TECH OFFERS

Caregivers often need to monitor the whereabouts of People with Intellectual Disabilities (PwIDs), who tend to wander off their usual route because of distractions or stress. Current measures to locate them are manual and time-consuming. Caregivers have to retrace the daily journey taken by the PwIDs and rely on the public to assist them.  This technology offer is a low-cost, reliable tracking and monitoring device, developed to enable caregivers to easily track the current location of the PwIDs. The tracking device uses Global Positioning System (GPS) to obtain location data, whereas the corresponding timestamp (date, time) is obtained from the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network. The resultant timestamped GPS data can be sent to any cloud servers or IoT dashboards via NB-IoT communication. An existing issue with some current NB-IoT tracking system is, the timestamp may not be accurately tagged to the corresponding GPS location data, due to mis-synchronisation. This system is able to overcome such a problem, hence ensuring accuracy of tracking. The tracking device is encased in an access card form factor that can be worn around the neck, making it suitable for PwIDs as it is a familiar form factor to them. The technology owner is able to customise the tracking device; data can be streamed to a 3rd party application server for post-processing and dashboarding. The technology owner is keen to do R&D collaboration with tracking device design companies, and/or end application users such as PwID institutions, including those with existing tracking platforms. Location tracking using GPS technology is common. However, the communication link between the hardware and the internet or cloud servers has been more reliant on WiFi or mobile networks (4G/LTE). Usage of WiFi is not possible outdoors and subscription to mobile networks is not practical as it will cost more just to send a few bytes of data. Thus, leveraging NB-IoT network which is mainly utilised by IoT devices to send a small amount of data is a cheaper option compared to mobile networks such as 4G/LTE. In some NB-IoT dashboards, the platform requires position data and timestamp to be sent as an separate packets to servers, i.e., the position data and corresponding timestamp are sent sequentially rather than in a collective packet. This can result in pointing to an incorrect association of location with corresponding time, due to data loss or data corruption. In this technology offer, the tracking device is able to effectively synchronise time data to position data, thus ensuring the time data and corresponding position data is always reflected accurately. The device developed is specially designed to be encased within an access card holder that can be worn around the neck, hence reducing the number of possessions that needed to be carried by the PwIDs. In certain PwIDs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder, having a familiar form factor also reduces the risk of it being rejected.  •    Logistics -  Outdoor asset tracking (Mobile Assets) •    Healthcare - Tracking of patients with dementia, people with intellectual disabilities  The device also comes with an android mobile application to locate the current position of the tracking device. Caregivers can use this to check on the live location of the PwID, and view the historical route taken by the tracker within a specified interval. Alerts can be sent to caregivers when the tracker exits/enters a preset perimeter (factory warehouse, school, homes, etc.). With NB-IoT communication, there can be other features such as fall detection alert, vital signs alert, etc.   In this technology offer, an effective method is used to synchronise time and location data for GPS/NB-IoT based tracking. This ensures the accuracy of the location tracking, which is critical in applications such as tracking PwIDs. The technology owner is keen to do R&D collaboration with tracking device design companies, and/or end application users such as PwID institutions, including those with existing tracking platforms.   NBIOT, GPS, tracking, tracking system, narrow band Internet of Things Infocomm, Networks & Communications, Internet of Things, Wireless Technology

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) is widely used for blast protection and structural reinforcement of concrete elements in buildings and infrastructure. However, conventional FRP solutions have limitations due to labour-intensive applications such as on-site preparation and resin mixing, inconsistent quality, long curing time, and low productivity. The technology is a glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) roll pre-saturated with a tacky resin system that can be easily applied to structural elements like “double-sided tape”. The resin-infused GFRP can fully cure in natural light within a few hours, strengthening the structure with only a marginal increase in wall thickness. A fire-retarding version of GFRP is also available. The GFRP solution is fast and efficient with minimal on-site tools and less dependent on workmanship skills. The technology is available for IP licensing and collaboration with industrial partners who are interested in adopting the fast-curing GFRP technology in their products and applications. The GFRP is a composite material made of glass fibres and a proprietary polymer resin that hardens only when exposed to light. The unique feature of polymer resin enables GFRP to be packed into a ready-to-use roll of sticky wrap. The technical features and specifications are listed as follows: GFRP can be easily applied like “double-sided tape” without additional equipment GFRP can fully cure in natural light within a few hours, forming a reinforcing shell of 1.2mm per layer Additional layers can be applied to meet the overall strength requirement Factory-controlled quality ensures consistent application compared to conventional methods GFRP has an ultimate tensile strength of 750MPa, a tensile modulus of 35GPa, and a pull-off strength of 5-5.8MPa This technology can be deployed in the building and construction industries. The potential applications are as follows:   Blast protection for critical infrastructure Roof reinforcement of ageing buildings Reinforcement of concrete columns and walls Strengthening of pre-cast members Repair of cracked concrete walls Repair of structures damaged by fire Repair of leaking pipes Fast curing system achieves full strength in 3 hours under suitable conditions Easy application without on-site mixing allows for a cleaner and tidier work site Up to 30% cost savings in time and manpower Factory-controlled quality ensures consistent application The technology is available for IP licensing and collaboration with industrial partners who are interested in adopting the fast-curing GFRP technology in their products and applications. Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer, Structural Strengthening, Blast Protection, Advanced Materials Materials, Composites, Chemicals, Polymers, Sustainability, Sustainable Living

Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, all FDA-approved medications, which act indirectly on the central nervous system to suppress appetite or on the gastrointestinal tract to inhibit fat absorption, suffer from poor effectiveness and side effects. Most of these medications have been withdrawn from the market. Although liposuction performed in clinics can effectively remove targeted subcutaneous fat, it suffers from invasiveness, high costs, associated risks, induction of compensatory increase of visceral fat. Although thermal lipolysis induced by high-power laser energy is a non-invasive way to reduce subcutaneous fat, its effectiveness is limited and it often causes skin burning. Both liposuction and laser lipolysis cannot improve whole-body metabolism. The technology owner has developed a transdermal mild photothermal therapy directly acting on the root of evil, i.e. subcutaneous fat, to induce its ameliorating remodelling (browning, lipolysis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis), based on the injectable hydrogel encapsulated with photothermal agent. Browning refers to the conversion of energy-storage white fats into energy-burning brown fats. Further, combining with pharmaceutical therapy by codelivery of pharmacological agent leads to a strong therapeutic synergy. This method not only ensures high effectiveness and low side effects due to localized and targeted application but also remotely creates significant improvements in whole-body metabolism (e.g., reduction of visceral fat, relief of diabetic symptoms). In addition, this technology is applicable for cosmetic purposes, e.g., body contouring and reduction of double chin. The technology owner is seeking potential biotechnology companies, clinicians, and other partners to clinically translate and commercialize this technology. Possible modes of collaboration include R&D, process, and product development. Photothermal agents and pharmacological agents are encapsulated in biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel which retains the therapeutics to ensure sustained effects. After being injected into subcutaneous fat depots (e.g., belly fat) using an insulin needle or an automated injection device with minimal pain, NIR irradiation at each injection site will be applied for only five minutes using a portable laser source, one to three times a day for several days without the need of another injection. This described procedure (injection + laser treatment) can be applied once or several times. Obvious mass reduction of the treated fat and other beneficial effects on the whole-body should be resulted. In contrast to laser lipolysis, this procedure shall be much more effective, pain free without causing skin burning, and profoundly beneficial. It can be conducted in clinics by professionals or be self-administered at home for long-term care. The primary application area of our technology is for treating obesity and associated metabolic diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetes). This technology can also be used for non-therapeutic or cosmetic purposes, including contouring, sculpting, or slimming one or more regions of the subject’s body for a desirable appearance. To be specific, this technology can locally remove stubborn fat below the chin, or in thigh, abdomen, thorax, flank, upper limb, upper body, lower limb, back, etc.   As highlighted by Mordor Intelligence, the anti-obesity drugs market was valued at about US$ 1,690 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach US$ 4,250 million in 2026, registering a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 15% over the forecast period, 2021-2026. And according to IMARC Group, the global body contouring market reached a value of US$ 7.3 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach US$ 11.1 billion by 2027, exhibiting at a CAGR of 6.9% during 2022-2027. This technology provides an unprecedented solution with high effectiveness and low risks. Non-invasive targeted treatment on subcutaneous fat Drastic reduction of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat Relief of obesity-associated metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes) Low risks and low side-effects High effectiveness Self-administrable Obesity, Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, Transdermal Therapy, Personal Care, Slimming Healthcare, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals & Therapeutics

Singapore is currently only producing 13% of its vegetable consumption. With little farming land available, Singapore relies heavily on imports from other countries. Due to increasing focus on food security, the alternative to solve land scarcity problem is to build greenhouses on concrete rooftop. Although concrete rooftop greenhouse are able to keep pests out, there is a signifcant heating problem which severely inhibits the growth of the vegetables. Therefore, there is a need for a rooftop greenhouse that is able to actively cool itself to avoid such problem. This technology offer is a modular rooftop greenhouse farming system (hydroponics) capable of producing vegetables on concrete roofs to meet the local demand while reducing over-reliance on imports. The design of the greenhouse farming system enables cooling and does not heat up, thus allowing the growth of pest-free vegetables. The system is approximately the size of a typical carpark lot (2.5 x 5 m). The production rate is 30 kg per month (2.5 x 5 m size) and requires minimal human intervention. The technology offer comprises both the farming system and its operation know-how. The modular rooftop greenhouse farming system can be set-up within 3 days or scaled-up when required with guaranteed vegetable growth. The break-even cost of one greenhouse is about 3 years. The technology owner is seeking to out-license their technology. This technology offer is a temperature regulated and modular farming system (hydroponics) for rooftop farming. The features and specifications are as follows: Modular and scalable Flexible sizes (as small as 2.5 x 5 m) 30 kg/month (2.5 x 5 m size) Active cooling design (20% reduction in temperature) Passive system operation (minimal manpower) Anti-pest  Quick setup (3 days) Applicable for wide range of crops The main application for this technology is for those that are interested in rooftop farming. The potential applications are: Conversion of barren and unused concrete space into temporary/permanent arable land (eg. Carpark rooftops, schools, apartments, factories and floating platforms etc.) Can be applied to high-value crops Minimal human intervention is needed as the modular greenhouse farming system encompasses Internet of Thing (IoT) and automation Ability to scale-up immediately greenhouse, vegetable, urban farming, rooftop farming, bak choy, deep water culture hydroponics system, hydroponics, pesticide-free, farming IoT, farming automation Life Sciences, Agriculture & Aquaculture, Sustainability, Food Security

Different plant species have different nutrient requirements. The current practice of urban farming uses a generic hydroponic nutrient solution that is suitable to most plant types, and a crude sensing system that only measures total ion content in the solution. This approach often results in nutrients deficiency and/or overloading and hence requires consistently monitoring. Overloading of nutrients not only increases the input costs, it also results in greater quantities of contamination in effluent to be disposed after harvest.  A targeted hydroponic nutrient solution reduces the need to periodically adjust the nutrient. The technology provider has studied and formulated different nutrient recipes that had shown improved yield compared to commercial products. This ensures the best growth for each crop type. It also reduces common problem stemming from imbalanced nutrient, e.g. leaf chlorosis due to nutrient deficiency. All these translate to a better yield and a more marketable produce for the farmers. Formulations developed include Mizuna, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard, Kalian, and Caixin. The technology provider is seeking for licensing partners from the agriculture industry. The common practice of urban farming is to discard the spent nutrient solution after a few cycles of plant growth. A targeted hydroponics nutrient solution reduces the frequency needed to periodically adjust the nutrient. The technology provider has formulated the nutrient formulation that has considered the rate of nutrient uptake by the desired plant, the nutrient’s ratio and its availability in the solution. The formulation is specific to individual crop types and ensures the best growth for each crop type, e.g. lettuce or kale.  Indoor hydroponics farmers  Fertiliser / chemical production company may wish to market this as solution to farmers or to produce as off-the-shelf products for mass market consumer Agriscience company may package this as a solution to downstream clients   Increases yield (up to 20%) Reduces the manpower needed to monitor the nutrients intake of the plant More resource-efficient with lesser nutrient adjustment Reduces common problems stemming from imbalanced nutrients Sustainable, eco-friendly solution that can potentially lead to zero-wastage Better nutrition for the consumer nutrients solution, plant growth, crop optimisation, plant nutrients, nutrients recipes, nutrients formulations, kale, caixin, mizuna, kailan, mustard, lettuce Life Sciences, Agriculture & Aquaculture, Waste Management & Recycling, Food & Agriculture Waste Management, Sustainability, Food Security

The presence of heavy metals in food or feed powders involves contamination of the food chain and potential harm to public health, as such, rapid detection is a time-critical issue. The uncertainty about food safety caused by the possible presence of heavy metals is of concern to consumers and regulatory authorities and this is typically addressed by increasing the testing frequency of food or feed samples. However, existing testing methods are often time-consuming and require highly skilled laboratory personnel to perform the testing. This technology employs spectroscopic imaging methods and machine learning techiniques to rapidly detect heavy metals in food or feed samples. The machine learning model can perform a multi-class differentiation of the various heavy metals based on spectroscopic measurements. It is also able to predict the concentration of heavy metals present in food or feed powders using spectroscopic measurements. Minimal sample preparation is required for this method, allowing for the rapid screening of food or feed powder samples. The technology owner is interested in collaboration with companies working with food powders, with an interest in heavy metal content within food powders.    The features and specifications of this rapid screening technology include: Spectroscopic methods to collect unique spectral measurements from samples based on their chemical compositions Heavy metal classification between cadmium and lead Generation of datasets from spectral measurements to create predictive model to identify heavy metal presence and predict concentration levels Predictive model is trained on spectral measurements for increased accuracy 95% accuracy in heavy metal detection, with trace concentration detection of as low as 4ppm This technology is further customisable to include other classes of heavy metals e.g. mercury, and to include other food types e.g. seafood, meats etc. Detection and measurement of heavy metal species in food/feed powder products such as: Insect powders Animal feeds Milk powders Protein supplement powders Plant-based nutritional supplements Rapid detection of heavy metal species with minimal sample preparation Screening of large amounts of food or feed powder samples within a short period of time Model performance and prediction results are comparable to industry accepted method to measure heavy metal content  Rapid screening, heavy metals, food powders, food safety Infocomm, Video/Image Analysis & Computer Vision, Big Data, Data Analytics, Data Mining & Data Visualisation, Foods, Quality & Safety, Processes

The latest Singapore National Population Health Survey has reported a concerning diabetes trend. From 2019-2020, 9.5% of the adults had diabetes, slightly dropping to 8.5% from 2021-2022. About 1 in 12 (8.5%) of residents aged 18 to 74 were diagnosed, with an age-standardised prevalence of 6.8% after accounting for population ageing. Among the diabetes patients, close to 1 in every 5 (18.8%) had undiagnosed diabetes, and 61.3% did not meet glucose control targets. Prediabetes is also prevalent, with 35% progressing to type 2 diabetes within eight years without lifestyle changes. Untreated Type 2 diabetes can lead to severe health issues. Tackling this challenge requires a holistic approach, focusing on awareness, early diagnosis, and lifestyle adjustments for diabetes and prediabetes. Recognising the need for innovation to address this, the technology owner develops a cost-effective and non-invasive AI-powered solution, Blood Glucose Evaluation And Monitoring (BGEM), that detects glucose dysregulation in individuals to monitor and evaluate diabetic risks. BGEM allows users to track their blood glucose levels regularly, identify any adverse trends and patterns, and adopt early intervention and lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. Clinically validated in 2022, with a research paper published in October 2023, the technology is open for licensing to senior care/home care providers, telehealth platforms, health wearables companies, and more. The BGEM technology is an end-to-end managed AI platform that leverages Photoplethysmography (PPG) enabled wearable sensors to monitor various heart rate variability (HRV) features associated with blood glucose fluctuation. The solution comprises the following features: Optimised and validated AI algorithm Mobile Demo App Including UI/UX design guideline User-friendly visualisations SaaS Scalability Security API Integration The BGEM technology offers a cost-effective, non-invasive approach to predicting an individual's diabetes risk. The applications include: Population Health Perspective: The technology leverages the high growth rate of smart wearables and hearables, presenting an opportunity to identify undiagnosed diabetes individuals within the population. Preventive Health Monitoring: With the ability to monitor blood glucose changes regularly at minimal cost, the technology empowers high-risk users to adopt a healthier lifestyle and, therefore, prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. Diabetes around the world in 2021: 537 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes, 1 in 10. This number is predicted to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Over 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes is responsible for 6.7 million deaths in 2021 - 1 every 5 seconds. Diabetes caused at least USD 966 billion dollars in health expenditure – a 316% increase over the last 15 years. 541 million adults have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), which places them at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Overview of the wearable technology market: The market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 12.5% between 2023 to 2030. Estimated to be worth USD 55.5 billion in 2022, with a projected revenue of USD 142.4 billion by 2030. Current blood glucose monitoring technologies either require finger pricking for blood extraction or the insertion of sensors into the skin and discomfort through wearing patches for extended periods. Instead, the technology uses external sensors and algorithms to detect and predict diabetes risk. No object needs to be inserted into the user's body or continuously worn throughout the day, resulting in minimal pain and discomfort. Additionally, the only equipment required for testing is the wearable device. No additional disposable equipment needles or test strips are needed, which makes blood glucose monitoring much more convenient and cost-effective than other "State-of-the-Art" solutions. The Unique Value Proposition of BGEM include: Market-ready: It is a market-ready non-invasive diabetes risk detection and prediction AI solution that leverages consumer-grade wearables to detect blood glucose dysregulation. Performance: Demonstrates outstanding prediction and detection capabilities. Cloud-based: Operates on a cloud-based platform for seamless integration. Third-party compatibility: Easily implemented with third-party devices and apps. Sustainability: Reduction in bio-medical waste such as needles, test strips etc User-friendly: Non-invasive, convenient and allows frequent measurement. Non-invasive measurement, blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, preventive healthcare, AI, ML, Wearables, PPG, Blood Glucose Monitoring, Diabetes Monitoring, Diabetes Evaluation, Non-Invasive Diabetes Monitoring, Diabetic Risk Assessment Infocomm, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare, Diagnostics

In Singapore, more than 30,000kg of okara are generated from soya milk and tofu production. Due to the high amount of insoluble dietary fiber and a unique, poignant smell of okara, it is often discarded as a waste product. Despite okara's low palatability, it is rich in nutrients. Therefore, the technology owner has developed a cost-effective formulation to include okara in feed for abalone. The formulation can potentially be adapted and customised for other aquatic species. The technology owner is seeking potential partners to license and commercialise the technology. The technology allows for an alternative nutrient source for animal feed allowing for the sustainability of food supply and reduction of food waste. The formulation consists of a cost-effective plant-based functional ingredient, lowering the costs of feed for aquaculture farms. The nutritional composition can be tailored for different species to increase growth rates and survivability. Okara is used as a cost-effective feed for high-value abalone, a commonly cultured species of mollusc. Okara-based feed results in the beautiful purple colouration of the shell and increased growth and survivability of abalone. In comparison, the okara-based feed costs ~30% less than commercial feed used in the industry. There is potential for okara to be included in feed for other aquatic species such as shrimp and fish. The success of this method will valorise okara, transferring them into a nutrient-dense aquatic feed while promoting a more environmentally sustainable food production chain.       okara, aquatic feed Foods, Ingredients

Most existing training applications offer good programmes for guiding users to achieve individual fitness goals, some even come with guided video workouts led by professional trainers. However, such applications lack or have limited capability to assess whether the correct posture is maintained during exercise - poor posture can reduce exercise effectiveness and may even cause injury, e.g. arched back during push-ups. This solution is a synergistic combination of video/image processing, human pose recognition, and machine learning technologies to deliver a solution that addresses the twin challenges of accurate count and correct execution of exercises in an automated manner, without having to wear any additional hardware/sensors. The software-only solution is able to advise users on the correct execution of repetitive movement sequences, e.g. sit-ups, and push-ups, and is deployable on a wide range of affordable camera-enabled hardware devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, and it can be easily integrated into existing applications to enhance functionality. It is applicable to the sports and healthcare industry to help users perform exercises correctly and effectively in an unencumbered manner. This software-only solution is able to identify the correct or incorrect execution of repetitive movement sequences using camera inputs from devices such as mobile phones, tablets, or laptops. The solution can be deployed on any Python and JavaScript-capable platform; providing flexibility for deployment across a range of devices and operating systems, including web browsers. Video/Image Processing Pre-processing of video frames as inputs for Human Pose Estimation and Machine Learning Built-in algorithm used to assess real-time movement direction, i.e., up, down, right and left, thereby providing inputs for a more accurate count Human Pose Estimation Based on BlazePose, OpenCV and TensorFlow for real-time tracking of up to 32 human pose keypoints, e.g. shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, etc Measurement of angles between pose keypoints as input parameters to determine correct posture, e.g. is the user's back straight, are the knees bent Enhances original image from camera with accentuated pose keypoints and connections between keypoints, i.e., stickman diagram, used as input AI classification to determine correct posture. Machine Learning Train and test AI models using human subject video footage for correct and automatic classification of exercises AI models classify exercise based on angles and distance of pose landmarks and enhanced images with accentuated pose landmarks and connections between landmarks   Primarily for fitness and healthcare (rehabilitation) industries - can also be applied for any activity that requires assessment of posture Repetitive exercise-specific counting e.g. push-up, sit-up, additional exercises can be included, requiring specific customisation Posture assessment and analysis of the movement of human subjects - personalised calibration to initial posture can be explored  Enables intelligent coaching functionality in fitness/healthcare applications to promote healthy or active living Enables real-time posture assessment and monitoring Does not require additional body-worn sensors or wearables; simply requires a camera-enabled mobile device Provides value added-service to an existing healthcare/fitness application to help end-users perform exercises correctly and effectively in an unencumbered manner  Provides remote assessment of exercise without any over-reliance on the expertise of a professional coach The technology partner is looking for test-bedding opportunities in the fitness and rehabilitation industries, which would involve studying specific exercises individually. Additionally, the technology owner is looking for co-development with companies that have adjacent use for this posture assessment software, e.g. heavy load lifting, combining the software with additional body-worn sensors to detect uneven weight distribution on the workman's back. Human Pose Estimation, OpenCV, Tensorflow, Dense Optical Flow, Sports and Leisure, Rehabiliation Infocomm, Video/Image Analysis & Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Personal Care, Wellness & Spa, Data Processing