Coinciding with Singapore’s 60th anniversary of independence (SG60), a vibrant two-way exchange is unfolding energetically within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A special feature on CapitaLand Development’s video channel, One Singaporean’s Free Life in the Greater Bay Area, turns its lens on an incubating enterprise at the National University of Singapore Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII)—Johnson Ng, Founder of JN Medsys. It captures the entrepreneurial dedication and poetic life of this Singaporean scientist-entrepreneur in the Bay Area.

From Lion City to Canton: A 15-Year Technological Odyssey, Taking Root in the Bay Area

“A breakthrough in the lab must become a tool in the doctor’s hands.” This has been the driving conviction of Johnson Ng throughout his 15-year dedication to the molecular diagnostics field. Holding a PhD in Bioengineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS), he once led the development of a novel molecular diagnostic device featured in The Straits Times. After founding JN Medsys in 2010, he spent the next 12 years building a global technological footprint: its first Clarity digital PCR system won a global innovation product award; a COVID-19 test kit was developed successfully within just 4 weeks, making JN Medsys one of Singapore’s first companies to receive emergency use authorization, with products exported to over a dozen countries.

In 2024, Johnson brought his team to the BLOCK71 Guangzhou incubation platform at NUS GRTII, embarking on a new chapter of localization in the Bay Area. “Here, we find a complete industrial chain, dense medical resources, and, most importantly, an open and inclusive innovation ecosystem,” he notes. In his view, the Bay Area is both fertile ground for technology translation—enabling rapid connection to resources spanning the entire chain from R&D to production—and a stage for cross-cultural collaboration. “The geographical proximity and cultural affinity between Singapore and Guangdong mean zero communication barriers, making technology implementation much more efficient.” Today, JN Medsys’s digital PCR system has obtained IVD market authorization from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), bringing precision medicine to more families in China.

Beyond Entrepreneurship: The “Free Texture” of Bay Area Life

In Johnson’s daily Bay Area life, entrepreneurial passion and personal contentment blend seamlessly. Mornings might begin with a stroll through a campus park that merges Lingnan architectural styles with Singaporean elements—sheltered walkways provide shade from sun and rain, while miniature “Supertrees” dot the landscape, evoking the streets of Singapore. Afternoons are for tackling technical challenges with his team, while evenings could see him meeting friends to savor Cantonese slow-cooked soups. As many Singaporeans observe, Guangdong’s food therapy culture aligns perfectly with Singapore’s culinary philosophy; enjoying soups and herbal teas has become one of his simple pleasures in adapting to life here.

The convenient transport network between Singapore and Guangzhou has made a dual-city lifestyle feasible. “Travel within the Bay Area is highly efficient now, and returning to Singapore is also very convenient. One doesn’t have to choose between career and family,” Johnson remarks. This state of “having a stage for entrepreneurship and warmth in daily life” is precisely why countless Singaporeans are choosing the Bay Area. This mirrors the solid foundation of Guangdong-Singapore cooperation over the past 15 years—Guangdong has been Singapore’s largest provincial trading partner in China for 36 consecutive years. This deep cooperative base makes cross-border living increasingly effortless.

SG60: Witnessing the Resonance of a Two-Way Journey

Singapore at 60 is in its prime; the Greater Bay Area’s future is brimming with promise. When the innovative DNA of the Lion City meets the developmental momentum of the Bay Area, it not only gives rise to exemplary cross-border collaborations like JN Medsys but also breathes life into the concept of “effortless living.” From traditional Chinese medicine students mastering Lingnan medical arts, to entrepreneurs building technological bridges, to those reconnecting with their roots and family histories, the connection between Guangdong and Singapore has long transcended mere commercial partnership, embedding itself deeply in cultural resonance and the fabric of daily life.

As Johnson reflects, “The Bay Area offers innovators the greatest tolerance. Here, there is both fertile ground for building ventures and a haven for personal well-being.” This, perhaps, is the code to the Singaporean’s effortless life in the Bay Area - establishing oneself through professional excellence, connecting through cultural empathy, and achieving resonance between personal fulfillment and regional development in this journey of mutual convergence.