Cyber Security
Robotics – Growth and Opportunities
I
n October 2017, Sophia, created by Hanson Robotics using robotics and artificial intelligence, made waves in the news as the first robot to
agriculture, construction and mining”.
By Jane Lo ASM Correspondent
Robotics Landscape in Singapore
“The global robotics market is expected to reach USD 50 billion in total revenues in 2018,
“Singapore today has a growing base of robotic
receive citizenship in the world.
inclusive of hardware, software and services. By
companies, research institutes, commercial system
Since its activiation, Sophia had appeared in guest
2021 the market will nearly double reaching USD 90
integrators and training providers to design,
appearances and interviews, including on CBS
billion.”, ABI Research elaborated.
develop and enable adoption of robotics solutions
60 Minutes, The Tonight Show, and the cover
“This is all very disruptive but also very
to support our industry transformation.”, Dr Koh
of ELLE Magazine Brasil. With over 50 different
exciting, as disruptive innovations bring with them
Poh Koon (Senior Minister of State for Trade and
facial expressions, Sophia is capable of natural
opportunities for growth”, said Mr Leck Chet Lam,
Industry), said at his Opening Remark.
conversations – and hopefully more – keeping
Managing Director, Experia Events, at co-organiser
company for the elderly or assisting with crowd
of SIRE 2018.
management at large events or parks. Sophia is one instance of investment focusing on social robots.
Global Robotics Market “Industrial and commercial robots account for half of all investment, driven predominately by
“That is why we chose the theme of “Riding Opportunities in Exponential Change””, he said,
“One example is in the manufacturing sector. Last year, we saw a record number of over 4,400 new industrial robots installed in Singapore, an increase of 72% since 2016”.
for the third edition of a robotics-centric platform,
“We also saw a record number of more than
SIRE 2018. “The strong growth in the Asia Pacific
300 SMEs across a wide range of manufacturing
region has reinforced the position of SIRE as a key
sectors adopting robotics and automation as part
platform for the robotics and automation sector to
of their transformation journeys, with promising
respond to rising demand.”
results.”, he said.
Indeed, the SIRE brand, "機" (pronounced "ji"),
As part of this transformation journey, the
autonomous mobile robot and healthcare robotics
meaning both "machinery" and "opportunity",
National Robotics Programme (NRP) was launched
systems”, according to ABI research at the
reflects the great potential in the application of
in 2016 to coordinate the development of advanced
Singapore International Robo Expo 2018 (SIRE
robotics across various sectors and unlocking many
robotics technology, test-bedding and finally to
2018, 1st – 2nd Nov 2018, Marina Bay Sands
opportunities for business success.
licensing and commercialization.
Convention Centre). There are also “opportunities in
30 | Asia Pacific Security Magazine
Under this programme were robotic solutions