their organisations struggle to manage this diversity, exceeding the global average of 42%.

Despite a relatively high satisfaction with compensation, with 46% content with their pay, 52% plan to request a pay rise within the next year. Mental health remains a significant issue, with 52% of finance professionals reporting work-related mental health challenges.

The report also notes that 65% of respondents support mandatory office attendance for a set number of days each week, and 59% believe that being present in the office enhances promotion prospects. These findings suggest that whilst AI skills are being embraced, concerns about job security and workplace dynamics persist.

AnyMind Group, a Singapore-founded and Tokyo-headquartered company, has announced the establishment of AnyAI Lab, a research and development hub in Hangzhou, China, set to open in June 2026. This new facility will focus on developing autonomous AI agents, enhancing the company’s AnyAI suite, and improving overall operations through AI integration.

The decision to locate the hub in Hangzhou is strategic, given the city’s reputation as a centre for AI talent and innovation. Hangzhou is recognised as one of China’s National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zones, making it an ideal environment for rapid AI technology deployment. The city is home to numerous digital and AI-related companies, fostering a robust ecosystem for cutting-edge research and application.

AnyAI Lab will spearhead initiatives such as the applied development of AI agents, which will automate workflows and enhance AI capabilities like memory and reasoning. The lab will also integrate its findings into AnyMind’s existing AnyAI solutions, leveraging data from 15 markets across Asia to align AI features with real-world needs.

Kosuke Sogo, CEO of AnyMind Group, highlighted the importance of AI in transforming business operations, stating, “We see it as a foundation for transforming the business itself, and we are advancing our AI-native transformation across the company.”

The establishment of AnyAI Lab will also bolster AnyMind’s global recruitment efforts, seeking AI engineers and product development talent to work on the forefront of AI innovation. This move is expected to strengthen the company’s competitiveness by integrating advanced AI capabilities into its products and operations.