Singapore and Guangdong are deepening collaboration in the digital economy, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a key area of shared interest, Enterprise Singapore said on Tuesday.
The government agency said in a statement that Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and Guangdong’s 15th Five-Year Plan share a common ambition to transform priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, financial services, logistics, and healthcare. Both sides are already translating this shared vision into concrete partnerships.
For example, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) is partnering Shenzhen-based tech startup ZoeRobot to deploy AI-powered wall-panel mounting robots for the Cross Island Line project since 2025.
This has reduced manpower requirements for compaction work during concrete casting by around 30 percent.
Meanwhile, AI-led technology services company NCS is partnering Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center (SUTPC) to develop AI-driven solutions for smart transportation, smart airports, and operations command systems across the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the statement, Singapore and Guangdong’s collaboration in the healthcare and biomedical sector has seen good progress.
Companies and research institutions from both sides are partnering to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments.
For example, Singapore biotech company LionTCR will work with Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited (GPHL), one of China’s largest pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, to jointly develop and accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation TCR-T cell therapies.
Singapore cell-therapy company BioSyngen is also partnering Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University to establish an international medical platform.
With cross-border treatment channels as a key enabler, the partnership aims to advance immune cell therapy for solid tumors through joint clinical research, a shared research and development (R&D) and translation platform, and talent development in the Greater Bay Area.
In innovation, collaboration under the Singapore-Shenzhen Joint Innovation Call1 is gaining momentum, with partnerships from the first edition seeing results.
An example is Amerig Offshore Engineering, a Singapore company specializing in offshore wind foundation protection.
It partnered Shenzhen Geokey Construction Group and CIMC Offshore Engineering under the 2023 Joint Innovation Call to jointly develop and deploy high-performance solidified soil materials for scour protection.
The collaboration shortened research and development timelines by about 10% to 20% and supported deployments in regional offshore wind projects.
Meanwhile, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) remains an important launchpad for Singapore companies venturing into Guangdong, said the statement.
Singapore-based semiconductor equipment company Component Technology is one of the companies that has recently established a presence in the CSGKC.
The company will cooperate with AQ Technology’s Shenzhen branch to jointly develop AI software for advanced semiconductor packaging.
The CSGKC has also evolved as a hub for talent exchange between Singapore and Guangdong, having signed memoranda of understanding with Business China, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the Singapore Institute of Technology respectively to advance collaboration in areas such as talent and workforce development, youth and student exchanges, healthcare innovation, and cross-cultural engagement.
Overall, Singapore and Guangdong’s economic ties remain strong, with bilateral trade reaching $15.09 billion in the first half of 2026.
Guangdong also remained Singapore’s top provincial trading partner in China for the 37th consecutive year in 2025.
During the 16th Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) meeting which was held in Singapore, both sides reaffirmed the good progress achieved under the SGCC and discussed how the partnership could be further developed amid a challenging global environment.
A total of 22 project signings were concluded at the meeting, reflecting the strong mutual interest in advancing cooperation across areas such as innovation, healthcare, finance and talent exchange.
“Singapore and Guangdong have built a strong and enduring partnership over time, one that has demonstrated resilience and depth over the decades,” said Ong Ye Kung, the Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies of Singapore.
According to him, the challenges of today’s global environment make it more important than ever to have like-minded partners.
“We share common priorities across healthcare, innovation and the digital economy, and our strengths complement each other well. As gateways to our respective regions, we are well-placed to help each other access new markets and opportunities,
“Through the SGCC, we will continue to build on this foundation and open new pathways for growth,” he added.
In a separate statement, Singapore-based transport operator ComfortDelGro said it sees Guangdong as launchpad for autonomous mobility growth.
“Guangdong is central to our strategy of building a robust autonomous mobility ecosystem. Our newly established wholly owned subsidiary in Shenzhen marks a key step in developing a regional autonomous mobility headquarters and center of excellence,” ComfortDelGro Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Cheng Siak Kian said.
According to him, the memoranda of understanding signed at the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council meeting will strengthen the firm’s AV capabilities and supporting infrastructure, including smart parking, charging and energy systems, paving the way for the large-scale deployment of autonomous taxi services in China and other key markets.
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