SAP launches digital innovation hub to drive engineering, R&D

• SAP Labs Singapore, the first in SEA for SAP
• Catalyse deep technology like AI, machine learning, digital supply chain

SAP announced the launch of SAP Labs Singapore, a digital innovation hub the company said will drive product leadership, foster local digital talent, and boost ecosystem and community engagement. 

In a statement, the software giant said this will be the first in SEA for SAP with the aim of catalysing deep technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and advancing transformative digital supply chain, intelligent business network and sustainability solutions.

It also announced that with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), this investment will see SAP Labs Singapore employ more than 500 highly skilled digital professionals locally by 2025. 

This will double its existing team of product engineering professionals in Singapore, who will be located at SAP’s newly revamped regional headquarters located at Pasir Panjang, SAP said.

According to Thomas Saueressig, member of the executive board, the future is created today and this is why SAP helps customers become sustainable, intelligent, and networked enterprises. 

“We invest significantly in R&D to build solutions that not only help our customers digitally transform but create value for their businesses and the communities they operate in.

“Our global and diverse labs network is SAP’s unique innovation backbone and a source of inspiration, creativity, and innovation,” he said.

“SAP Labs Singapore joins a network of strategic high-tech clusters, reinforcing SAP’s strong confidence in Singapore as an innovation and investment hub, its highly educated and skilled talent, and its position as a regional beacon of excellence in technology innovation and a digital future,” said Saueressig.

According to Jacqueline Poh, managing director, EDB, SAP’s decision to establish SAP Labs in Singapore reinforces the company’s confidence in our position as a hub for enterprise software product development and innovation.

“SAP Labs Singapore will create exciting job opportunities here in areas such as AI and machine learning that will further deepen the skills of our workforce,” she said.

Meanwhile, Manik Saha, newly appointed managing director for SAP Labs Singapore said, “In a digital-first future, organisations must rapidly develop an innate ability to innovate – not just to adapt to the changing customer landscape, but to also create new sources of value and competitiveness as they consider broader challenges like sustainability.

“We aim to empower all organisations to embrace an innovation mindset,” he added. 

SAP said it plans to recruit early digital talent from Singapore’s local universities and institutions of higher learning, with a focus on software engineers and areas including AI, data analytics, cloud, and sustainability.

“By investing in a diverse local early talent pool here, SAP Labs Singapore aims to strengthen the engineering core in Singapore, and create more high-skill, high-value career opportunities and paths for Singapore residents,” said Saha.