Think Big Singapore Empowers Businesses to Navigate Uncertainty Amid Cloudy Economic Forecast

This year's event, themed "Sailing Through a Sea of Uncertainty: Building a Resilience-Ready Toolkit to Thrive in an Unpredictable Future", provides a strategic forum for business leaders to discuss geopolitical uncertainties, and how Singapore is poised to become the regional powerhouse by embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation.

The series is particularly timely, as the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) recently shared a cloudy economic outlook for the rest of 2025 amidst trade conflict and financial or geopolitical shocks. This makes the need for businesses to adopt strategies that strengthen adaptability and future-readiness more urgent than ever.

Co-organised by Canon Singapore and Mediacorp, the Think Big series will take place at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay on 22 and 23 October 2025. Over the two days, distinguished industry leaders and eminent representatives from key trade associations including the Singapore Business Federation, AI Singapore, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME), and National University of Singapore, will convene to deliberate on pivotal themes, including macro and economic repercussions of trade wars and tariffs, and the transformative integration of AI.

The popular Mandarin-language seminar also returns this year, featuring industry experts and academia who will explore how businesses can navigate today's volatile economic climate. There will also be a focused session on the Singapore-Malaysia Special Economic Zone (SEZ), spotlighting opportunities for growth, cross-border investment, and collaborative innovation in this fast-developing economic corridor.

"2025 has been marked by unprecedented global uncertainty and rapid technological advancement, making resilience more crucial than ever for businesses across Asia," said Norihiro (Nick) Katagiri, Senior Vice President, Regional Digital Printing and Business Solution Operations, Canon Singapore.

"Canon's Think Big Leadership Business Series serves as a cornerstone event for thought-provoking discussions, practical business insights, and innovative showcases. With a diverse lineup of speakers and a focus on actionable solutions, we believe that this event will equip business leaders with the insights and tools needed to navigate the complexities of 2025 and emerge stronger for the future of work."

Strategic Forum for a Future-Ready Singapore
Building on the 2025 National Day Rally's message of a strong focus on innovation and technology, Think Big 2025 will address how new technologies can be quickly adopted across the entire economy to sustainably raise productivity while mitigating risks in an uncertain business environment. This aligns with the national goal of empowering every organisation to effectively adopt AI and other key technologies to strengthen their competitiveness.

Exclusive to the event will be Canon's solutions showcase, where attendees will be able to walk through a one-of-a-kind 'AI City' designed to provide businesses with practical solutions to navigate an evolving business landscape. This immersive experience will feature a replica city with different zones representing key work styles and business environments. Visitors will get to see how Canon's innovations can help them drive productivity, streamline workflows, and ensure their business is ready for the future. Key solutions include:

• Remote Working Solutions: Located within the AI City's Hybrid Central Park, visitors can engage with devices featuring AI noise cancellation and the Therefore™ Online solution for remote document access, approval and AI data extraction.
• Next-Generation Office Solutions: At the Central Business District, visitors can gain first-hand experience with the new imageFORCE multi-function devices and the Antelope® Generative AI document management solution.
• Security & Facility Management Solutions: Within the Operations Boulevard, visitors can explore the future of urban intelligence where AI-enabled access control, real-time demographic insights, and smart sensors work seamlessly to create safer, smarter, and more adaptive environments.

"The Think Big series reflects our dedication to empowering businesses in Singapore to strategically adapt to the new and evolving market dynamics," said Andrew Koh, Senior Vice President and Head of Singapore Operations Group, Canon Singapore. "Through our solutions showcase, we are providing the resources to help companies build resilience in their operations and drive long-term business growth. By marrying our technological innovations with insights from industry leaders, we can empower companies to not only survive but to truly thrive in an unpredictable future."

SUPPORTING QUOTES
Ang Yuit, President of Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) “Singapore businesses, particularly our SMEs, are no strangers to the challenges of global economic uncertainty. While factors like geopolitical instability and trade conflicts dominate headlines, the silent and persistent threat of global inflation directly impacts our bottom line, from rising raw material costs to supply chain pressures. By understanding the forces at play and adopting new strategies, businesses can make smarter decisions about managing costs, optimise their operations, and ultimately secure their long-term growth.”

Prof. Lam Kwok Yan, Professor, College of Computing & Data Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
Track: The AI revolution: Business Growth and Cyber Threats
Toh Ser Khoon, Senior Director, Engineering Cluster, Singapore Polytechnic; Managing Director, Singapore Polytechnic International
Track: Innovation & Digital Transformation in the SEZ
“The Johor-Singapore SEZ is a strategic platform to expand markets, drive innovation, and create win-win partnerships. By fostering talent, technology, and enterprise transformation, it empowers companies, especially SMEs, to scale and adapt. Singapore Polytechnic supports company transformation through practical solutioning, as well as upskilling programmes that build agile, innovation-driven workforces across the region.”Hashtag: #Canon #ThinkBig2025 #AI #Innovation #FutureOfWork #BusinessResilience #DigitalTransformation

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About Think Big Leadership Business Series Singapore

The Think Big Leadership Business Series, an initiative by Canon, is designed to inspire and empower business leaders with forward-looking strategies and actionable insights. First launched in Singapore in 2010, the platform helps organisations navigate today's fast-evolving business landscape by demonstrating how innovation and technology can drive sustainable growth.

This year's series will address business challenges posed by political shifts and explore how businesses can leverage technology to thrive in uncertain times through the tech-driven solutions showcase. The event will continue to feature a dual-language format with English and Mandarin keynote addresses, and panel discussions led by Mediacorp.

About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other countries and regions. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs about 170,000 people worldwide. Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

More information is available at https://sg.canon.