Media

Keywords:Biomaterials, International Expansion, R&D, Strategic Advisory

The protagonist of this case is a biomaterials company listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. For over a decade, the company has focused on the R&D and production of biological tissue repair materials. Backed by strong scientific capabilities and solid clinical results, its core products have entered global markets. Its biological tissue materials rank among the world’s top three, and its cardiac repair materials and technologies are recognized as global best-in-class.

As the company accelerated its internationalization efforts, senior management realized that relying solely on the China market would no longer sustain long-term growth. This prompted a critical strategic question: Where should the company establish its overseas headquarters?

After multiple rounds of internal discussion, Singapore emerged as a compelling option. Beyond being a key financial and trade hub in Asia, Singapore is also an international center for the biomedical industry, offering a mature research ecosystem, an open policy environment, and access to Southeast Asian markets. The company ultimately decided to establish its overseas headquarters in Singapore, positioning it as the global center for R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations.

However, turning this vision into reality was far from easy. The company soon discovered that it faced a series of challenges:

• How to establish a local R&D laboratory and advance product validation?
• How to secure suitable industrial land and build production and warehousing facilities?
• How to integrate into Singapore’s research ecosystem and obtain policy support?
• What resources had key competitors already secured, and could the company obtain comparable or even better support?
• With high labor costs in Singapore, was there an opportunity to pursue productionautomation?

Against this backdrop, the company turned to SIG.

The SIG team quickly took action. First, they conducted a detailed market segmentation study of Singapore and Southeast Asia, analyzing the regional competitive landscape in depth and helping the company clearly identify potential competitors and market gaps. Next, the team engaged multiple times with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Aligning with the company’s strategic needs, SIG facilitated the company’s entry into the DEI program and coordinated access to incentives, including corporate tax reductions (down to 5%–10%), R&D grants, industrial land, and talent visas.

At the same time, SIG prepared a comprehensive business plan for the company. This plan not only highlighted the company’s product strengths and market potential but also outlined a complete roadmap for R&D establishment, production setup, marketing expansion, human resources, and financial budgeting. The plan became a key document for the company’s communications with the Singapore government and laid the foundation for future fundraising and investment.

During the process, the SIG team not only helped the company establish efficient communication channels with the government but also provided recommendations on the feasibility of production automation, enabling the company to improve efficiency while controlling labor costs. At the same time, the team assisted the company in connecting with local research institutions and medical partners to explore opportunities for joint R&D and product validation, allowing the company to fully integrate into Singapore’s industrial ecosystem.

A few months later, the blueprint began to take shape: by positioning Singapore as the central hub for its overseas R&D, manufacturing, and sales operations, the company not only secured a comprehensive suite of policy support but also discovered new growth opportunities in the Southeast Asian market.

For this company, Singapore was more than just a geographic location—it became a pivotal point in their global expansion strategy. Throughout this journey, SIG proved to be a trusted partner, helping the company transform its ambitious international vision into tangible, step-by-step results.