Singapore Secures 9th Position in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings
Singapore has secured the 9th spot in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings. The city state’s startup scene is valued at $185 billion, which is well above the global average of $26.15 billion. Furthermore, its early-stage funding reached US$4.4 billion between late 2022 and 2024, compared to the worldwide average of just US$514.8 million.
Supporting Its Startups In the R&D Field
The strong growth Singapore is experiencing is thanks to the nation’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plan. This plan is backed by $18.9 billion in public R&D funding from 2021 to 2025. Just last year, an additional $2.27 billion was committed to advanced manufacturing, sustainability, and digital innovation.
To support Deep Tech startups, Singapore has expanded its co-investment pool to over $757 million and partnered with global venture builders like Founders Factory and Xora Innovation. Singapore is also encouraging corporate collaboration. It is doing this through platforms like the Open Innovation Network, with a focus on AI and sustainability.
To top that all off, Singapore is also hosting flagship events such as SWITCH and SLINGSHOT, attracting thousands of startups and global attendees annually. Through the Global Innovation Alliance alone, over 600 startups have been given a boost to enter 24 cities and R&D partnerships in more than 40 countries have been fostered.
Corporate collaboration is encouraged through platforms like the Open Innovation Network, with a focus on AI and sustainability. The country also hosts flagship events such as SWITCH and SLINGSHOT, attracting thousands of startups and global attendees annually.
In life sciences, firms like Lucence and KYAN are partnering with Mayo Clinic, while Callio Therapeutics raised US$187 million. The new $785 million Geneo hub at Singapore Science Park now houses 80,000 sqm of biomedical R&D space.
Investing in the AI Space
Singapore has also invested over $1 billion into AI, thanks to the generous support of firms like Google, AWS, and NVIDIA. It also currently operates 26 AI Centres of Excellence. However, that is only the beginning. The government has no plans to slow down. Instead, it is accelerating the adoption across 100 major companies.
Singapore’s ecosystem benefits from over 510 venture capital (VC) firms, 220 incubators, 4,500 tech startups, and robust talent initiatives, including ONEPass and EntrePass. It remains strong in the climate tech field, partnering with Temasek and Breakthrough Energy to lead renewable innovation across Southeast Asia. We can look forward to more projects like the AI-powered Sustainable Energy of Singapore DigiLeap. Moreover, Aether Fuels’ US$40 million funding round highlights its global appeal in the future.
With its strong infrastructure, clear regulations, and business-friendly environment, Singapore remains a leading hub in the global startup ecosystem.
