Singapore’s semiconductor small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthened links with Netherlands through SSIA’s first semiconductor and photonics-focused mission from 3 to 7 November 2025.

The four-day mission, supported by Enterprise Singapore and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and co-organised by PhotonDelta, Brabant Development Agency and Oost NL, marked a significant milestone in the 60th year of diplomatic relations between both nations. It also builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year at SEMICON SEA 2025 to expand joint R&D and innovation.

“When ecosystems collaborate, innovation accelerates. The mission to Netherlands opens new channels of collaboration across ecosystems and accelerates innovation across the global semiconductor supply chain,” said Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director of SSIA. “By connecting directly with Europe’s high-tech clusters, Singapore SMEs can learn from world-class R&D models, innovate deeper, and scale their impact globally.”

Nearly 20 senior representatives from over 10 Singapore SMEs engaged Dutch innovation leaders including ASML, SCIL Nanoimprint Solutions, Phix, Demcon, and visits to Brainport Industries Campus and research institutions including TU Eindhoven, University of Twente, TNO and Chip Technology Integration Centre.

Potential areas for collaboration include advanced packaging, integrated photonics, and next-generation sensing and optical communication, technologies that are increasingly critical to AI, sustainability and future manufacturing.

“The Netherlands and Singapore share an innovative and global mindset,” said H.E. Anneke Adema, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Singapore. “By leveraging the strengths of our ecosystems, we can co-develop technologies that make industries smarter, more sustainable and resilient. This year, we are proud to celebrate 60 years of strong diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Netherlands. This mission on semiconductors and photonics – the first of its kind for both our countries – is important and reflective of our mutual desire to look ahead and broaden our partnership in existing and new domains.”

“B H S already has a presence in the Netherlands, but this visit offered deeper insight into how upstream vendors and partners are expanding within Europe, and how companies here are looking toward Southeast Asia,” said Bryan Lim, Chief Executive Officer of B H S. “Photonics is fast emerging as the next frontier, driven by the need to manage power and heat more efficiently. The mission helped us explore opportunities to co-develop prototypes with Dutch partners, and it reinforced my belief that Singapore has an ecosystem of talented, capable companies ready to contribute globally.”

“As an optics and photonics provider, witnessing the rapid convergence of photonics and semiconductor technologies was both inspiring and disquieting – a reminder of how fast relevance can shift in this industry.,” said Chee Teck Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Moveon Technologies. “The vibrant Dutch ecosystem, anchored by companies like ASML and NXP, reaffirmed how collaboration and innovation can chart the next wave of semiconductor growth. It’s both humbling and exhilarating, and we will explore partnerships that can help us scale our innovations globally through Singapore’s base.”

Follow-up initiatives in 2026 will focus on joint prototype development, strengthen talent pathways in photonics and semiconductor technologies, support commercialisation and industrialisation of integrated efforts, and build stronger supply chain between Singapore and Dutch enterprises.

Ang Wee Seng added, “Our goal is to help Singapore’s high-tech SMEs become global innovation partners, connecting Asia’s manufacturing precision with Europe’s creativity and research excellence.”

The mission sets the foundation for longer-term collaboration across innovation, talent and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing Singapore’s role as Asia’s collaborative hub for semiconductor and photonics growth.