TECH OFFERS

Indoor vertical farming is pivotal for addressing future food challenges, particularly in arable land-scarce countries. One common method is hydroponics, which uses mineral and nutrient solutions in a water-based platform to grow crops. To optimize the crop yield and to reduce the man work hours required, it is important to automate crop health monitoring and replenishing of specific nutrients. Currently, these tasks are labour-intensive and subjective. While some imaging techniques exist for detecting plant stress and chlorophyll monitoring, a complete system covering all aspects is still lacking. For nutrient analysis, tools like pH and electroconductivity meters can only detect a change in the nutrient composition to start a feedback loop but are unable to determine the specific nutrient component or deficiency level. This technology is a comprehensive quantitative monitoring system integrating imaging spectroscopy and laser-based elemental spectroscopy to quickly identify the crop growth stages, alert crop stresses (tested on several lettuce species) and quantify specific nutrient levels in the nutrient supply. This allows for reduced man work hours and improvement of crop yield. Complete crop health monitoring through combined leaf, root, and nutrient supply monitoring, with automated replenishment Real-time in-situ component wise nutrient monitoring capability with high sensitivity (in ppb levels) enabling automated selective nutrient replenishing Non-invasive and non-contact, no sample preparation required Modular sub-systems allowing for easy integration with existing systems Machine learning capability for improved spectral library creation, enabling rapid and efficient monitoring   Applications validated at lab scale: Automated hydroponic crop monitoring in large indoor agricultural farms Inline, real-time nutrient monitoring of nutrient solutions Other applications tested at experimental POC scale and shown to be more rapid and accurate than existing methods: Real-time water quality monitoring Post-harvest quality determination of crops Trace elemental detection in body fluid   Offers full-spectrum monitrong for both crop health and nutrient supply, covering both leaf and root systems Enables automated, real-time nutrient replenishment with precise, component-wise monitoring at ppb sensitivity levels Features modular subsystems and easy integration with existing setups, supported by specific spectral libraries and machine learning for efficient monitoring and classification   Hydroponics, Nutrient Monitoring, Non-destructive Monitoring, Urban Farming, Indoor Farming, Spectroscopy, Imaging Life Sciences, Agriculture & Aquaculture, Foods, Quality & Safety, Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sensor, Network, Monitoring & Quality Control Systems

Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for health, yet millions of people worldwide still lack this necessity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2 billion people globally use drinking water sources contaminated with feces, leading to severe health consequences. Unsafe water, along with inadequate sanitation and hygiene, is estimated to cause 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year. Water purification technologies face significant challenges, especially in decentralized systems lacking the efficiencies of large-scale operations. They often have a substantial carbon footprint due to energy-intensive processes and reliance on chemicals. Existing portable reactors primarily use filtration and struggle to remove recalcitrant pollutants or organic compounds from pharmaceuticals, limiting their effectiveness in producing safe drinking water. Developed by a research tema, this technology effectively addresses the above challenges by employing an electrochemical method that generates strong oxidizing agents to degrade recalcitrant pollutants that conventional portable reactors cannot remove via filtration. By harnessing solar energy, this chemical-free purification approach is not only environmentally friendly but also perfectly suited for deployment in remote areas, developing countries, and disaster-stricken zones where traditional water treatment infrastructure is lacking. The technology owner is looking for collaborations with local SMEs to co-develop scaled systems and deploy it through disaster relief organizations, government agencies and non-profit organizations in selected developing countries. Power Source: Solar-powered, enabling operation in off-grid and remote areas, resulting in reduction of operational costs and ensures continuous, sustainable water purification Electrochemical Reactor: Anode: Mixed Metal Oxide (MMO) anode which generates strong oxidizing agents to degrade certain recalcitrant pollutants Cathode: Activated Carbon, enhancing contaminant removal through absorption and electrochemical processes Chemical-Free Operation: Eliminating the need for chemicals, making it more sustainable, safer and more cost effective Contaminant Removal: Organic Contaminants: The technology can effectively remove organic pollutants, with 65% of an initial 50 ppm phenol concentration being removed within 60 minutes proven in a prototype system. Coliform Reduction: Electrochemical treatment rapidly reduces coliform levels to meet water reuse guidelines of less than 10 CFU/100 mL in just 3 minutes. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅): The system is capable of bringing BOD₅ levels within guideline standards in as little as 15 minutes. Water Treatment: Provides clean water in areas without conventional water treatment infrastructure  Humanitarian Aid: Supports disaster relief and NGOs in emergencies like natural disasters and refugee camps. Rural Development: Serves remote and rural areas, especially in developing countries without centralize facilities. Mobile units: Portable purification for troops in harsh or remote environments, ideal for off-grid communities, emergency preparedness and mobile operations needing reliable water purification. Sustainable Power Source: Solar-powered, reducing reliance on external energy sources and ensuring operation in off- grid locations Chemical-Free Operation: utilizes electrochemical methods, environmentally friendly Effective Contaminant Removal: Capable of degrading recalcitrant pollutants and organic compounds Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sanitisation

In the construction sector, manual inspections have traditionally been the primary method for detecting water seepage surface defects, a mandatory requirement for construction projects. However, these inspections often suffer from the inherent subjectivity of human judgment, leading to potential inconsistencies and inaccuracies. To overcome these limitations, a handheld water seepage detection system was developed and rigorously tested in collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). This innovative system is designed as a portable, intelligent alternative to traditional methods, aiming to enhance the objectivity and reliability of water seepage detection. The system utilizes advanced Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) thermal sensing technology to accurately detect temperature variations indicative of water seepage. Unlike manual inspections, which can be prone to error, this system offers precise differentiation between genuine water seepage defects and common artifacts found on construction sites, such as glue and paint. By minimizing false alarms, it provides a more dependable and efficient approach to identifying and addressing water-related issues. This advancement not only improves the accuracy of inspections but also ensures that potential water damage is detected early, reducing the risk of costly repairs and enhancing the overall integrity of construction projects.     1. The system uses a high-resolution OEM 640 x 512 Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) thermal camera, accurately capturing subtle temperature variations, ideal for detecting water seepage. 2. An integrated HD RGB camera with an Infrared (IR) illuminator enables clear imaging in both normal and low-light conditions. This dual-sensor setup enhances inspection reliability by providing both thermal and visible-light data. 3. The system runs on a 10AH Lithium Polymer (LiPO) battery, offering long-lasting power for extended use. The battery is easily removable, allowing for quick replacement and minimizing downtime during field inspections. 4. Featuring an ARM-based single-board computer with 32GB SSD storage and 8GB DDR RAM, the system provides robust data processing. A 5-inch touch screen offers a user-friendly interface for real-time data management and image viewing. 5. The system includes Application Software with advanced image processing algorithms to enhance detection accuracy by reducing noise and emphasizing temperature contrasts.   The smart imaging-based water seepage detection system is highly effective for detecting water seepage in both completed and under-construction buildings, especially in areas with restricted access. It is particularly valuable for enclosed spaces, such as private residential buildings with hidden plumbing behind false panels, where traditional water tightness tests are less comprehensive due to accessibility limitations. The technology owner is seeking collaboration with companies in the building & construction and environmental services industries. An alternative technology to manual water seepage monitoring. Utilizes advanced LWIR thermal imaging and algorithms to precisely detect true water seepage, minimizing false positives. Enables non-invasive inspections, reducing the need for destructive testing and enhancing worker safety. Greater Efficiency by offering real-time data processing with immediate results, reducing inspection time. Portable design with easily replaceable battery allows for continuous use, optimizing field operations and increase productivity Able to detect water on surfaces of concrete and plastic material at distance of up to 3m. This is extremely helpful when the presence of water is unable to be verified by visual or touch. Equipped with automatic data logging function for future reference and traceability. Building Construction Authority, Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR), Water Seepage Infocomm, Video/Image Processing, Manufacturing, Surface Finishing & Modification, Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sensor, Network, Monitoring & Quality Control Systems

Maintaining clean air on ships is crucial for the health and well-being of passengers and crew, as well as for the proper functioning of sensitive equipment. Due to the structural specificity of ships and higher reliance on mechanical air conditioning than natural ventilation, addressing indoor air quality issues is particularly important. Advanced air purification solutions would be able to effectively address a range of airborne contaminants, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological pollutants, ensuring a safer and more pleasant environment on board. A Korean startup has developed an air sterilisation and purification system tailored specifically to the challenges of maritime environments that excels in delivering clean, safe, and compliant air quality solutions. They enhance health and safety, optimise operational efficiency, and contribute to a better overall experience for passengers and crew, while also meeting regulatory requirements and supporting environmental sustainability. The company is seeking collaborators from the maritime and built environment sectors, as well as HVAC and IoT companies, to expand their applications and explore integration of their technologies into existing HVAC systems. The technology consists of the following key features: A seamless three-step purification and sterilisation process using UV-C lamp, carbon filter, and HEPA filter Engineered housing design that increases air’s retention time, providing a wider and denser air distribution compared to a stand-type air purifier Utilises UV-C rays at a wavelength of 254 nm, ideal for disrupting the DNA and RNA of bacteria, without generating ozone Strong sterilisation capability through uniform dispersion of UV-C rays and a direct contact sterilisation method to maximise the effectiveness, achieving up to 99.8% removal of airborne viruses and bacteria Double filters remove up to 96.3% of major hazardous substance, including ammonia, acetic acid, acetaldehyde, toluene and formaldehyde  Can be retrofitted to existing diffusers The solutions have been successfully implemented on various types of ships and can also be applied to buildings, healthcare facilities or public areas on land where large gatherings occur. Potential applications include, but not limited to, the following: At sea: Ships (Existing / New) On land:  Healthcare facilities Educational facilities Commercial real estate Residential real estate Tailored for effective operations under the unique conditions found at sea Engineered housing design for enhanced air distribution and extended exposure time, allowing more thorough sterilisation of airborne particles  Enhanced health and safety contributing to the well-being and safety of passengers and crew Optimised operational efficiency leading to cost savings and improved reliability of critical ship systems Enhanced passenger experience by providing a more comfortable and pleasant on board environment Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sanitisation, Mechanical Systems, Sustainability, Sustainable Living

Pollution in oceans and rivers is a global concern due to contaminants like oil spills and microplastics, which harm biodiversity. In response to marine pollutions, extensive human and technological resources are typically deployed to mitigate the situation, this includes absorbent, oil skimmer machineries, drones or vessels depending on the complexity of required clean-ups, resulting it being costly and time consuming. Designed and developed by a Korea-based startup, the technology proposed herein is a robot deployed onto the water surface to efficiently recovers pollutants autonomously with minimum human intervention. Unlike conventional pollution recovery equipment that uses additional devices connected by hoses, the robot combines the recovery of pollutant, transportation and storage of pollutants into a single robot device that can travel up to 1000 m range. The robot is equipped with a proprietary hydrophilic ratchet-based contaminant recovery technology, which generates a flow that sucks water through the movement of a hydrophilic material and controls the attachment and detachment of contaminants on the surface of the material by capillary force. This proprietary recover technology enables the robot to recover bunker fuel spills including high viscosity low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), low viscosity heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel, as well as microplastics in an efficient manner. The technology owner is seeking to collaborate with companies that provides marine pollution control/recycling service and government agencies to conduct a pilot trial in Singapore, with an option to further co-develop and integrate technologies that enhances the capabilities of the robot, such as identification of marine pollutants. Two solutions were offered: Oil skimming robot: 100 kg remote controlled robot of up to 1000 m operating range. About 1.0 ton of recovered oil/contaminant storage tank and process up to 26.6 kL/h. Capable of unmanned/autonomous/remote operation with minimum supervision. Field demonstration performed in river, harbour, and open sea in Asia and Middle East. Ocean cleaner robot: 45 kg remote controlled robot of up to 1000 m operating range. About 0.2 ton of contaminant storage tank and process up to 2 ton/h. Both solutions work in tandem with an air drone that pins a GPS location where pollutants are found. The information is then relayed to the robot for its autonomous navigation to its target location for its operation. The robots can be deployed for floating pollutants recovery from the surface of the water, such as rivers, beams, dams, and oceans. Pollutants that can be recovered include high viscosity low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), low viscosity heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel, microplastics of 0.001-5 mm, etc. A ratchet-shaped material that enhances the effect of attracting water to hydrophilic porous materials to optimise the recovery of marine pollutants in an autonomous robot. Marine Waste Management, Marine Pollutants, Marine Pollutant Recovery Robot Environment, Clean Air & Water, Mechanical Systems

Leaks in water pipelines are a common problem for utility companies. In the utility sector, the term “real losses” refers to actual physical water leaks that occurs on transmission and distribution mains, leakage and overflow at utility storage tanks and leakage on service connections up to the water meter. These non-revenue water losses cause a significant economic loss even to some of the most well-managed water distribution systems in the world. To manage and reduce water loss, utility companies carry out preventive maintenance, perform active water network monitoring by using noise loggers, smart meters, flow/pressure meters to collect useful data. Another proactive approach is to employ state of the art leak detection and localisation technologies such as acoustic leak detection (hydrophones), accelerometers, or the use of robots/endoscopes. Such approaches often face the challenges of false alarms, inaccurate leak pinpointing, limited exploration range and high cost of long-term monitoring. Developed by a South Korea-based startup, the proposed technology herein relates to an AI-aided exploration robot for underground/buried pipeline diagnosis for leaks, cracks, corrosion, scale, surface damage and other anomalies using image, audio, pH and LiDAR sensor data. Unlike conventional robots, the exploration robot is designed to be relatively small (smallest being 4.4 cm diameter x 11 cm length) to enable direct inspection of the inside of small diameter water pipelines. Designed to complement hydroacoustic technology, the exploration robot also addresses the current challenge of short explorable distance of about 100 m by offering up to 3 km exploration range. The startup is seeking to work with utilities or companies providing services to utilities to perform trial preferably in Singapore and explore long term collaborations in terms of customising solutions to specific applications, as well as technology licensing and revenue sharing through joint development with Singapore-based partners. Consist of two types of tethered exploration rovers: 1) Small robot equipped with image, sound and pH sensors, and 2) Robot equipped with LiDAR equipment. Designed to navigate bends and angles within pipelines, the robot is capable of inspecting water pipes with diameters ranging from 50 mm to 300 mm. Based on the collected data, the system performs AI-aided diagnosis of anomalies of up to 5 classes, i.e., Normal Pipe, Weld, Corrosion, Scale, and Surface Damage, along with a water pipe deterioration score and recommendation for pipe cleaning and/or replacement cycle. Capability to develop 3D maps based on image and other sensor data to enable digital twin-based asset management solution for the water distribution network and facilities. Utilities or public agencies that operates and maintains the water distribution network. Facilities that are close to its useful life: for early warning / prediction of the cleaning and replacement cycle of pipes. Future development for oil and gas pipelines applications. As of 2018, the global water industry generated about $1087.4 billion, accounting for about $600 billion in capital expenditures and operational expenditures for water and sewage-related facilities. Singapore's smart city and infrastructure management market is growing rapidly, and it is expected to reach billions of dollars by 2025. In particular, the water supply and infrastructure management market constitute a significant portion, estimated at several million to tens of millions of dollars annually. The nationwide water leakage rate in Singapore is around 10%, which is a substantial loss for a small city-state. Efficient and accurate pipeline inspection and maintenance powered by AI image analysis and digital twin. Exploration robots equipped with multiple types of sensors including LiDAR to generate 3D maps, with industry leading exploration range of up to 3 km. AI-driven robot inspects water pipelines in real-time, detecting issues such as leaks, corrosion, and blockages without requiring service interruptions, which ensures a continuous water supply and minimises costly manual inspections. Water pipes, Abnormal signs, Exploratory robot, 3D maps, Digital twin Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sensor, Network, Monitoring & Quality Control Systems

Controlling both outdoor and indoor air pollution is crucial for protecting human health and the environment. Outdoor air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, global warming, and environmental degradation. Indoor air pollution can also cause chronic respiratory conditions and other health issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), outdoor air pollution causes approximately 4.2 million premature deaths annually, while indoor air pollution accounts for around 3.8 million premature deaths each year. Traditionally, wet scrubbers are used to reduce air pollution, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting human health. However, they have drawbacks such as scaling, fouling, inefficient pollutant removal, and generating solid waste. These issues lead to frequent maintenance, high operational costs, and environmental pollution. This technology addresses these pain points by utilizing an array of water jets without the need for packing materials. This innovative solution offers more efficient pollutant removal, reduced maintenance, a compact design, and lower energy consumption, effectively solving the problems associated with traditional wet scrubbers. The technology owner is seeking collaborations with companies in the chemical/ pharmaceutical/ steel manufacturing sector for test-bedding and research and development (R&D) projects that require an eco-friendly scrubber. The advanced scrubber technology features 3000 high-efficiency water jets that maximize contact area and ensure even water distribution, eliminating the need for traditional packing materials. This design addresses issues like scaling, fouling, and corrosion, resulting in lower maintenance and operational costs. The system is compact, enhancing space utilization within facilities. It operates with a compressed spray, effectively capturing pollutants through vertical collision and inertial force. Test results demonstrate a significant reduction in pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and acetic acid. Additionally, the technology is energy-efficient, reducing power consumption compared to traditional scrubbers, and supports sustainability goals by minimizing solid waste generation.  This technology has the potential to be applied on these areas, harnessing on its ability to remove pollutants effectively using water as a filter: Chemical Manufacturing: Handles a wide range of chemical emissions effectively, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations Steel and Metal Processing: Captures fine particulate matter and metallic dust, improving air quality Food and Beverage Processing: Improves air quality in processing plants, enhances worker safety, and reduces environmental impact Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Ensures high removal efficiency for specific pollutants such as ammonia and formaldehyde High-Efficiency Water Jets: For maximizing gas-liquid contact, ensuring even water distribution, eliminating issues with uneven waterjet output when compared to traditional systems No Packing Materials: Does not require packing materials, addressing problems like scaling, fouling and corrosion of traditional scrubbers Statistically Proven: 100% reduction in pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde and acetic acid Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sanitisation, Mechanical Systems, Sustainability, Sustainable Living

Unsafe and contaminated food poses significant global health risks, affecting approximately one in ten people worldwide and leading to economic losses of around $110 billion annually in low and middle-income countries due to reduced productivity and medical expenses. This issue also accounts for an annual burden of 33 million disability-adjusted life years and causes about 420,000 premature deaths. Additionally, the escalating use of pesticides in food production to meet the demands of a growing population contributes to approximately 200,000 deaths each year due to toxic exposure, posing severe threats to both human health and the environment.  This technology, Plasma Activated Water (PAW) provides an eco-friendly, chemical-free decontamination technique which eradicates residual chemicals, inhibiting microbial growth in agricultural produce. The technology is highly effective (95% reliability) in breaking down organic compounds, including pesticides, and destroying microbial pathogens on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables, resulting in an extended shelf-life.  PAW eliminates the need for potentially toxic chemicals for washing, minimizes chemical residues, reducing environmental impact and agricultural losses, thereby lowering costs. It effectively degrades pesticides, enhancing food safety while maintaining nutritional quality and sensory qualities.   The technology owner is seeking collaborations with agricultural companies or Institutes of Higher Learning to test-bed their technology.  Plasma Activated Water (PAW) is an innovative technology that harnesses the reactive properties of plasma to enhance the characteristics of water. The process involves generating an electrical discharge in a gaseous environment, creating a plasma rich in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). The use of pin-hole technology allows for precise and controlled plasma generation at the required intensity and location. This technique involves creating a small, focused plasma jet through a pin-hole or narrow aperture, which directs the plasma stream accurately to the target area. This precision ensures effective application, reducing the risk of unintended exposure and increasing treatment efficacy. The focused nature of the plasma jet also minimizes diffusion, resulting in more efficient energy use and lower operational costs. The reactive species interact with the surface of agricultural produce, they effectively deactivate or destroy pathogens, bacteria, and pesticide residues. PAW technology significantly enhances food safety by reducing contaminants in produce by over 50-80%, compared to just 30% with standard water washes.  This technology has the potential to transcend agricultural applications, harnessing its pathogen- and bacteria-destroying capabilities.  Healthcare and Medical Sector: Can be used to irrigate wounds, leveraging its strong antimicrobial properties to clean and disinfect wound sites, promoting faster healing and preventing infections Industrial Wastewater Treatment: To treat industrial wastewater by breaking down pollutants and pathogens, ensuring that the treated water meets environmental regulations  Superior Decontamination Efficiency: Highly Effective: PAW technology significantly reduces contaminants, achieving over 50-80% reduction in pathogens and pesticide residues compared to just 30% with standard water washes. Its decontamination efficiency stands at 95% reliability Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Action: PAW effectively eliminates a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, providing comprehensive protection Eco-Friendly and Chemical-Free: Minimized Chemical Use: Unlike traditional methods that rely heavily on chemical disinfectants, PAW uses plasma to activate water, significantly reducing the need for potentially harmful chemicals Harmless Byproducts: The reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) generated by PAW break down into harmless byproducts, such as water and nitrogen, making it environmentally friendly Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sanitisation, Foods, Quality & Safety, Sustainability, Food Security

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are critical raw materials essential in diverse industries, including automotive catalytic converters, jewelry, glassware, petrochemical refining, electronics, and healthcare sectors like pharmaceuticals and dental implants. Primarily sourced through the mining of PGM ores, they constitute about 70% of the global PGM supply, with South Africa and Russia accounting for 85% of this production. This concentration in supply can lead to price gouging and market monopoly. Recycling PGMs from waste not only mitigates the supply shortfall but also reduces environmental impacts compared to mining. However, conventional recycling methods are energy-intensive, requiring temperatures around 1500°C, and involve costly downstream processing to treat waste. Furthermore, the high processing temperatures result in high-value raw materials being burnt and releasing harmful toxins. The technology owner has developed a novel biorecovery method that incorporates and modifies a series of biochemical and biological processes into a streamlined 3-stage process as opposed to the multi-tiered stages of current conventional methods used in industry. It offers the following advantages over the competition: Energy Efficiency: consumes 6x less energy than traditional methods Cost Effective: 3x cheaper in operation cost High Yield: capable of recovering multiple PGM simultaneously with high yield even from low-grade waste Sustainability: support company decarbonization goals by offering a truly green and sustainable recycling manner for spent catalyst The core process and specifications of the technology are summarised as follows: Statistically-Optimised Ultrasonication: as a key pretreatment step, this sonication method effectively removes all undesirable metals from waste, isolating PGM-rich materials, called the PGM-preconcentrated stream, enhancing the efficiency of subsequent steps. Bioextraction Technique: secondly, utilise a novel and unique bioextraction technique to extract PGMs from waste with high efficiency (i.e., 99% recycling rate per cycle for rhodium (Rh), 92-95% per cycle recycling rate for platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd)). It can be employed at a commercial scale without compromising yield. Bioreduction, Bioaccumulation, and Bioprecipitation: a combination of these improved biological processes are used in the third step to produce PGM into powder form which further undergoes separation and purification to produce high-purity PGM products. This technology is ideal for industries that are interested to recycle their spent catalysts. The potential applications are as follows: Catalyst manufacturers Precious metal recycling companies Electronics and lithium ion battery (LIB) manufacturers Waste management companies Modular design: reduced logistics costs and downtime Lower cost (CAPEX & OPEX) compared to existing technologies Superior recovery rate: even for low-grade wastes  Sustainable and efficient recycling: offer significant step towards decarbonisation in industrial practices Biorecycling, Platinum group metals, Low carbon emission, Decarbonisation, Clean technology, Circular economy Chemicals, Catalysts, Environment, Clean Air & Water, Biological & Chemical Treatment, Waste Management & Recycling, Industrial Waste Management, Sustainability, Circular Economy