ETPL by A-Star Research

ETPL was the commercialisation arm of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), supporting it in transforming the economy by driving innovation and commercialising its research outcomes.

They aim to be the one-stop co-innovation partner of choice to grow businesses in Singapore and beyond through translating inventions and intellectual capital into marketable products, processes and services.

The A*STAR teams of technology transfer and commercialisation professionals harness new technologies, increase the value of intellectual property and incubate cutting-edge business ventures to create commercial impact.
They pride themselves on being people and enterprise oriented, with insights and results that place us with world-class technology transfer organizations globally. Together with industry leaders, mentors, catalysts and the A*STAR research community, they work to build a cohesive ecosystem for Innovation and Enterprise.
A*STAR provides the ideal environment to push the frontiers of science and engage in world-class research that will benefit the Singapore economy and society at large. Scientists can exploit a world-class research infrastructure at Biopolis and Fusionopolis, the twin biomedical sciences and physical sciences & engineering research hubs at one-north that provide a conducive environment in which to live, work, play and learn.
Each of A*STAR’s research units has a particular research focus geared towards producing economic outcomes for Singapore. They are supported by the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), which chart the research directions of A*STAR and spearhead it for success.
The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) continues to build up considerable strength in six key research areas, namely:
    • molecular, cellular and developmental biology
    • cancer genetics
    • stem cells and regenerative medicine
    • immunology and infectious disease
    • metabolic medicine
    • biomedical engineering
The BMRC research units have also established a number of internationally-competitive technological platforms which help scientists to advance their research. The core technological platforms include genomics and proteomics, structural biology, bioinformatics and bioimaging.
Innovation in the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) is supported by an assembly of capabilities that include:
    • Computational and Device Technologies
    • Materials and Chemistry
    • Mechatronics & Automation
    • Manufacturing Technologies
    • Information, Communications, Media
    • Metrology
Furthermore, while Chemistry has always been a critical enabler for Biomedical Science, SERC has begun to extend physics and engineering principles and methodology to the biomedical sciences, thus creating new capabilities in Bio-Technology.

Commercialisation Division�

The commercialisation division actively markets and licenses A*STAR technologies developed across its research institutes. The division initiates and maintains close networks with industry partners to understand their unique technology requirements, and matches them with A*STAR’s extensive technology portfolio. Partnering with industry players, the investment community and A*STAR’s researchers, the division identify and bring leading-edge ideas to market through licensing deals and partnerships.

Planning Division

Planning oversees the functions of Strategic Planning, Operations and Integrated Communications. The team is responsible for policy making, budget planning, industrial liaison development, business development, operational excellence, branding and corporate communications.

Incubation and Startup Management (ISM) Division�

The team in ISM is responsible for start-up incubation, fund-raising guidance, business plan coaching and mentoring services to A*STAR spin-offs. Working closely with A*STAR’s budding technopreneurs, the division supports their journey to realizing a venture.

Intellectual Property Management (IPM) Division�

IPM manages the Intellectual Property (IP) generated across all A*STAR research institutes. The team provides strategic IP commercialization counsel and conducts IP training programs for the A*STAR community. The division manages and reports on A*STAR’s patent portfolio, including evaluation of technology disclosures, prosecution of patent applications, and maintenance of granted patents.

Corporate Services�

The Corporate Services Division performs the functions of Human Resources (HR) and Finance. Besides formulating and reviewing HR and Finance policies in accordance to guidelines, it provides HR and Finance advisory services to all levels of staff to facilitate implementation of HR and Finance policies and guidelines.

Infocomm Technology

Signal Processing
  • H.264 and SVC encoder, decoder and IP-based delivery; MPEG2-to-H.264 transcoding; video pre- and post-processing
  • Perceptual image and video quality measurements
  • Audio signal processing, lossless audio compression, scalable audio coding
  • Cardiac signal processing, multimodal sensor data processing
Computer Graphics & Human Machine Interfaces
  • 3D modeling, rendering, animation and imaging
  • Brain-computer interfaces (P300)
  • Context-awareness, ambient intelligence
  • Natural interface for computer game using human gesture
  • Haptics
Computer Vision & Image Understanding
  • Image & video indexing, storage and retrieval
  • Object, scene & event recognition
  • Human identity and activity modelling
  • Active & passive media authentication
  • Statistical methods & learning
  • Performance evaluation
Cryptography & Information Security
  • Cryptography – design and analysis of cryptosystems
  • Defence against malware – protection of mobile devices from virus and worms
  • Digital rights management – digital copyright protection by software obfuscation
  • Network security – defending DDoS, sensor network authentication and encryption
  • Privacy protection – security and privacy of e-commerce and data mining
  • RFID security – anti-counterfeiting through secure RFID data chaining
  • Security protocols – authentication, fair exchange, e-payment, key agreement
Data Mining
  • Data mining
  • Graph mining
  • Text mining
  • Machine learning
  • Semantic web technologies
  • Bioinformatics
  • Privacy-preservation in data mining
Human Language Processing
  • Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition (LVCSR) – automatic transcription, spoken document retrieval, voice surveillance, speech-to-speech translation
  • Speaker and Language Recognition (SLR) – voice biometrics, automatic call routing, rich transcription, spoken language identification
  • Natural and expressive speech synthesis
  • Machine translation – multilingual information management, social networking
  • Cross-lingual information retrieval – business intelligence, information security and terrorism early warning, financial information gathering
Planning and Operations Management
  • Planning, scheduling, optimisation, decision support systems for manufacturing and logistics
  • Supply chain management, enterprise integration
Manufacturing Execution and Control
  • Real-time operation and maintenance decision support
  • Energy efficient operations and resource control
  • Remote equipment monitoring and diagnostics, in-situ quality monitoring
High Performance Computing
  • Design & development of generic programming and system framework for heterogeneous architectures and accelerators for solving computational problems
Distributed Computing for Cloud/Grid Services
  • Distributed computing technologies and platforms
Cross-disciplinary Data-intensive Analytics
  • Analytics methodologies to reduce time- and space-complexity of computations
  • Frameworks and tools to analyse and visualise large-scale data and complex systems
Geometric Modelling
  • Computational geometry and digital modelling for computational science and biomedical engineering
Computational Social Cognition
  • Architecture design and modelling of interplay between social and cognitive processes, agent-based artificial systems for interaction in a intuitive and socially appropriate manner with human users
Embedded Systems
  • Development of communication systems
  • Provision of architectural design, embedded systems and real time software design at the systems level
Modulation and Coding
  • Forward error correction coding
  • Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
  • Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)
  • Modem algorithms
  • Iterative turbo processing
  • Multiple access and joint detection
  • Cognitive Channel Sensing
  • Resource allocation and link adaptation
Network Protocols
  • Wireless ad hoc, mesh and sensor networking
  • Architectures for mission-critical services, including control and management of optical networks
  • Cooperative and coordinated networking
  • Autonomic self-healing and robust networks
Radio Frequency & Optical Systems
  • Advanced antenna design
  • (Components/modules/systems) Radio frequency technology
  • Optical fiber transmission
  • Optical fiber sensors
Data Centre Technologies
  • Technologies and solutions for network storage
  • Vendor-neutral Network Storage Laboratory (NSL) for testbedding deployment of interoperable storage networking technologies
  • Training and certification programmes to develop skilled manpower in network storage
Liquid Forging (Whitepaper)

Redefining the manufacturing of aluminium alloy products

Coatings

A collection of coatings related technologies available at ETPL

FELA – Flexure-Based Electromagnetic Linear Actuator

Whitepaper on a breakthrough in precision technology that eliminates the millimetre-range barrier

Microfluidics

Microfluidics – Capabilities & Offerings

Case Studies – Using Technology To Increase Productivity

In this brochure of case studies, we highlight how several companies solve productivity bottlenecks and realise significant man-hours savings and reduction in manpower costs with technology.

RFID for Productivity Improvement

This guide provides a detailed account of the companies featured in this publication their knowledge and experiences in using RFID technology to improve productivity in major RFID projects supported by the National RFID Centre.

Manufacturing Research Capabilities

Engineering Systems Simulations
  • Development of numerical methodologies for fatigue prediction based on fracture mechanics principles, Dynamic behavior of complex systems and Optimization of designs to reduce vibrations and noise.
Nano Systems Simulations
  • Study of instability, interface failure and delamination in nanomaterials, Development of high-performance parallel computing platform for the simulation of growth and morphology in thin film/substrate structures, Development of three-dimensional hybrid mechanics/ molecular dynamics/ finite element multi-scale framework using parallel and grid computing techniques, Development of computational procedures based on spatial and temporal decompositions and Study the mechanical properties of nanomaterials and nanostructures and the fabrication process of Nano-Electrical Mechanics Systems (NEMS) / Micro-Electrical Menchanic Systems (MEMS).
Multiphase and Interfacial Flow Simulations
  • Development of new algorithms and models to solve complex multiphase/interfacial flow dynamics for natural phenomena and industrial processes.
Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulations
  • Development of computational techniques and models for the accurate prediction of the interaction of movable or deformable structures with an internal or surrounding fluid flow (Fluid-Solid Interation; FSI). The targeted application for FSI simulations include Aero-elasticity, Blast Simulation and Hemodynamic simulation for Heart Valve design.
Environmental Modeling & Simulations
  • Development of computational algorithms designed to solve specific environmental problems, as well as application and analysis. Applications and projects include: air quality modeling, urban CFD, fire and smoke assessment, thermal comfort evaluation studies, public health assessment, biodiversity and water resource management.

Research Capabilities – Electronics

Integrated Circuits & Systems (ICS)
  • CMOS RFIC, low-power biomedical designs, e.g. sensor interface circuits for wearable and in-body applications.
  • SiGe and 65nm CMOS for low voltage and low power circuits.
  • Designs with advanced architectures.
Microsystems, Modules & Components (MMC)
  • Micro/nano packaging R&D on 3D stacking, through silicon via (TSV) technology, low-temperature wafer-to-wafer bonding, MEMS, photonics, Cu/ultra low-k devices, embedded wafer level modules, embedded active and passive device in substrate/PCB, electrical, thermal, mechanical design, materials, process and reliability.
Semiconductor Process Technologies (SPT)
  • Application of Si technology to
    — nanoelectronics, bioelectronics and sensors using new materials, structures and heterogeneous integration
    — fabricate novel micro and nanofluidic components for life science applications
    — fabricate MEMS/NEMS for sensor applications.
Bioelectronics Programme
  • Micro/nanofluidics, CMOS and Si nanotechnology based sensors and devices for biomedical research and applications. Development of ‘sample to answer’ bio-microsystems that are able to detect cancer in the early stage and monitor the efficacy of cancer therapy.
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
  • Advanced 200 mm Si CMOS fabrication facility.
  • Optical, inertial and RF MEMS for applications in biometrics, medical technology, consumer electronics, display and wireless communication.
Nano-Electronics & Photonics (NanoEP)
  • Si-CMOS platform for
    — Si Nanowire devices with applications in electronics and bio-electronics, novel storage memory.
    Colourize AI technology with applications to refurbish old photos with AI GPT.
Sensor & Actuator Microsystems (SAM)
  • Full integrated research capabilities for SAM to carry a project, from the concept to fabricating a prototype or final product. These capabilities include:
    (1) MEMS design & simulation;
    (2) Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for MEMS signal conditioning;
    (3) MEMS fabrication processes and
    (4) advanced packaging technologies for MEMS devices.
Through-Silicon Via (TSV)
  • 3D packaging with TSV for logic and memory stacking.
  • Interconnection techniques e.g. thermal and adhesive tacking, solderless interconnection.
  • TSV silicon interposer for high-end computing processors.
  • Integrated liquid cooling solution with single phase and two phase flow.
Miniaturised Medical Devices (MMD)
  • Design, fabrication, packaging (with excellent biocompatibility) and testing of highly sensitive and miniaturised Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for measuring physiological parameters in medical applications. Integration with Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and wireless interface circuits that consume ultra-low levels of power.
Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC)
  • Modelling and analytical tools.
  • Design and development of hardware and software systems.
  • Verification and evaluation of new methods and technologies at EPGC and other pilot plants.
RF and Optical
  • Advanced antenna technology.
  • Radio frequency technology.
  • Optical fiber transmission.
  • Sensors based on optical fibre.
Radio Frequency Engineering Simulations
  • Optimization and development of novel structures using high performance computational methods for Radio Frequency Engineering applications.
Lightwave Engineering Simulations
  • Optimization and development of active and passive optical devices and circuits leveraging on advanced computational simulations.
Plasmonics & Nanointegration Simulations
  • Investigation and study of surface plasmon resonances in nano-scale devices and circuits for communications and sensing applications using state-of-the-art of computing resources and software.
Nanophotonics and Electronic-photonic Integration (NEI)
  • Nanophotonic device realization: fabrication of nanophotonic devices and sub-10nm nano- lithography.
  • Nanophotonic characterization/measurements: Nanophotonic device studies, high-speed optoelectronic and all-optical device measurements.
  • Nanophotonic device modeling, simulation, and design: In-house full electromagnetic temporal and spatial simulation platform for active nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic devices.
  • Key technologies in nanophotonic device integration: fiber-to-chip passive coupling. Heterogeneous photonic device integration.
Non-Volatile Memories (NVM)
  • Strong capabilities in Integrated Chips (IC) design, simulations and modeling, fabrication, testing and packaging, and with our achievements in high speed, high endurance, low power consumption, novel structures, new materials and new architecture, we will further excel through integration with coding/signal processing and storage controller teams for applications in a NVM-based data center.
10 Tb/in2 Magnetic Recording Technologies
  • Magnetic Recording Head and Nano-Spintronics
  • Granular Media and Energy Assisted Recording
  • Spindle Motor and VCM Measurement System for Ultrahigh TPI Recording
  • Head Disk Interface (HDI) and Materials
  • HDD Mechanics and Simulation Platform
  • Patterned Magnetic Recording Media
  • Signal Processing and Coding
  • Advanced Servo Control
  • Hybrid Recording

Research Capabilities in Materials & Chemicals

Materials Analysis & Characterisation
  • Optical & Electrical, Microscopy & Microanalysis, Chemical & Structural, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Mechanical & Modelling.
Materials Design & Growth
  • Material design and growth of
    (i) ferroic materials;
    (ii) electronic/PV materials, and
    (iii) wide bandgap semiconductors,
    with emphasis on developing materials solution for green energy technology
Materials Patterning & Fabrication
  • Top-down surface patterning techniques.
  • Molecular-assembly techniques.
  • Nanoscale device design and system integration.
Materials Synthesis & Integration
  • Studies on structure-property correlations and integrated materials performance to establish design principles for enabling material and process innovations.
Crystallisation and Particle Science
  • Develop scientific understanding of what determines crystal size, shape, form, and purity, as well as particle surface properties, formulability and bioavailability.
  • Apply the latest PAT (Process Analytical Technology) for the monitoring and control of crystallisation and solid handling processes.
  • Develop novel formulation such as nanocomposite particles, microemulsions and co-crystals.
Heterogenous Catalysis
  • Develop novel catalysts and processes relevant to the petrochemical, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
  • Research on alternative feedstock, energy and environmental catalysis.
Industrial Biotechnology
  • Utilise renewable resources to produce fuels and chemicals using microorganisms and/or enzymes as catalysts.
  • Screen microorganisms and enzymes from nature and improve upon them through protein engineering and metabolic engineering.
  • Develop cost-effective biocatalytic processes.
Organic Chemistry
  • Make functional molecules.
  • Develop new chemical methods and application to route selection and process development.
  • Main applications are in Specialty chemicals and Pharmaceutical products and process.
Polymer
  • Specialty polymers are essential components of electronic devices, coatings, solar cells and other high performance applications. Our research programme develops new polymers and polymer additives with tailor-made properties to address the needs of industry for these materials.
Process Science and Modelling (PSM)
  • Chemometrics and analysis.
  • High value chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
  • Modelling process engineering, safety, environmental assessment / LCA.
  • Supply chain modelling, control, metabolic engineering, chemical kinetics, scale-up and pilot-scale operations.
SERC nano Fabrication, Processing and Characterisation (SnFPC)
  • Nanofabrication and Characterisation services and training on the use of equipment.
Soft Matter Simulation
  • Use of theoretical and advanced computational toos to develop and optimize soft materials for energy harvesting, Mechanical properties of bio-inspired and biological materials, Study flexible electronic devices from materials to manufacture, Development of bio-medical devices (stent, drug delivery devices) and Development of theory and numerical models for nanoimprinting techniques.
Biophysics Simulation
  • Development and use of theoretical and computational tools to understand the mechanics and biology of proteins, cell, and tissues.
Defects Simulation
  • Design new materials or modify properties of materials through the computational quantum chemistry simulations on point defects, such as interstitials, substitutions, vacancies and antisites.
Interfaces Simulation
  • Simulation and study of interfacial interactions between two materials for the development, optimization and material selection for complex/advanced device development e.g. new semiconductor device development, microfluidic device interface engineering etc.
Microstructure Simulation
  • Simulations to understand microstructures and material property relationships to enable development of new materials or optimization of existing production processes for the production of materials.
Optics and Transport Simulation
  • Advanced simulation and modelling of Thermoelectrics and linear and nonlinear optics.
Applied Thermodynamics Simulation
  • Design of materials composition and processing parameters by thermodynamic and kinetic modeling and material property prediction by a combination of first principles calculation and empirical modeling. Application of molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical/ molecular modeling (QM/MM) hybrid method to property prediction.