The centre will lead the development of new technologies
Toll Group, one of Asia Pacific’s leading supply chain and logistics companies, today launched the global Toll Innovation Centre in Singapore, representing a $US20 million investment over the next five years.
The Toll Innovation Centre brings together business, leading start-ups, and academia to foster collaboration and innovation in supply chain.
In attendance at the event were Guest of Honour, Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon William Hodgman, the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, and Poh Li San, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC and Deputy Chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment.
Also attending the event were eight local start-ups developing technologies that can be leveraged in supply chain innovation. Working closely with the Singapore Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore, the start-ups included: Botsync, xSquare, Hand Plus, Cosmiqo, Viatick, Trames, Calista and CO2 Connect.
The investment over the next five years will put Toll and Singapore at the forefront of supply chain innovation globally and will bring real benefits to their customers and communities. The centre will lead the development of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things to improve resilience and transparency which will create greater certainty for businesses and consumers.
The centre will also explore how Toll can make supply chains more efficient with leading edge robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence, and help to build sustainability into global networks such as using blockchain technology to provide end to end visibility on supply chains.
Alan Beacham, Group Managing Director, Toll Group, said: “The global events we’ve witnessed over the past two years have shone a spotlight on the importance of the logistics industry. The Toll Innovation Centre will bring together businesses, industry groups, and research institutions to create new solutions to advance our supply chain. Together, we will share ideas and scale up new products and solutions to create a more resilient, adaptable, and sustainable supply chain that will benefit business and the community.”
Junie Fo, Vice President, Commercial & Professional Services, Singapore Economic Development Board, said “The Toll Innovation Centre is a welcome addition to our growing ecosystem of global and regional innovation hubs by leading logistics companies. Developing more productive and sustainable supply chain solutions will strengthen Singapore’s role as a critical node in global supply chains and create good job opportunities for Singaporeans. Toll’s collaboration with local companies and start-ups will help them acquire new capabilities and position Singapore as a world-class logistics hub in Asia.”
Nephy Perez, Senior Vice President, Innovation and Supply Chain Solutions, Toll Group, said: “The Toll Innovation Centre is focused on innovation to create better outcomes for business and consumers. We are pleased the global centre is based in Singapore, a testament to the country’s critical role in Asia as a trading hub and epicenter for innovation in the region. We’re creating new specialist jobs, investing in new technology, and forging new collaboration with start-ups and institutions leading to broader social and economic benefits for Singapore.”
The Toll Innovation Centre is located at Toll City, a state-of-the-art multi-storey warehouse and office space in Tuas. The centre spans over 500 square metres and has four zones including the kinetic exploration garage, the digital experience centre, the innovation and collaboration zone, and the visionary lab.
