Image annotation is a critical step in developing computer vision and image recognition systems. Image annotation can be used in applications in a spectrum of deep-tech pillars such as Healthcare/Medical (detecting and diagnosing diseases from radiology or pathology images), Manufacturing (defect detection from image scans), Agritech (plant/crop health check via images and photos), and more. As a result, image annotation is critical in developing Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML) models in a variety of fields. The role of image annotation in deep learning has changed over time. Today, image annotation has become more important for object recognition with new characteristics and capabilities in real-world settings. However, manual labeling of complex objects continues to be time-consuming, tedious, and error-prone - additionally, outsourcing these labeling tasks might not always be the best way due to domain-expertise required in labeling complex image data e.g. radiography images or surface defects on semiconductors. This technology offer is an AI-assisted image labelling tool that enables technical teams to collaboratively, quickly, and easily label large image datasets with pixel-level accuracy masks. As the tool is industry agnostic, it can be used by any industry with a minimal learning curve. The technology owner is keen to work with companies who are looking to build out datasets / ground-truths / and labels for building deep-learning experiments and capabilities, through R&D collaboration and licensing opportunities.

Drugs delivered orally are often degraded in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the liver, lowering their efficacy. Cutaneous drug delivery offers an alternative as it circumvents the GI tract and liver. It can also be advantageous for skin-related diseases such as skin cancers and acne. The key challenge however, is to penetrate the epidermal layers. Several approaches are being developed for cutaneous drug delivery. First, micro-needles deliver drugs by physically disrupting the skin. However, the efficiency is greatly influenced by the physical characteristics of the needles and tissue. Second, liposome-based methods use particles called lipsomes to encapsulate drugs. This requires separate mechanisms, such as sonophoresis, to disrupt the skin and allow drug penetration. The current technology, ForodermTM comprises a painless, low cost and safe bioactive delivery system. The technology owner is interested in licensing and co-development activities in various application fields. 

Inulin-lipid hybrids (ILH) are a class of novel micro-encapsulation technology that affords the ability to encapsulate poorly water soluble drugs within their lipophilic core. The drug-loaded lipid nanoparticles are encapsulated within a three-dimensional solid-state matrix comprised of inulin polysaccharide chains. Owing to the unique bio-activities afforded by inulin (a natural dietary fibre), ILH technology serves as a dry powder drug formulation with wide-ranging applications for improving drug performance. ILH technology can be dosed orally to improve drug bioavailability or systemically to stimulate pH triggered drug release and improve cellular uptake. The technology comprises a dry powder formulation that presents high drug and lipid stability through micro-encapsulation approach. The technology owner is seeking co-development partners and potential licensees interested in this formulation.   

Chronic infections (lungs, wounds, eyes) are typically due to bacterial biofilm infections and are untreatable with commercially available antibiotics. In up to 80% of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, there will be no response to antibiotics. Currently for P. aeruginosa, aminoglycoside and colistin are mainstay therapy. Therapy can be lifelong with the goal of keeping the infection at bay, not focused on eradication. New formulation techniques are focusing on liposomal formulations; however, these formulations have stability, manufacturing and effectivity issues that are restricting their entry into the market. The technology comprises a novel formulation approach that direct antibiotics into biofilm (chronic) infections, enhancing the efficacy of cationic antimicrobials by at least 100-fold against biofilm bacterial infections. The technology owner is seeking licencing, co-development opportunities as well as contract research partnership with parties interested in this novel antimicrobial formulation. 

Seaweed or macroalgae are aquatic plants that anchor to hard surfaces to grow and are usually found on the ocean floor. Seaweed farming is the fastest growing sector within marine aquaculture with a global market worth of USD 15 billion in 2021 with a CAGR of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. It is a versatile raw ingredient that can be applied to functional foods, animal feed, biomaterials, personal care products, fertilizers, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, and even serves as an environmental remediation method. Moreover, it is a carbon-negative crop that has a high potential for climate change mitigation through carbon capture. To go beyond farming at a smallholder scale, there is a need to look at farming at an industrial scale to meet the burgeoning demands in the global market. Based in Singapore, the technology seeker is a company in the aquaculture sector and they are seeking co-development partners to provide marine engineering expertise to develop a platform for industrial-scale offshore seaweed farming. Preferably, the tech provider should have experience in food production/farming systems on an industrial scale in coastal waters. Depending on the collaborators’ preference and further negotiations, the modes of partnership that could be considered include R&D collaboration, technology licensing, and IP acquisition. The technology seeker prefers technology owners with a presence and available technical professionals in Singapore to support this pilot project. Overseas-based technology owners would be considered as well on a case-by-case basis.

The tech seeker is an established manufacturer of electronic and consumer devices is seeking to improve the performance of their products and provide an enhanced experience for their users. Some products are required to allow the flow of gases and liquids internally and there is currently an issue controlling this movement. Specifically, the device needs to allow the flow of gases in one direction and prevent the movement of liquids in the opposite direction. Solutions already exist in the apparel and other industries for this purpose, but typically employ fluorinated textiles to achieve the breathable and hydrophobic functionality, or require significant gas/air pressure to operate. The company is not able to use such fluorinated materials in its devices and air flow can’t be impacted, therefore the client is actively searching for alternative and next generation solutions that could selectively control the passage of gases and liquids. The tech seeker is open to R&D collaborations with companies that have interesting technologies meeting their criteria but may need further help with development.

In the construction industry, foundation steel solutions are used in a variety of applications ranging from waterfront to underground development projects. The application conditions typically lead to a deterioration in the steel condition following some duration in service. Particularly for temporary structures, such steel structural items (e.g., sheet piles, beams, channels) when retrieved from use may vary in condition, exhibiting signs of deterioration such as rust, pitting or dents. It is desired to be able to rapidly and effectively assess and characterise the steel items’ condition in order to determine their re-usability or disposal. A Singapore-based steel solutions company is seeking solvers capable of developing an AI-enabled mobile app solution to capture, process and analyse the condition of steels, for the following tasks (in order of priority): Rust grading – Capture, process and analyse photos of physical structural steel items (e.g., sheet piles, beams, channels). Grade the rust condition in accordance with a pre-determined tiering Counting – To accurately count the number of physical steel items housed within a storage yard. Items are largely standardized parts but may comprise of several different types stored in a stack/pile Dimensional Measurement and Geometrical Analysis – To measure the external dimensions of the physical steel items, and identify the presence of defects such as warpage, deflections, pitting The preferred collaboration mode is to co-develop a POC solution for evaluation followed by operational scale-up.

Fermentation is one of the oldest technologies used in food processing and the technology has been gaining limelight in recent years due to modern applications. With Singapore’s ’30 by 30’ goal to produce 30% of our nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030, and in line with consumer megatrends such as healthy (functional, natural) consumption and advocation for animal rights, fermentation technologies could help to address these issues. There is interest to seek out technology owners who have novel and proven fermentation technologies that can be used for the production of food and feed or to valorise food waste from side streams as low-cost feedstocks to manufacture value-added products as part of closing the food waste loop. These technologies should be available for technology collaborations. The modes of technology collaborations are: R&D collaboration, IP licensing and acquisition. Suitable technologies can be placed as Technology Offers on the IPI portal, subject to internal curation and review.