Rohde & Schwarz has inaugurated its new “Das Spektrum” building in the Changi Business Park in Singapore. The SGD 58 million investment (around EUR 33 million) underscores the location's strategic significance for the German electronics company. This Rohde & Schwarz global hub is a platform for research, development, production, global sourcing and supply chain management in areas of test and measurement, broadcasting, secure communications, and radiomonitoring and radiolocation, while helping to skill up Singapore as a talent pipeline for high technology engineering careers.
Rohde & Schwarz President and CEO Manfred Fleischmann stated, "Asia is an enormous growth market. The mobile communications business alone holds immense potential. The expansion of the global hub in Singapore is a clear mark of our commitment to the location, which is also beneficial for our clients since proximity to our customers is a key Rohde & Schwarz success factor."
Singapore is home to two entities for the company – Rohde & Schwarz Asia and Regional Headquarters Asia. The former functions as a global hub for research, development, production, global sourcing and supply chain management, covering the entire value added chain for its regional business partners. Regional Headquarters Asia coordinates business activities such as IT, marketing and business development in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.
Rohde & Schwarz Asia was launched 17 years ago with seven company employees. The new building will house some 350 employees. The Munich-based electronics company plans to hire additional employees in the next three years to support the enormous growth in the region.
The Singapore site therefore is important for Rohde & Schwarz from a human resources standpoint. Rohde & Schwarz Asia Managing Director Lim Boon Huat said, "We want to attract the best minds to our company worldwide, and that includes the Singapore talent pool. This is why we closely co-operate with local universities.”
"The company also enjoys a long-standing cooperation with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), which promotes the country's economy and labour market. Rohde & Schwarz has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government authorities to offer internships and study opportunities to Asian graduates,” Lim added.
Chang Chin Nam, Executive Director, EDB said, “Rohde & Schwarz adds to the growing community of mid-sized German companies based in Singapore, also known as the German Mittelstand Champions. They are recognized as global leaders in niche market segments and highly innovative companies with a deep dedication to quality. The presence of Rohde Schwarz’s global business hub further strengthens Singapore's position as a complex equipment hub in Asia. We are encouraged by Rohde & Schwarz’s long term view and commitment to develop engineering and management talent in Singapore to achieve success in Asia.”