Hyundai Motor Group, Nanyang Technology University and A*STAR Launch Corporate Lab in Singapore

• Hyundai Motor Group, NTU Singapore and A*STAR inaugurate the Corporate Lab, a first-of-its-kind collaboration in Singapore’s automotive manufacturing sector   
• Located within HMGICS, the Group’s smart factory and Software-Defined Factory (SDF) testbed, the Lab will focus on advanced technologies like AI, robotics and 3D printing 
• The initiative bridges academic research with industrial applications, driving the Group’s SDF vision and strengthening Singapore’s innovation ecosystem
• By engaging local SMEs in Singapore, the Lab aims to advance manufacturing R&D, create high-value jobs, and accelerate next-generation technology adoption

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group), in partnership with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has launched the Corporate Lab at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS).

Located within the Group’s first smart factory and Software-Defined Factory (SDF) testbed, the Corporate Lab will serve as a hub for groundbreaking research and, development (R&D) and proof-of-concept activities in advanced manufacturing technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and smart manufacturing. By bridging research with real-world applications, the Lab advances the Group’s SDF vision while reinforcing Singapore’s position as a global innovation hub.

“Hyundai Motor Group is accelerating its transition towards SDF to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving global mobility landscape,” said Juncheul Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of Manufacturing Solutions Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “The Corporate Lab marks an important milestone in bringing this vision to life. The next-generation manufacturing technologies developed here will be applied to our global operations, further strengthening the Group’s future competitiveness.”

Hyun Sung Park, CEO of HMGICS, added, “The Corporate Lab is a key research hub that embodies the Group’s vision for the transition to SDF. Together with talented individuals in Singapore, we are advancing technologies such as AI, robotics and 3D printing, while fostering talent development and creating high-value jobs. These efforts not only strengthen Singapore’s manufacturing R&D ecosystem but also lay the foundation for leading global advances in manufacturing innovation.”

NTU ranked 12th in ‘QS World University Rankings 2026: Top Global Universities,’ which evaluates more than 1,500 institutions worldwide, and possesses diverse strengths including distinguished researchers from around the world and cutting-edge fundamental technologies.

A*STAR is Singapore’s lead public sector R&D agency. It plays a key role in bridging the gap between industry and academia while nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry.

This tripartite collaboration, the first mobility manufacturing innovation lab at HMGICS, combines the Group’s automotive expertise with NTU’s research and A*STAR’s deep-tech capabilities. HMGICS will facilitate smart factory projects, while NTU and A*STAR will conduct R&D to translate ideas into industrial solutions.

The Corporate Lab brings together a wide cross-disciplinary approach to advanced manufacturing technologies, involving multiple A*STAR research institutes and NTU colleges and schools, such as the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), and the College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS).

The Corporate Lab will focus on next-generation manufacturing technologies, including:

• Development of AI technologies for smart manufacturing.
• Robotics technologies to improve production efficiency, quality and worker conditions.
• 3D printing technologies for auto parts.
• Development of intelligent robotic systems to enhance defect detection and inspection accuracy, minimize equipment downtime, and increase engineer and technician productivity.

As the first Corporate Lab in Singapore jointly based at a university and within an operational car factory, it sets a new benchmark for future industry-academia-government collaborations.

The Corporate Lab’s strategic location within HMGICS enables rapid prototyping, validation and deployment of these technologies, directly integrating research outcomes into manufacturing operations and accelerating innovation cycles.

As a key component of the Group’s open innovation strategy, the Corporate Lab highlights the Group’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and its commitment to strengthening Singapore’s R&D ecosystem. By working with local system integrators and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Lab fosters capability-building, upskilling and reskilling within the automotive sector.

Corporate Lab is expected to strengthen local R&D capabilities, create high-value jobs in advanced manufacturing and train next-generation talent in AI, robotics and smart manufacturing. By integrating R&D and industrial application, it represents a new model of collaboration and a significant step toward realizing the Group’s vision of global manufacturing innovation.