1960s – 1970s

And there was Jurong.

A United Nations team led by Dr Albert Winsemius proposed a daring industrialisation programme for Singapore: massive land and infrastructure development, at breakneck speed, to attract foreign investments. These new investments would bring in new industries to create thousands of much-needed jobs for the nation’s growing population.

In 1961, under the leadership of then Finance Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee, the Economic Development Board (EDB) began reclaiming and developing the swamps of Jurong.

But as Singapore ramped up its industrialisation, it became clear that the management of such estates would become more challenging and complex. In 1968, JTC emerged from EDB as the specialist agency tasked to spearhead the planning and development of industrial infrastructure for Singapore's economic development.

Today, more than 50 years later, JTC continues to serve this pivotal role.

1980s

Success begets success.

To sharpen the competitive edge of Singapore in the 1980s, JTC embarked on a visionary 10-year Master Plan to support the country's move into capital-intensive economic activities. These included electronics, precision engineering, and chemicals, as well as high-technology R&D and services industries.

As Singapore marched towards becoming a modern economy driven by science, technology, knowledge, and skills, so did JTC. It adjusted and adapted accordingly, spearheading the building of ground-breaking infrastructure such as the Singapore Science Park, as well as the reclamation of Tuas.

1990s

Primed for progress.

The 1990s was a period of rapid economic growth for Singapore as it pivoted towards high value-added economic activities.

Game-changing economic strategies demanded more robust and innovative engineering solutions. JTC stepped up to the plate and undertook a spectrum of complex and complicated projects that steered the country’s industries forward. The spearheading of wafer fabrication parks, plus the amalgamation of seven offshore islands to create Jurong Island for the petrochemical cluster, ushered in a new economic dawn for Singapore.

Future land scarcity became a focal point of discussion. In 1997, JTC launched the Industrial Land Plan for the 21st Century (IP21), which spelt out key strategies in addressing industrial land use in Singapore. These included: en bloc redevelopment programmes for older estates; new concepts like stack-up factories to intensify land use; the introduction of land productivity initiatives; and better stewardship of economic land with priority given to companies that engaged in high value-added activities.

2000s

Pushing the boundaries.

The decade began with a symbolic milestone: JTC's relocation into its new 32-storey headquarters, JTC Summit. A new name — JTC Corporation — and a brand-new corporate logo also heralded JTC's expanded role as the key architect of Singapore's industrial landscape. The decision to divest its portfolio of flatted factories also allowed JTC to focus more intently on a new range of capital-intensive, leading-edge industrial solutions.

The multi-faceted demands of the New Economy also put JTC on the path to become an innovative pioneer of industrial infrastructure development.

The ground-breaking development of one-north for a new breed of investments in biomedical sciences, research & development, infocomm technology and media; the development of Seletar Aerospace Park to anchor Singapore as the region's premier aviation hub; and the Jurong Rock Caverns, South-East Asia’s first commercial underground liquid hydrocarbon storage facility, all marked the start of yet another chapter for JTC.

2010s

Reimagining the future.

The 2010s witnessed a period of radical global change brought about by rapid digitalisation. Disruptive technologies, cutting-edge automation, and the Internet of Things are some of the buzzwords shaping the industries of tomorrow.

To better position Singapore to meet the challenges of a more connected world, expansive industry transformation informed JTC’s efforts to create next-generation estates catered to the new wave of technology-driven innovations and investments. These large-scale living labs of industry, ideation, innovation, and enterprise are set to provide inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable spaces for the community.

2020s

Realising new possibilities.

As Singapore advances into a new decade, industries big and small are greeted by prospects the likes we have never seen.

Most notably, increasing digitalisation, the adoption of Industry 4.0 and nationwide push for sustainability have given rise to new growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, agri-food technology , eco-innovation and many more.

From cultivating food in urban spaces to building low-emission electric vehicles, exciting new possibilities are surfacing, and with them comes unprecedented market potential for industry players. Through innovative and green estates like Jurong Innovation District, Sungei Kadut Eco-District and Punggol Digital District, JTC places businesses in an extraordinary position to capture such opportunities, wherever they may be in the value chain.

To help businesses stay ahead of the curve, JTC rallies the power of community to introduce Industry Connect, an initiative where JTC’s vast network of partners and customers becomes a ready source of solution and collaboration for accelerating transformation.

It may be only the dawn of an era, but it certainly has the makings of yet another great decade.