TechInnovation 2025 concluded on an inspiring note as leaders from long-standing industries shared how they are transforming tradition into tomorrow’s opportunities. The final day highlighted how innovation, digitalisation, and collaboration are redefining legacy businesses, showing that heritage and progress can move forward together.
Keynote: From Traditional to Trailblazer - Modernising an Age-Old Industry
Eric Leong (Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Mlion Corporation) shared how the company transformed from a traditional steel supplier into a technology-driven innovator with support from IPI Singapore. Seeking advice from IPI Singapore to engage third-party partners, Mlion developed solutions such as GoListed, an online marketplace for surplus steel, and GoTagging, an RFID system that enhances traceability and reuse. Eric also introduced an AI Copilot that streamlines sales and reduces manual work. These innovations reflect how collaboration and guidance through IPI Singapore can help even established industries modernise, improve efficiency, and advance sustainability.
Fireside Chat: Reinventing Tradition for the Future
Richard Eu, Group Chairman, Eu Yan Sang International Ltd., shared how the 145-year-old heritage brand continues to evolve by blending tradition with innovation. In a fireside chat with Sheree Tan, Manager, Marketing & Communications, Partnerships, IPI Singapore, he spoke about the importance of rebranding, modern retail, and continuous improvement to keep the brand relevant, showing that innovation helps legacy businesses stay true to their roots while remaining meaningful to new generations.
Richard Eu, Group Chairman, Eu Yan Sang International Ltd. said, "When I joined in 1989, our turnover in Singapore was about $3 million a year, and it had stayed that way for decades. I believed we could grow to $20 million by changing how we worked, opening more branches, and reaching new customers. In the years that followed, that vision became reality. Real growth, to me, begins when you challenge old mindsets and have the courage to try new ideas."
Panel: Legacy, lah! Leveraging Innovation for Multi-Generational Businesses
How do legacy businesses stay relevant in a changing world? Moderated by Ramachandran Rajamanickam (Innovation Advisor at IPI Singapore), the panel featured Tan Ting Wei (Transformation Lead, Fire Armour), Jamie Lim (CEO, Scanteak), Jackie Lau (Managing Director, Seng Heng Engineering Pte Ltd), and Alvin Choo (Director, Kwong Cheong Thye), who shared how innovation, whether through design, automation, sustainability, or e-commerce, keeps family enterprises evolving. Their message was clear: adapt to new markets, stay grounded in core values, and lead change with purpose.
During the event, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between MindChip (Estonia) and KOAI Co. Ltd (Korea) to explore collaboration on the co-development and customisation of KOBOT, a robotic solution designed for marine vessels. The partnership aims to advance joint R&D, technical exchange, and future innovation opportunities between both companies.
Exhibition and Networking
TechInnovation 2025, organised by IPI Singapore, brought together more than 4,000 registered from more than 40 countries. The event showcased 100 emerging technologies across HealthTech, sustainability, circular food innovation, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier technologies.
Over three days, it served as a platform for enterprises, innovators, and partners to connect across borders, collaborate on real-world solutions, and turn bold ideas into business impact.
The Asia's premier innovation and business transformation exhibition, highlighted the transition from traditional systems to future-ready models, the adoption of purposeful innovation by multi-generational businesses, and the importance of collaboration to achieve measurable outcomes.
Alvin Choo, Director, Kwong Cheong Thye said, "To sustain a business for five generations, it’s not just about growth but also about passion and values. As our older generations remind us, you must always remember your roots. And for us, those roots are our customers.
