Global Biomedical Associations Find a Long-Term Partner in Singapore

Home to an established biomedical and healthcare ecosystem, supported by a vibrant innovation landscape, Singapore is a preferred meetings destination that fosters scientific exchange, meaningful discussions and collaboration.

Singapore has built one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most comprehensive biomedical and healthcare ecosystems, spanning research, clinical delivery, manufacturing and regulation. The system reflects sustained national policy and investment in biomedical science and healthcare innovation. Speaking at the 29^th International Medical Device Regulators Forum in March 2026, Singapore’s Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Mr Ong Ye Kung, noted that national research and development spending reaches around 2% of GDP. This is supported by programmes such as the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2030) plan, which allocates S$37 billion (approximately €25 billion) over five years to strengthen areas including human health and biomedical innovation.

For international biomedical associations, Singapore offers direct access to the institutions forming its biomedical innovation pipeline: universities, academic medical centres, hospitals and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Thanks to its experienced organisers, world-class venues and infrastructure suited to specialised medical congresses, this sector has established the city as a trusted host of international biomedical meetings, placing it at the heart of the scientific and clinical networks that associations seek to engage with.

A Biomedical Ecosystem Designed For Scale And Continuity

Singapore’s role as a biomedical hub reflects long-term coordination across healthcare delivery, academic research, industrial development and regulation. National healthcare clusters such as SingHealth, the National Healthcare Group and the National University Health System work alongside specialist institutions, including the National Cancer Centre Singapore and the National Heart Centre Singapore. These institutions are backed by universities and research institutes, which sustain a continuous pipeline linking scientific discovery, clinical practice, and industry collaboration.

The concentration of expertise fosters an active clinical research environment, with around 100 industry-sponsored clinical trials launched in Singapore each year. For congress organisers, they have invaluable access to a wide range of medical specialists and researchers. Experts can contribute as speakers, collaborators and hosts of site visits, enabling programmes that connect scientific research, clinical practice and implementation, and enrich the delegate experience.

More than 30 leading global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including GSK, Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, maintain regional headquarters, R&D centres or manufacturing operations in Singapore. Alongside them, over 400 MedTech companies and more than 60 biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities operate locally, forming one of the region’s most concentrated life sciences sectors. Decades of investment have built substantial manufacturing capacity. Biopharmaceutical production output doubled to S$13.9 billion (approximately €9.5 billion) in 2023, while MedTech production increased tenfold to S$18.9 billion (approximately €13 billion). This growth is supported by a highly skilled workforce, efficient logistics, and sound regulatory and intellectual property frameworks for global biomedical operations.
 

21st World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery (WCES 2025)

Singapore’s strong biomedical and MedTech capabilities are reflected in the scientific programmes of international congresses hosted in the city.

Two examples are the World Congress of Abdominal Wall Hernia Surgery 2024 and the 21^st World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery (WCES) 2025, both held in Singapore under the presidency of Professor Davide Lomanto.

Lomanto (pictured on the right) says the local technological environment supports advanced surgical education. “The advanced technology available, including connectivity like 5G, makes it possible to organise high-tech educational events,” he explains. “Singapore hospitals are equipped with cutting-edge technology and this facilitates enormously the display of new devices and systems. Participants can experience first-hand technologies such as robotic devices and surgical simulators. Moreover, Singapore being a hub for MedTech makes technology readily available without shipping from overseas.”

At the same time, Singapore’s strategic position and connectivity help bring together global communities. “Singapore is the perfect location for international events,” Lomanto says. “Being in the heart of Asia and having extensive connectivity allows participants, speakers and sponsors to reach the island easily, often with a single stop. Logistics for exhibitors are also straightforward, from shipping and customs to local support.”

Accessibility translated into broad international participation. “In both events we hosted faculty and participants from more than 53 countries spanning South America, Africa, North America, Europe and, of course, Asia,” he notes. “The connectivity and support from Singapore Airlines were instrumental.” Lomanto also emphasises long-term outcomes. “Everything we do at an international congress, from lectures and symposia to hands-on training, should ultimately aim to improve patient safety and care,” he said. At WCES 2025, this translated into more than nine workshops and a three-day series of live surgical demonstrations, including the Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS) Skills Competition.

A Vote of Confidence from the International Community

Singapore’s role as a recurring host for major biomedical and healthcare congresses reflects sustained confidence from international associations. Located in a region facing rapid population ageing and shifting disease profiles, the city is the gateway to clinical expertise, research priorities and patient populations that are relevant to important areas of modern medicine, such as oncology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders and age-related care. For organisations with growing Asia-Pacific membership, the context allows congress programmes to combine international scientific standards with regional clinical perspectives.

Events spanning surgery, oncology, sleep medicine and healthcare quality have returned over multiple editions, drawn by operational excellence. Among these, the experience of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) illustrates how Singapore functions not simply as a host destination but as a stable Asia-Pacific anchor for a global association.
 

European Society for Medical Oncology Asia Congress 2025

“The ESMO Asia Congress is an important annual platform that brings together the Asia-Pacific oncology community,” says Zarina Othman, Head of Asia Region Operations at ESMO. “Its accessibility in Singapore supports broad regional participation, which is essential for a meeting designed for oncology professionals across the region. From an operational perspective, Singapore has offered the consistency and predictability we need to deliver a recurring congress of the scale that is ESMO Asia Congress. Returning to Singapore has allowed us to maintain continuity in processes, stakeholder collaboration and delegate experience, contributing to a stable and impactful congress for the Asia-Pacific region.”

In 2025, Singapore hosted several major international congresses, including WCES, ESMO Asia, the 44^th Biennial World Congress of the International College of Surgeons, the World Sleep Congress, and the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare. In 2026, the city hosts the World Congress of the International Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association, the World Congress of Chinese Medicine and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery World Congress. In the lead up to 2030, Singapore will host the Congress of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in 2027, followed by the 20^th World Congress of Intensive and Critical Care and the Congress of the International Academy of Pathology in 2030, underscoring sustained international confidence in Singapore’s biomedical and meetings sector.

For associations evaluating their next congress destination, the city offers more than facilities or incentives. It provides access to a mature biomedical sector, a diverse regional audience and a delivery environment supporting scientific exchange and long-term collaboration.
 

Discover how Singapore can partner you to host events that make an impact: www.visitsingapore.com/MICE
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.