The National Research Foundation joined Imperial's team at CREATE to discover how our convergence science is building momentum across the region.
John Lim, the recently appointed Chief Executive of National Research Foundation (NRF) and Chief of the Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office at the Prime Minister's Office visited the Imperial Global Singapore hub at the CREATE campus last week.
Mr Lim learnt more about how Imperial scientists and regional partners are collaborating to rapidly scale new scientific breakthroughs and technology and tackle major global challenges such as the AI revolution in healthcare, pandemic preparedness, climate change, and the transition to net zero, in a way that maximises societal benefit and opportunities for commercialisation in Southeast Asia.
Mr Lim was hosted by Professor Azra Ghani, Academic Director of Imperial Global Singapore, Viktor Schlegel, Deputy Director of the NRF funded healthcare cybersecurity research programme IN-CYPHER, and Paige Noyce, Associate Director for Imperial Global Singapore.
The strength of our academic, government and industry partnerships in Singapore are supercharging the rate at which together we can translate our ideas into real world impact. Professor Azra Ghani Imperial Global Singapore Academic Director
Professor Azra Ghani said: "The National Research Foundation's generous support has been instrumental to Imperial's research and collaboration success in Singapore. The research eco-system in Southeast Asia is a very exciting and vibrant one for Imperial to be part of.
"The strength of our academic, government and industry partnerships in Singapore are supercharging the rate at which together we can translate our ideas into real world impact."
"We were delighted to welcome Mr Lim to learn about how IN-CYPHER, our convergence science programme which brings together bioengineering, biochemistry, and computing to transform healthcare cybersecurity, is positioning Singapore at the international forefront of artificial intelligence research and application."
ADD NRF QUOTE FROM JOHN LIM HERE
Imperial Global Singapore is based at the NRF Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), an international research campus and innovation hub that hosts interdisciplinary research centres from top global universities and research institutes to work in collaboration with local institutions and partners.
Protecting human health
IN-CYPHER was the first NRF funded Imperial Global Singapore research programme, launching with a four-year grant in January 2024 and building on the longstanding Imperial-Nanyang Technological University (NTU) strategic partnership.
Led by Imperial's Professor Anil Bharath and NTU Singapore's Professor Liu Yang, IN-CYPHER brings together complementary expertise to tackle existing security challenges, and to protect emerging sensing technologies – and their data – from being compromised. The team believe that the research will have applications for a range of devices such as continuous glucose monitors, smart electronic skin patches and activity monitors.
In spring 2025, IN-CYPHER welcomed a new industry partner, Cyber Sierra, who bring specialist expertise in cybersecurity infrastructure and compliance, which is an integral aspect of bolstering technological resilience in AI driven health tech.
Powering towards a greener future
In October 2024, Imperial Global Singapore received a second major NRF research grant for a NTU partnership programme, this time from the CREATE Thematic Programme in Decarbonisation.
Led by Professor Chan Siew Hwa, Co-Director, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), in collaboration with Professor Stephen Skinner, from Imperial's Department of Materials, the team investigates how to develop direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells (DA-SOFCs) to create a more efficient and sustainable clean fuel source. It aims to enhance Singapore's capabilities in hydrogen utilisation and develop non-fossil fuel-based pathways for producing sustainable aviation fuel and high-value chemicals, which will contribute to the nation's long-term sustainability goals.
Imperial Global Singapore has also partnered with Singapore's Maritimes and Port Authority to support the maritime industry transition to eco-friendly ports and shipping practices, reducing pollutants, ensuring energy security, and establishing a resilient framework that is essential for the future of marine transport and operations. The five-year partnership, led on the Imperial side by Professor Nigel Brandon, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, aims to develop cutting-edge digital technologies, including smart port systems, and cybersecurity solutions for maritime Internet-of-Things devices, industrial control and operational technology systems.
Industry partners Ceres Power and Siemens Energy.....(what can I say here about their involvement?
Imperial and Singapore's history of collaboration
Imperial Global Singapore's commitment to cutting-edge convergence science and partnership working is brought to life in a diverse research portfolio that builds on a legacy of international collaboration.
Today Imperial collaborates with the Ministry of Health and university partners on their Pandemic Preparedness programme (PREPARE), is partnering on a new collaboration to establish a South East Asia Dengue and Zika Genomics Network with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and philanthropic partner Temasek Foundation, and spearheads the Singapore Green Finance Centre, established by the Imperial College Business School with the Singapore Management University, and backed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and leading global financial institutions.
Imperial is proud to currently host more than 350 students from Singapore and to have more than 3,000 alumni who call Singapore home.
