TECHINNOVATION TECH OFFERS

Chemical analysers determine the chemical composition and characteristics of compounds. Such devices aim to provide rapid and accurate results of the analysed compounds but are often limited to bulky, laboratory-grade designs. Traditional spectroscopic systems are limited by its detection range based on the monochromator and light source, often resulting in poor resolution that affects the results of the analysis. This technology on offer is a patented low-cost, high signal-to-noise ratio micro-spectrometer module that can be used in long-distance detection. In comparison to traditional spectrometers that use spectral splitting, the utilisation of frequency-varying incident light to measure different spectral bands without signal intensity loss enables the user to achieve high signal-to-noise ratios and high precision. By using this spectrometer, real-time analysis of the composition of chemicals at the point of manufacture is possible which makes it a convenient tool for quality checks to enhance product quality and reduce risks. The technology has been validated for use in semiconductor manufacturing and the technology owner is interested in co-development projects and test-bedding opportunities to extend the technology in other sectors such as specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, smart home appliances, food and agriculture to name a few.

This technology is a patented synbiotics (combination of probiotics and prebiotics) cleaning solution that offers a safe and sustainable alternative to traditional cleaning products and disinfectants. When released onto the surface, the probiotics will digest and break down dirt, grime, and other unwanted substances while the prebiotics in the solution act as an additional source of nutrition for the probiotics. The resultant surface microbiome provides a continuous cleaning effect that is longer lasting than traditional cleaning chemicals and disinfectants. Often, the overuse of traditional chemicals and disinfectants results in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), allergenic reactions to the user, negative impact on the environment and short effective lifespan. With this synbiotics technology, users can overcome these limitations and achieve a long-term effective cleaning system and a natural microflora to the environment. When utilised in healthcare settings, the synbiotics cleaning solution demonstrated a higher reduction of pathogens (80% more), decreased AMR (up to 99.9%) and health-associated infections (52% lesser). The technology owner is interested in co-development projects and test-bedding opportunities with companies looking for a sustainable and long-lasting cleaning technology i.e., cleaning equipment and automation manufacturers/suppliers and cleaning service providers.

Biodegradable adhesives are a class of adhesives derived from natural materials such as as plant-based polymers or proteins, and they do not contain any synthetic plastics or other harmful chemicals. They are more environmentally friendly, as they do not release harmful pollutants into the environment when they break down. They are also often compostable, which means that they can be disposed of in a way that is beneficial to the environment. This technology is a patented environmentally friendly, biodegradable adhesive that overcomes the limitations of fossil-fuel based adhesives. Made from a natural polymer and other natural materials, this bio-adhesive can exhibit 100% biodegradability within 30 days, does not contaminate the environment and can be separated by water. The adhesive can be applied onto a variety of substrates including paper, leather, foams, and wood to name a few. The technology owner is interested in joint R&D projects with companies who require a biodegradable and sustainable adhesive solution.

Industrial robots are typically deployed indoors in factories for industrial automation applications such as manufacturing and production. Outdoor deployment in the absence of the traditional work cell boundaries, will typically necessitate safety precautions and perimeter fencing in order to maintain a safe working perimeter between the robot and any surrounding personnel. A Singapore-based research team has developed an integrated Outdoor Mobile Robotic Platform (OMRP) capable of executing the manual operations of human workers outdoors. The solution is based around the concept of a weather-resistant industrial robot arm mounted on a mobile vehicle platform. The system is integrated with vision systems and sensors to provide the appropriate safety zone monitoring and offers versatility catering to various use-cases via custom end effectors.

Maskless laser lithography (MLL) is a microfabrication technique used to create complex patterns on a substrate with high precision and resolution.  A Singapore-based research team has developed a compact and cost-effective MLL system by seamlessly integrating hardware and software components. By seamlessly integrating with computer-aided design software, operators can easily input arbitrary patterns for exposure. The small system footprint makes it ideal for research labs and offers widespread applicability across various fields, including microfluidics, electronics, and nano/micro mechanical systems. The system's cost-effectiveness extends its benefits beyond university research labs, presenting opportunities for semiconductor and medical companies to leverage its capabilities. This technology is available for IP licensing or further co-development in view of scale-up manufacture and commercialisation.

The regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions have led to the adoption of a remodelling strategy that focuses on decreasing the energy usage of buildings. This can be achieved through measures such as thermal insulation and retrofitting, which extend the lifespan of buildings while reducing their energy consumption. The proposed technology by a Singapore-based research team utilises proprietary Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) material for reinforcement to enhance the longevity of buildings. It contains a modified epoxy adhesive used in the FRP-adhesive-concrete interfaces to provide a range of advantageous properties, that include being 5 times lighter while 10 times higher tensile and flexural strength than steel, cost-effective in production, easily shaped, demonstrating high corrosion resistance, and offering both flexibility and tolerance to misalignment. In addition, through the modification of bonding agents and surface aerogel insulation, the fire retardancy of the material had been enhanced by 3 classes to V-0 rating according to the UL 94 plastic flammability standard. Among the superinsulation materials, aerogel stands out with its unique acoustic properties and significantly lower thermal conductivity of approximately 0.014 W/m.K. Additionally, it possesses exceptional physical and chemical attributes, such as its translucent structure. As a result, it is widely regarded as one of the most highly promising materials for thermal insulation in building applications. The FRP technology is currently pending fire testing to meet local regulatory requirements (e.g., BS 476 Part 20-23) and will be subjected to evaluation by the Building Innovation Panel of BCA in coming months. The technology owner is keen to support interested industrial partners to fabricate larger prototype of the FRP for test-bedding on site, and eventually license the intellectual property to the industrial partner for commercialisation.

Lithium-ion battery technology using graphite anode material is widely used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles and energy storage systems. However, for high-power, ultra-fast charge/discharge applications, e.g., regenerative braking in cars, electric buses, batteries for aircraft/marine sectors, graphite anode material is less preferred due to safety and performance limitations. Currently, lithium titanate oxide or LTO battery technology is one of the commercially available solutions for high power applications. LTO battery is a type of rechargeable battery that has a longer cycle life, faster charging and safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries. Despite these advantages, LTO battery is up to two times more costly than conventional lithium-ion batteries in the market, and has considerably lower specific energy density of about 60-110 Wh/kg than conventional lithium-ion chemistries, e.g., 90-165 Wh/kg for LFP and 150-270 Wh/kg for NMC.   The technology proposed by the Singapore-based research team relates to a method to synthesise a proprietary formulation of lithium-ion battery anode consists of mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) material. This novel anode formulation for high power batteries is potentially able to reduce the production cost to about US$250-300 per kWh from US$500-600 per kWh for LTO, according to preliminary estimates by the team based on manufacturing capabilities in China. The cost reduction is derived from the use of cheaper TiO2 raw materials (vs. LTO) and the simple manufacturing process. The mesoporous TiO2 anode material can be integrated into existing manufacturing lines for lithium-ion cells without the need for new equipment. Using 18650 cylindrical cell of mesoporous TiO2 anode material with manganese-based cathode material, the cell achieved superior charging rate performance of up to 5C, energy density level of 70-100 Wh/kg and a cycle life of about 10,000 cycles, while retaining 75% of the initial capacity. The research team anticipated that the TiO2 cells will have up to 30% better energy density than LTO cell technology. The research team is seeking industry partners to collaborate for a 5-10 kWh test bed project on a fast-charging application including uninterrupted power supply (UPS), regenerative braking and etc. The research team is able to tap on their in-house facilities to fabricate mesoporous TiO2 cells (32700 or 18650 format) using the novel anode formulation.  

The term nature-positive describe a world where nature, species, and ecosystems are being restored and is regenerating rather than declining, which leads to an increased biodiversity, improved ecosystem services and reduced climate change impacts. The realisation of a nature-positive world has been hindered by economic, political, social and technological factors, as well as a lack of research on the impact of economic activities on natural capital and society at large. One of the widely used approach to enable a nature-positive society is the quantification and evaluation of Scope 3 emissions and life cycle assessment (LCA) of natural capital or resources. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of an organisation including emissions from the transportation of goods, the use of sold products, and the disposable of waste. Life cycle assessment is a methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle. This includes the extraction of raw materials, the production process, the transportation, the use, and the disposal of the product or service. LCA can be used to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts of a product or service. A startup team based in Japan has developed a comprehensive assessment framework to enable environmental, social and governance (ESG) evaluation of products and services, tracing back through its supply chain. The assessment framework uses a combination of the inclusive wealth index (a metric for measuring the total wealth of a country, including natural, human, social, and produced capital) and environmental and social LCA to assign quantitative values to natural resources. The quantitative values were obtained from years of in-house research and product or services cost component data gathered by the team, providing ESG assessment and scoring of close to 16,000 products and services based on about 3,290 indicators of ESG ranging from human rights, wages, child labour, gender equality, greenhouse gas emissions to consumption of natural resources before the products are supplied in different geographies. The assessment framework is developed as a software tool for the user to visualise a product’s supply chain map. It could trace back not only direct suppliers but also secondary, tertiary and upstream suppliers to identify hot spots or high-risk areas for ESG indicators, allowing the user to prioritise and plan for the remediation actions. In addition, users may benchmark their level of achievement in ESG indicators with the industry average, identify their company's strengths and areas of improvements. The startup team is seeking to partner corporations and municipalities that requires supply chain ESG assessment and natural capital evaluation. The startup team is also opened to explore co-development collaborations, e.g., to customise the platform for different industries.

As the world continues to make strides in artificial intelligence (AI), the need for transparency in the field intensifies. Clear and understandable explanations for the predictions of AI models not only enhances user confidence but also enables effective decision-making. Such explanations are especially crucial in sectors like healthcare where predictions can have significant and sometimes life-changing consequences. A prime example is the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases based on heart murmurs, where an incorrect or misunderstood diagnosis can have severe implications. The technology, DiagramNet, is designed to offer human-like intuitive explanations for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases from heart sounds. It leverages the human  reasoning processes of abduction and deduction to generate hypotheses of what diseases could have caused the specific heart sound, and to evaluate the hypotheses based on rules.