TECHINNOVATION TECH OFFERS

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have developed new expectations for indoor air quality. It is no longer just about ventilation and purification, but also about providing clean and safe air for a healthier environment. Traditional UVC technology (254 nm) has been widely used in HVAC systems and air purifiers to disinfect airborne pathogens. To ensure its effectiveness, sufficient contact time is required, hence it is often used in unoccupied spaces due to safety concerns.  This solution utilises human-safe 222 nm far-UVC technology which has been shown to be able to effectively inactivate airborne pathogens while maintaining safety since it does not penetrate the outer layer of human skin or eyes. This allows for continuous disinfection of air in occupied spaces. By integrating 222 nm far-UVC technology into HVAC system, including air purification, air monitoring and IoT management platforms, the company offers a complete solution for clean and safe air. With integrated capabilities in both R&D and manufacturing, the company can provide tailor-made solutions for different industry applications. They are seeking collaborations with real estate developers, chain restaurant operators and pathogenic air sampling technology experts to further develop and commercialise this solution.

Immune cell activation and expansion for cell therapy is a strictly regulated process. It demands costly and labour-intensive optimization of cell culture conditions. Major limitations of these processes are cell quality and results consistency. Large amounts of expenses were spent on culture conditions, cell characterizations and quality control (QC) with differing culture protocols and recipes in growing CAR-T cells. This technology has established a biomaterial-based artificial cell platform to replace plastic beads, significantly improving cell stimulation performance. The artificial cells uses polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins to mimic live cells, meeting the demand for reproducibility and standardization while being 100% degradable. To address this gap, a modular, all-signals-in-one microbead-based platform has been developed for the next-generation cell therapy R&D and translation. In this delivery platform design, the modular feature allows rapid ‘plug-and-use’ of multiple surface and soluble signals to grow T-cells ex vivo without the need for extensive setup and integration of culture protocols. This platform aims to provide a seamless and straightforward cell culture experience for the industrial and academic research users to discover new types and applications of immune cell therapy. Additionally, the all-signals-in-one synthetic platform mimics the natural antigen presenting cells to activate and expand T-cells on dish, allowing cell manufacturers to ‘mix-and-grow’ immune cells with reduced effort or technical expertise. This aims to improve the cost-effectiveness and scalability of cell therapy manufacturing. The technology provider is seeking collaborations with cell therapy CDMOs/CMOs in licensing and various R&D developments.

This technology focuses on the production of high-quality graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), designed for various industrial applications. Graphene oxide demonstrates superior electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, making it an ideal candidate for industries such as electronics, energy storage, coatings, and composites. By reducing GO to rGO, its conductive properties can be enhanced. With the rising demand for advanced nanomaterials that enhance performance while supporting sustainable manufacturing practices, this technology ensures consistent quality and cost-effectiveness of GO and rGO for commercial use. The technology owner is seeking for joint R&D collaborations with industrial manufacturers and companies focused on sustainable materials innovation. Target partners include those in electronics, energy, and materials science sectors, interested in integrating graphene oxide into their new product development pipeline.

Fungal-like Adhesive Materials (FLAM) represent an innovative family of materials inspired by the cell walls of fungus-like oomycetes. FLAMs are engineered by organizing the two most abundant and widely available natural molecules in their native configuration, resulting in a material that is lightweight, durable, and highly cost-effective. This groundbreaking composite is fully biodegradable, eliminating the need for organic solvents or synthetic materials, making it an eco-friendly alternative. FLAM can be locally produced as part of natural ecological cycles, contributing to sustainable manufacturing and ensuring long-term resource security for industries. In addition to its sustainability benefits, FLAM’s versatility allows it to be easily molded or processed with traditional manufacturing techniques, opening the door to a wide range of applications across various industries. This technology has been locally produced in Singapore as a by-product of waste management. The technology owner is looking for collaboration in test-bedding. FLAM can replace the use of plastic and wood in many applications. 

The leather industry, long dependent on livestock farming, is facing growing criticism for its significant environmental impact. Leather production contributes to deforestation, high water consumption, and the release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—from livestock farming. Additionally, the tanning and dyeing processes generate hazardous waste and chemicals, leading to air and water pollution. While synthetic leather offers an animal-free alternative, it relies heavily on petroleum-based plastics like polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which contribute to microplastic pollution and rely on finite fossil fuel resources. Meanwhile, large quantities of agricultural waste, such as cocoa shells, mangosteen peels, and durian fibers, often end up in landfills, where they release methane as they decompose, further exacerbating environmental concerns. This technology transforms agricultural waste into a sustainable, plant-based leather alternative that addresses both environmental sustainability and the rising demand for animal-free products. By utilizing discarded cocoa shells, along with mangosteen peels and durian fibers, it offers several benefits. The natural fibers from durian provide antibacterial properties, making it ideal for products like shoes, bags, and jackets prone to bacterial buildup. Additionally, the production process emits fewer greenhouse gases, consumes less water, and repurposes agricultural waste, aligning with circular economy principles. This eco-friendly material is biodegradable and designed for recycling, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional and synthetic leathers. The technology owner is looking for collaborations with textile/furniture companies that focuses on sustainability. 

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a key antioxidant enzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress by catalysing the conversion of superoxide radicals into less harmful molecules like oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. These radicals are produced during normal cellular metabolism but can cause significant damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids if not neutralised. SOD helps maintain cellular integrity by reducing this damage, supporting overall health and longevity. Given its role in protecting cell damage, SOD has been utilised in skincare products, cosmeceuticals, dietary supplements, medical and therapeutic products as well as functional foods. Current methods to produce SOD include natural extraction from plants, microbial fermentation and recombinant DNA technology. However, challenges such as low yield, variation in quality and concentration, high costs and regulatory issues still remain. The technology owner uses specific strains of microorganism and advanced biotechnology processes to produce SOD at high yields via fermentation in a sustainable and efficient manner. The enzyme is then extracted and concentrated during downstream processing. This technology could ensure a consistent and scalable supply of SOD for commercial use. The company is seeking collaborations with skincare brands and cosmetic manufacturers interested in co-developing or licensing the technology for mass-market production and distribution.

Liver Fluke Infection (Opisthorchis viverrine) caused by the ingestion of raw or uncooked fish containing parasitic worms is a significant health problem in several countries, especially Southeast Asia. This infection while not deadly, can cause acute gastro-hepatic inflammation and long-term infection leading to carcinogenesis of an aggressive bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma-CCA) if left undiagnosed and untreated. The lifespan of the human liver fluke ranges from 9 to 13.5 years. Hence, early diagnosis of O. viverrini infection is valuable in preventing the infection from worsening and causing complications. Current diagnostic method uses stool examination (restricted by low parasite egg numbers in the specimen), imaging tests of liver and blood tests for antibodies. Cysteine protease is a group of protease enzymes characterized in numerous infectious pathogens. This technology has discovered a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody target against cathepsin F of O. viverrini (OvCatF) by using phage display technologies. Cathepsin F is an enzyme with a half-life that is highly released during the infection, detecting this protein could reflect the current infection. This novel scFv antibody holds great potential in the field of parasitology and infectious diseases, and the characterization of their immunological properties could pave the way for the development of an effective rapid diagnostic kit in the future. The technology owner is seeking for medical device companies to develop this potential target as a practical diagnostic procedure for O. viverrini infection in humans in the future.

The rise in plastic pollution globally is driving a critical need for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic in packaging. Traditional plastic-based packaging materials contribute significantly to environmental degradation, as they are non-biodegradable and create long-lasting waste. This technology offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution through a fully biodegradable coating for paper packaging. The coating enhances the barrier properties of paper, enabling it to resist water, grease, and oxygen, making it an ideal replacement for single-use plastic in applications such as packaging and food containers. Not only does the coating maintain recyclability and biodegradability, but it is also compatible with existing manufacturing equipment and can be applied either before or after printing, minimising disruption to current production processes. The technology owner is interested to work on joint R&D opportunities with packaging companies and businesses focused on sustainable solutions for consumer goods.

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving the miniaturization, integration, and diversification of electronic devices. Till date the fabrication of electronics parts is largely based on traditional methods which does not lead themselves well to the construction of 3D electronic structures. Printed electronics are largely based on non-functional printing technologies which are optimised for 2D printing. Despite the potential, current 3D printing technologies face challenges in material compatibility, resolution, and complexity, making it difficult to create intricate, multi-material electronic devices. A novel approach using selective metal deposition (electroless deposition) combined with projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL) 3D printing offers a solution to address many of the challenges faced. This technology allows the creation of complex metal-plastic hybrid microstructures, potentially extending to other material combinations such as ceramic-metal, glass-metal, and semiconductor-metal hybrids, advancing the capabilities of 3D printed electronics. Besides, the 3D fabrication technique, the other core aspect of the solution included the know-how to formulate the special precursor materials that will allow metallic portions to be printed in-situ. These will combine to form hybrid structures that are functional thereby making it possible to create functional 3D parts. The technology owner is seeking partners with complex applications that involved functional 3D parts to co-create and develop the new applications with them using this technology.