Singapore is set to host SWITCH 2025 – the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, from 29 to 31 October 2025 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
This 10th edition marks a decade of connecting science, engineering, and entrepreneurship, and coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence. Together, these milestones highlight Singapore’s role as one of Asia’s most active deep-tech innovation hubs.
Link to Marina Bay Sands Convention Center on Google maps
A Decade of Deep-Tech Growth
Over the past ten years, SWITCH has evolved from a national initiative into a truly global platform for research translation and venture creation. It brings together government agencies, research institutions, corporates, startups, and investors to move technology out of the lab and into the market.
The event is central to Singapore’s innovation strategy, serving as a bridge between public R&D and private-sector application. Each year, SWITCH accelerates collaboration between scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Its focus remains on areas where technology can drive industrial transformation—robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, quantum technologies, and biotechnology.
Unlike many startup exhibitions, SWITCH is designed for depth. It is about systems, not slogans; prototypes, not pitches. It draws those who are working on long-horizon challenges and creating technologies with real technical complexity and commercial potential.
What’s New at SWITCH 2025
Main Stage and Global Forums
The main stage will feature thought leaders from across the world discussing how deep technologies are reshaping manufacturing, mobility, healthcare, and sustainability. Topics will include the future of embodied AI, quantum computing, industrial automation, and climate-tech solutions. These sessions are designed to provide both strategic context and practical insight into how innovation is deployed at scale.
SWITCH Beyond
The SWITCH Beyond programme continues to be the technical heart of the event. It offers deep-dive masterclasses led by experts in robotics, quantum systems, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical science. These sessions go beyond trendspotting—they dissect engineering challenges, business models, and scaling strategies. For founders and engineers, SWITCH Beyond is where ideas become implementable roadmaps.
Exhibition and Innovation Marketplace
More than four hundred exhibitors from around the world are expected to take part, representing startups, universities, research labs, and large corporates. The exhibition floor is structured as a marketplace for collaboration, where applied research meets industrial needs. Demonstrations, prototypes, and pilot systems provide tangible proof of progress in fields from automation and materials science to digital health and clean energy.
SLINGSHOT 2025
The annual SLINGSHOT competition remains one of the highlights of SWITCH. Thousands of startups apply from around the world, with sixty finalists invited to pitch live in Singapore. The competition offers founders not just exposure to investors, but opportunities to secure pilots, partnerships, and direct support from corporate innovation teams. Many previous winners have gone on to secure funding or international expansion following their appearance at SWITCH.
Global Market Access and Matchmaking
SWITCH 2025 includes dedicated programmes to connect innovators with opportunities across more than fifteen global markets. Market-access tracks and curated networking sessions will help startups explore international expansion, regulatory requirements, and potential partnerships. For Singapore-based founders, this is an unmatched opportunity to reach beyond the region.
Youth, Community and SG60 Focus
Because the 2025 edition coincides with Singapore’s 60th anniversary, SWITCH will also feature community-focused activities and youth innovation showcases. These segments aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers while celebrating the role of research and technology in Singapore’s national story.
Why SWITCH 2025 Matters
For deep-tech founders, SWITCH is not just a conference—it is an ecosystem accelerator.
Depth of Dialogue
The event provides the rare chance to discuss engineering-level detail in an environment where technical expertise is valued. It brings together specialists who understand the timeframes, costs, and complexity of building deep-tech ventures.
Pilot and Commercialization Opportunities
Corporates and government agencies attend SWITCH looking for technologies ready for proof-of-concept or pilot deployment. For startups, this means real prospects for collaboration and validation.
Investor Access
Global venture firms and deep-tech investors are consistently present at SWITCH. For companies seeking funding for hardware, manufacturing, or applied research, the event provides direct visibility to investors who understand the long game of deep technology.
Global Reach
SWITCH strengthens Singapore’s position as the gateway between Asia and the world. Its international delegations and cross-border initiatives help founders access new markets, research partnerships, and production ecosystems.
How Deep-Tech Founders Can Maximize SWITCH
- Plan Your Agenda Around Your Domain
Identify masterclasses and talks most relevant to your field—robotics, AI, materials, or quantum—and reserve time for meaningful engagement. - Show, Don’t Tell
Prepare prototypes, models, or visual demonstrations. SWITCH is a hands-on event where technical readiness speaks louder than slides. - Build Relationships in Advance
Use SWITCH’s networking tools to pre-book meetings with potential partners and investors. A focused schedule yields far more results than spontaneous networking. - Engage with International Delegations
Explore opportunities to collaborate or co-develop technology with overseas accelerators, corporate labs, or research agencies represented at the event. - Create Post-Event Momentum
Capture insights, summarize key trends, and follow up with contacts after the event. The real value of SWITCH often comes in the weeks that follow, when discussions turn into partnerships.
The Broader Context
SWITCH 2025 represents more than an annual meeting—it reflects the trajectory of Singapore’s innovation economy. Over the last decade, deep technology has become central to national competitiveness, driving productivity in manufacturing, sustainability, and healthcare. SWITCH provides a visible focal point for these ambitions, linking policy, research, and enterprise.
The event also demonstrates the maturity of Asia’s deep-tech ecosystem. From venture funds dedicated to hard science startups to corporate R&D partnerships, the region now supports innovation that rivals the most advanced markets globally. SWITCH 2025 is both a celebration of that progress and a catalyst for its next phase.
Conclusion
SWITCH 2025 is set to be the most comprehensive edition yet—a convergence of research excellence, technical innovation, and global collaboration. For scientists, founders, and corporates building the future of deep technology, it offers unmatched access to knowledge, capital, and partnerships.
As Singapore marks both its 60th year and a decade of SWITCH, the event stands as proof of what sustained investment in innovation can achieve. It is where new technologies move from the lab to the factory floor, from concept to market—and where the future of deep tech begins.
References and Useful Links
- Official SWITCH Website – https://www.switchsg.org
- Marina Bay Sands Venue Information – https://www.marinabaysands.com/expo-events-and-convention-centre.html
- Singapore Deep Tech Ecosystem Overview – https://www.researchinnovation.gov.sg