P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC)

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! 

#Thefuturemakers at the SgIC look back on a decade of personal and professional growth in our #SgIC10yearchallenge!    First up, Rasoul Madadi, who leads the P&G Chemicals and the Material Process Delivery team at the SgIC. The team is the force behind P&G's high-quality products made from natural vegetable oils, and is a global supply leader delivering solutions and creating value for its customers and suppliers in over 70 countries.    Under his leadership, the organization has grown by 300% since 2014, becoming a young, capable and energetic organization that has taken on ever more complex challenges.    One such challenge: Creating, funding and now executing the largest technology transformation project in the history of P&G Chemicals Eurasia.    This growth in resourcing, recruitment and accomplishments has made the SgIC a key delivery arm for the global P&G Chemicals team.    Congratulations to Rasoul and his team! #thefuturemakers

At the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC), we innovate for a wide range of product categories. To encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas across the site, we created BridgitalX, an annual summit that spans the breadth of Physical and Digital Innovations developed at the SgIC.    BridgitalX 2024 was held last week in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Singapore Innovation Center. Attendees were immersed in a stimulating overview of the latest innovations at the SgIC, presented as 11 TED-style Pillar Talks and 34 carefully curated scientific posters, all packed into a 6 hour program.    Yuko Nakamura, SgIC R&D Vice President, hosted a leadership roundtable discussion, entitled "Re/evolution of R&D". The panellists included Victor Aguilar, P&G's Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer along with global R&D Senior Vice Presidents Andrew Weatherston, Lee Ellen Drechsler, Mark Smerznak and Scott Rodrigue.    Victor and the panelists commended the SgIC for the amazing progress we have made in elevating capability, along with the impressive ecosystem and talent we have cultivated, making the SgIC the ideal place for advanced digital and end-to-end capabilities.    Looking into the next decade, the panel challenged #thefuturemakers to double down on consumer winning innovations. They urged the site to harness #AI to uncover new insights and accelerate innovation, a potent combination. They also encouraged us to continue fostering collaboration and embrace diversity, making full use of the fact that the world's population is at our doorstep.   Congratulations to the organizing team for a fantastic program, and thanks to the presenters for showcasing their work so well! #thefuturemakers

The P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC) is 10 years old! A decade of innovation for a wide range of brands including Olay, SKII, Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Febreze, Vicks, Pampers and Oral-B is a milestone worth celebrating.   We were privileged to host the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Alvin Tan as our guest of honor at the commemorative event yesterday, who gave a wonderful speech, reflecting on our journey in people care, product care and partner care. Mr. Standa Vecera, President, P&G Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa offered his thoughts on how the SgIC has been a force for growth in the AMA region, while Mr. Victor Aguilar, P&G Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer, gave an inspiring reflection on the history of SgIC and it's many accomplishments, along with his hopes for the future.     We were grateful to the partners from A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and JTC Corporation, who joined us yesterday. Without you, as well as the many institutes in the Singapore Innovation Ecosystem, we’ve been privileged to work with, we would not have come this far. Thank you for your support over the past decade.    Our thanks to the VIPs who generously made the time to grace the event with their presence, including Mr. Mark Smerznak, P&G Senior Vice President, R&D, Mr. Markus Strobel, P&G President, Skin and Personal Care, Mr. Fred Chew, Chief Executive Officer, A*STAR, Mr. Ih-Ming C., Executive Vice President, EDB and Mr. Cheong Wee Lee, Director of the Biomedical & Electronics Cluster, JTC.   We were grateful for the opportunity to give our VIP guests a brief tour of our labs, so they could gain a deeper understanding of the science behind our most successful innovations, as well as our plans for the next generation of breakthrough products. Here’s to the next decade as #thefuturemakers!

This International Women's Day, join us for an NUS Business School MBA Diversity and Inclusion panel discussion, as we delve into the topic of furthering women's empowerment. We're thrilled that Yuko Nakamura, Vice President of R&D and head of the P&G Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC) will be one of the esteemed panellists. With a deep understanding of consumer needs, the SgIC develops breakthrough products and packages under globally recognized brands like Olay, Pantene, Pampers, Ariel, and Febreze. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, Yuko-san's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and advocating for diversity and inclusion has been essential in preparing the SgIC for the next decade of growth. Congratulations Yuko-san on this great opportunity to celebrate our strength in diversity! #iwd2024 #InvestInWomen #WomenEmpowerment #PanelDiscussion #thefuturemakers