Singapore to train employees on robotics, 3D printing

Singapore has launched a new scheme to train its citizens on cutting-edge manufacturing technologies like robotics and 3D printing.

“The Advanced Manufacturing Series seeks to help companies adopt manpower-lean technologies, strengthen their capabilities, and equip their workforce with the skills to be future-ready,” said Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of the Workforce Development Agency.

The government wants industries to be “early adopters” of new technologies to make and design products. The government will hold classes, workshops, and events on robotics, 3D printing, simulation and laser engineering.

The scheme is targeted at employees in small businesses and multinational companies in precision engineering, aerospace, marine engineering, and oil and gas.

Participants could be technical managers, engineers, assistant engineers, product designers, and technical specialists.

The scheme will be open to over 400 citizens and permanent residents, who can get funding from WDA to attend the program.

The training has been designed by local and international experts. They are being offered by five research centers in Singapore: Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre, Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering, Institute of High-Performance Computing, Nanyang Polytechnic, and Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.

The government plans to spend S$3.3 billion on advanced manufacturing and engineering in its new five-year innovation plan - Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020.

“To drive the RIE 2020, we will need good people, both Singaporeans as well as foreign talent,” Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong said last month.

“We will need to train our young people to encourage them and interest them in science and technology, and give them the sense that, indeed, it is possible to do exciting things in Singapore and change the world,” he added.

Also read: Coming soon to Singapore: 3D printed houses