P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC)

SongHai Liang is a process engineer on the hair care team at the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC). To improve their formulations, he must be a master of phase changes: Combining materials through different physical states to improve their properties. Using timing, temperature, and mixing, he transforms the materials from an unstable liquid mixture to a cloudy gel and then to a stable liquid, dispersing new ingredients more finely in the solution. The result of these phase changes is an elevated shampoo formulation with pleasing clarity.    Songhai’s career has similarly been marked by transformative phase changes. He has embraced new challenges that, while stressful, have led to significant growth.   He joined P&G with a diploma in Materials Science from Singapore Polytechnic and had the opportunity to work with some of the most senior formulators in the company. They introduced concepts he had never encountered before, inspiring him to aspire to the same level of technical mastery.   Determined to advance his knowledge, Songhai decided to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at the National University of Singapore while working full-time at SgIC. He also took on the task of implementing a new manufacturing process, which required him to join global teleconferences in between night classes. The pandemic added an additional layer of stress and uncertainty, making him question at times if he had taken on too much.   The support of his team was invaluable during this time. One manager even joined meetings on his behalf when they coincided with classes. Others provided attentive coaching, challenging him to run robust tests and understand the limits of the equipment he was using.   The pressure of juggling work and school improved his approach to both. He learned to use his time efficiently, and the technical knowledge he gained at work helped in his studies. Conversely, the skill of studying technical literature he gained at school benefited his work projects.   Songhai graduated last December with a Bachelor’s of Technology in #Chemical #Engineering as one of the top scorers, having made the Dean’s list. His project was launched successfully and led to a P&G CEO award, a very prestigious recognition awarded to a highly select group of individuals globally by the company.   Reflecting on his journey, Songhai is glad he embarked on these phase changes. He acknowledges that he couldn’t have done it without the support he received. “We have a very inclusive, supportive culture here, and we’re willing to help each other out through difficult times. It’s inspired me to pay it forward,” he notes.   Congratulations, Songhai, on these remarkable accomplishments! #materialsscience #chemicalengineering #singapore #thefuturemakers

We're honored to be featured! We're committed to elevating the craftsmanship of every aspect of our skincare formulations, from the very first moment she opens the jar. Thanks to our partners at A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and congratulations to our very own Susan Gong for the inspired work! https://lnkd.in/gr7X9PSp

We had the privilege of welcoming A*STAR Chairman Prof Chorh Chuan Tan and senior leaders from A*STAR including Prof Sze-Wee TAN, Assistant Chief Executive, Biomedical Research Council, Prof Rachel Watson, Executive Director, A*STAR Skin Research Labs and Dr Wai Kiong Ng, Acting Executive Director, A*STAR Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy & Environment (ISCE2).   We covered topics ranging from health and wellness to digital and discussed future research priorities.   This visit reaffirms the strong partnership between P&G and A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research and we look forward to driving stronger outcomes through our collaboration. #singapore #thefuturemakers

Wellness is essential for #thefuturemakers! https://lnkd.in/gTXq6qqx

Alia Mustafa is a Technical Specialist at the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC). But her career began in the #arts, taking on gigs in graphic design and event planning. She even graced the stage herself, as a talented singer and trained MC.   She craved a more structured environment, so she took a bold leap into the world of science at the SgIC as a #Sensory Panelist. She found it fascinating.   Alia relished representing the consumer as a professional panelist, quantifying intangible sensorial experiences. Ever inquisitive, she constantly questioned the basis for standard quantifiers used for training.    In 2017, she transitioned to a Support Specialist role, working with both Haircare and Skincare categories. During this time, Alia developed a deep appreciation for #consumer understanding and aspired to join P&G R&D as a full-time employee, leveraging her diverse skill set, experience, and inquisitiveness.   She achieved her goal in 2018, when she became a Technical Specialist. In this role, she gained invaluable insights into the various aspects of product development, from formulation to packaging, testing, and demo creation. But she wanted to get closer to the consumer, so she decided to apply for a role in product research testing.   In this role, Alia plans and executes consumer studies, a role she approaches with the zeal of an event planner. She finds joy in a well-executed study, akin to a well-executed event. By combining her background in arts with her newfound love for science, Alia has discovered a more complete way of seeing the world around her.   Sometimes she still wonders how she ended up in the world of #science. To overcome the occasional bout of imposter syndrome, she has learned to speak up and share her unique perspective, encouraged by directors and senior leaders who recognize the value of her consumer-centric insights. She refuses to limit herself to the strict definition of a Technical Specialist and instead sees it as a platform for creativity and idea generation.    In addition to her technical role, Alia makes an impact in other ways. She is a dedicated member of several employee wellness teams, and is also asked to perform at milestone events, such at the P&G 35th anniversary and during the recent SgIC 10th anniversary celebrations. Her vibrant personality and talent have captivated colleagues and managers alike, allowing her to break free from her initial timidity and make a name for herself within the organization. Her dedication and contributions were recently acknowledged when she received the "Inspiring Others" award from the culture team, highlighting her commitment and advocacy for the Technical Specialists community.   Today, Alia contributes her expertise to raise the bar on Beauty Product Research Testing in the Beauty Revealed organization. Thanks Alia for helping to make SgIC a vibrant community of #thefuturemakers! #consumerunderstanding #singapore

Our data scientists constantly explore new ways of using AI to drive innovation. To inspire fresh approaches, we recently participated in an innovation sprint with the NVIDIA AI Tech Centre (NVAITC) and Republic Polytechnic’s school of Infocomm (RP SOI). This 8-week sprint focused on #GenAI and Foundation Models, #AI models designed to serve as a foundation for various applications and can produce a wide variety of output. RP students participated in a 2-day bootcamp, followed by two months of immersive learning sessions guided by mentors from RP SOI, NVIDIA and the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC). The students applied their growing AI skills to practical problem statements provided by P&G, ranging from analysis of patents to designing more effective approaches to understanding consumer needs. To spice things up, P&G sponsored the top 3 prizes.   Five teams presented their final projects on 29 April 2024. “We were impressed by the passion and fresh thinking the students brought to the challenges we had posed - we learned a lot!" commented senior product researcher & data scientist Jonathan Feyaerts. Well done, RP students and thanks to the team that made this such a fruitful experience!

Jaspreet Kochhar, PhD grew up in New Delhi in a family of architects, engineers, and pharmaceutical professionals. These surroundings gave him an innate curiosity that ultimately led him to the #pharmaceutical sciences. He excelled, winning an National University of Singapore Research Scholarship to do a PhD where he developed a promising innovation in microneedle drug delivery systems and contemplated starting up his own company.  Then, towards the end of his #PhD, he was selected for a Serial Innovator camp at P&G. Here he had the opportunity to interact with some of the most prolific innovators in the company. He found it so enthralling, that he decided to bring his skills to the Personal Healthcare division at P&G instead. His schoolmates once questioned his choice of a consumer goods company instead of a pharmaceutical company, but he hasn’t looked back. From strengthening the innovation programs to elevating the technical stories, Jaspreet has found that all his skills and experiences are brought to bear, and then some. In addition to playing a leading role in growing the suite of Vicks product offerings in the region, he’s found that his #pharmacy expertise has gained new relevance with the acquisition of Merck and Voost. While setting high standards in scientific excellence for the products he develops, Jaspreet is also big on making the science accessible, both internally as well as externally. Jaspreet’s #communication skills have brought him to the podium with world leading academics and scientists, experiences that he finds greatly enriching. Not one to rest on his laurels, Jaspreet notes excitedly that there’s “lots to do ahead – the consumer health world is evolving, with more consumers interested in proactive health measures, and an increasing focus on healthier living despite a more stressful, polluted environment and busy lifestyle. It is imperative on us to deliver consumer-delighting, meaningfully superior propositions that are affordable, effective, and build trust.”   Thanks for setting an example as one of #thefuturemakers, Jaspreet!

The Applied Learning Programme at Bartley Secondary School focuses on Fragrance Design, a unique area of expertise at the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC). Based on this, we have begun to explore how we can collaborate to inspire the next generation of #STEM talent at Bartley Secondary School. On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to continue the journey with ~250 students at Bartley Secondary School. A 6-person team from the SgIC arrived at the school to meet with the students. David Khoo opened the session with an introduction to P&G’s wide range of products, along with a peek into the capabilities at the SgIC that fuels this innovation. A team of scientists from H&S followed up with an engaging overview of the science behind H&S, and what makes it the world’s no.1 shampoo. Anumita Chaudhury, Ph.D introduced her role as a Products Researcher. Explaining the causes of dandruff, she discussed the importance of addressing it at an early age, and the role of a product that balances efficacy and in-use appeal. Anuradha Jayachandran offered insights into how formulators deliver this balance, discussing the design of fragrances and careful choice of active ingredient in H&S. She then invited the students to open bottles of H&S and appreciate the fragrance of the product. Finally, Zhenyu Mao talked about the importance of a well-designed packaging in protecting the product, making sure it’s easy to use, and has an intuitive appeal. Much to the students delight, he showcased the latest H&S packaging, featuring characters from Mobile Legends. The students were engaged and energized! Thanks to the P&G SgIC HR team of Pavithra Jayakumar and Jumana Haseen along with Miss Shir Ryn Quek from Bartley Secondary School for their leadership in curating this special opportunity. #singapore #thefuturemakers

Recently, 31 employees from the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC) Personal Healthcare Team volunteered at Willing Hearts, a charity that operates a soup kitchen. Willing Hearts distributes an impressive 7,000 meals daily to more than 70 locations island wide.    They arrived at 1pm and were greeted by the sight of boxes of vegetables and stacks of empty food containers.  They were quickly put to work, chopping and washing vegetables, scooping cooked food into containers, loading the meals into delivery vans, and washing and cleaning the kitchen.    After the event, the team gathered to share their thoughts and experiences. They felt it was a rewarding journey, and this experience served as a profound reminder of the power of serving the larger community.   Our heartfelt thanks to Willing Hearts and everyone who participated. Let’s continue to support each other and give back to the community. Every small effort counts. We are looking forward to the next event! #thefuturemakers #singapore

What a fabulous night! To wrap up a full week of 10th anniversary events, #thefuturemakers gathered for an evening of fun, food and festivities.   The theme was Timeless: Celebrating Memories to Milestones - an invitation to savor a decade of extraordinary accomplishments as a community.   Victor Aguilar, P&G Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer, opened the night, sharing warm words of pride in a decade of growth at the SgIC, and energized the crowd with a Mexican wave.   Yuko Nakamura, Vice President, R&D at the SgIC, unveiled a special video presentation which showcased five SgIC individuals and their stories of growth and making a difference in the lives of their friends and family along the way. It was a celebration of the bonds that had been forged in the community. The video struck an emotional chord with the audience.   Reflecting on the video, Standa Vecera, AMA President, lauded the strength of the culture we have built at the SgIC and encouraged us to continue to provide a hand to someone when they most need it. He also expressed his confidence in #thefuturemakers ability to drive innovation for decades to come.   And then there were the performances. The SgIC Leadership team set the tone for the night with a spirited dance to The Gummy Bear Song, dressed in suitably furry outfits, of course. The Indian Culture team graced the stage with a vibrant, entrancing dance medley, while the Japanese culture team gave a rousing performance of Soran Bushi, a traditional song and dance. These were followed by lively skits and dances from the interns and new hires.   We opened our time capsule from 2014, which was filled with mementos from teams and their active projects at the time. Prompted by the collection of SKII products in the time capsule, Markus Strobel, Global S&PC President, took the stage to share his thoughts and lessons learned from past SKII initiatives.   The SgIC Band, dressed in outfits from the roaring 20's got the crowd dancing along to an energetic setlist of classics and latest hits. Towards the end of the evening, we invited two R&D Senior Vice presidents to share their thoughts about the festivities. Lee Ellen Drechsler said, "As we've seen all night, there's no site in P&G that has more energy, more creative spirit than this." Andrew Weatherston followed with "Just wow...i'm inspired by your energy, humbled by your capability, and honored to have been a small part of your history"   The SgIC Fragrance Development team ended the night with a surprise - everyone would receive a complimentary set of 10th anniversary fragrances specially designed by the fragrance team.   The significance of the night was not lost on #thefuturemakers. One of the attendees shared that it was "a time of renewal, a rebirth, and unbridled optimism"   Kudos to the organizing team for a memorable, spectacular night!