Innovation Insights

Bringing clean water to the masses with open innovation  The sharing and co-development of synergistic water purification techniques will help secure the world's supply of clean, drinkable water, says Bashir Ahmad, CEO of Liquinex Group.   Although nearly 70 percent of the Earth is covered in water, only a small fraction of it is drinkable, and worldwide, some 2.1 billion...

Manufacturing gets an update  From gripping to welding and augmented 3D printing, these three TechOffers could increase the precision and productivity of factories and assembly lines.   Machines are increasingly being used on the manufacturing floor to carry out picking and placing, integrating and assembling parts and components in a tightly orchestrated dance. But with miniaturisation and increasing complexity of...

The launch of SPECS and CoolestSG  Two consortia have been officially launched to spearhead efforts in commercialising technology for smarter energy and thermal management.      On the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Singapore pledged to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 36 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Being a tropical megacity, the island...

Open innovation is not just skin deep  By partnering with Singapore's National Skin Centre, Good Pharma Dermatology was able to quickly bring an itch-reducing moisturiser to the market.  Not everyone is blessed with flawless skin. For those suffering from dermatological conditions, itch is a common symptom which take a toll on quality of life and even result in a loss...

Functionalising surfaces with novel materials  There's no sugar coating it - dirty walls and windows are unsightly. These three TechOffers could help keep buildings spick and span.    The gecko’s foot is often referenced as an inspiration for self-cleaning materials. Minute structures on the reptile’s soles and toes allow it to adhere to vertical surfaces, but unlike tape that has...

The barriers to open innovation are lower than you think  Here are five common misconceptions associated with open innovation and why they are untrue.   Coined by American organisational theorist Henry Chesbrough in 2003, the term ‘open innovation’ (OI) became a rallying call for enterprises to look beyond their four walls for ideas and expertise. Yet, sixteen years on, some...