TECHINNOVATION TECH OFFERS

Singapore commits to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 as part of the nation’s Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy. This target is dependent on many factors including industry’s ability to collect energy consumption data effectively on activities that generate greenhouse gas emissions. Developed by a local research team, this solution provides a cost-effective way to collect consumption data on two key contributors to carbon footprint, electricity and water. Long-range (500m) plug-and-play wireless sensors integrated with a customized dashboard provide users with an intelligent and accurate overview of their utility consumption in their facility. Coupled with an analytics engine running in the background, usage patterns can be established, optimized and contingency alerts provided where required. The solution caters well to facilities with legacy systems by allowing consumption data to be collected without the need for extensive system changes. The system is fully customizable and configurable based on user requirements. The technology owner is looking for partners and collaborators to further co-develop and trial this technology. 

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), also known as the most promising next-generation batteries, have attracted much attention due to their high energy density and safety. The replacement of liquid electrolyte with solid electrolyte could not only improve battery safety and also prolong its lifetime. The most commonly used solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based, which typically have poor mechanical properties, low ionic conductivity, and a limited oxidation window, thus precluding their use with high-voltage cathodes. Therefore, it is essential to develop cross-linked SPEs with high oxidative stability for high-voltage all-solid-state LiBs in high energy applications. The technology owner has developed a reprocessible cross-linked cationic polytriazolium (PT) based SPE for all-solid-state LiBs. This PT-based SPE is electrochemically stable at voltages >4.0 V, exhibiting a high ionic conductivity below the melting point as well as a high Li+ transference number. In addition to its electrochemical characteristics, this PT-based electrolyte is reprocessible and healable with good flexibility. Such polymeric electrolytes could sustain internal and external stresses during the charging-discharging process, thus prolonging the lifetime of Li-ion batteries while simultaneously tackling safety issues. The technology owner is keen to collaborate with industrial partners such as battery developers and manufacturers for further co-development and test-bedding of solid polymer electrolytes and subsequent licensing of this technology for commercialisation.

Vannamei shrimp culture is often plagued by disease outbreaks. White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and other pathogens can make shrimp harvest cycles unpredictable.  This technology relates to a comprehensive hybrid biofloc-RAS (recirculatory aquaculture system) shrimp farming system that delivers high yields and mitigates disease. Shrimp post-larvae typically grow faster in biofloc systems and have lower feed conversion ratios (FCRs) for the first 30 days of culture than in clear water recirculation systems. Our technology is cost-effective, scalable, and can be adapted to vertical farming formats. The technology provider is looking for aquaculturist partners who would like to embark on indoor shrimp farming projects.

As a clean burning fuel, green hydrogen plays a critical role in achieving net zero emissions. A major challenge is the high cost of the electrolyser due to inefficient production and the use of precious metals. Innovation in green hydrogen is urgently required to lower its cost and bring it to parity with conventional fossil fuel based grey hydrogen. A Singapore-based startup has developed a proprietary super-alloy nano-structured material using earth's abundant and cost-effective materials for use in all major electrolyser technologies. These components achieve dramatically higher water-splitting capability and anti-corrosion properties versus commercially available solutions, while ensuring electrode durability, increasing energy efficiency and reducing overall cost. The startup is capable of supporting the manufacturing of core hardware components for electrolyser cells, stacks, and systems, enabling end users to produce the most affordable green hydrogen. The startup is seeking partnerships with manufacturers (OEMs) of alkaline (AWE), proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers and leading hydrogen users, including energy majors, utilities, and industrial gas companies, to deploy modular stand-alone anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser systems for pilot projects or for test-bedding at industrial scale.

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is the most commonly used metric to understand, measure, and improve manufacturing productivity, providing insights into the efficiency of a manufacturing process by evaluating key aspects of equipment performance (i.e., availability, performance, quality). However, production plants with legacy equipment often face challenges collecting such data, as typically either complicated system modifications or extensive cabling works may be required. This technology offers a unique IoT solution to this challenge by extracting production equipment status from the equipment tower light signals by means of a sensor node connected to a light sensor in a non-intrusive manner. No meddling with existing machine circuitry is needed. A key feature of this technology is the integrated built-in Human Machine Interface (HMI) on the sensor node for operators to provide inputs on the machine's non-operation. Comprising cost-efficient hard buttons for user feedback instead of the usual tablet PC, it offers ease of use and ruggedness for the production floor environment.

This technology is a rapid method to determine the Glycaemic Index (GI) in food product. The GI is a way of measuring how fast carbohydrate is absorbed into body and how that affects blood glucose levels. The technology is an in-vitro methodology / workflow that combines sample processing, enzymatic digestion and endpoint data analysis based in a laboratory. The Health Promotion Board in Singapore (HPB) has been actively engaging the public with its “Healthier Choice Symbol” (HCS) programme to encourage adoption of healthier diet options. For some category such as cereals and convenience meals, the GI logo is integrated with HCS. We envisioned more integration will take place to better serve consumers and health care providers in diet management. Currently, most food labels lack GI ratings, which limits information to consumers. The current “gold standard” of measuring GI involves measurement of blood glucose in human volunteers and this in vivo method suffers from variability issues in its GI measurements, along with significant lead time and cost of this method. The technology offered provides a solution for faster, cost-effective, and versatile GI screening of food, encouraging food manufacturing industry to adopt GI measurements as part of their product development and labelling GI on packaging, thus benefiting the public. The technology is available for IP licensing and R&D collaboration with industrial partners who are keen to adopt the solution.

A non-dairy fermented beverage is now able to have enhanced levels of probiotics and bioactives. This fermentation process releases the bioactives from the plant material which is used as the base and elevates the levels of the probiotic bacteria and health promoting end products. The technology includes optimizing the beverage production for a particular probiotic. This probiotic has proven health benefits and has been shown to exhibit enhanced survival in the fermented beverage. With this fermentation process, the non-dairy beverage will be able to deliver high levels of efficacious probiotic together health promoting bioactive compounds. This will be suitable for people who are seeking to have a healthy gut microbiome and overall good health. The technology owner is seeking industry collaborators for commercial formulaton to expand the current technology scope such as freeze dried snacks and or to scale the technology up for commercialisation.

Formed by the coordination of metal ions to organic ditopic ligands, metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs) are a class of polymers that exhibit electrochromic properties. Due to the nature of the MSPs, electrochromic materials of high stability and varying colours can be fabricated for several applications including smart windows, wearable IoT displays and displays. This technology on offer is a synthesis method to produce MSPs for fabrication of smart windows. By coating the MSP layer between layers of glass, indium tin oxide (ITO) and electrodes, electrochromic windows with high coloration efficiency, high stability and wide colour variation can be obtained. The incorporation of such electrochromic materials offers an energy-efficient solution to control the optical properties of windows and improve occupants’ comfort. The technology owner is seeking collaborations with partners for co-development projects including the fabrication of the MSPs and assembly of the components for smart window applications.

Heavy metal pollution is a significant environmental issue with detrimental health effects even at low concentrations. The bipolar nanoporous membrane features a triple-layer structure, comprising a membrane base layer, a selective layer, and a protective layer. This technology relates to a compact, bipolar nanoporous membrane that effectively removes dissolved heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater and drinking water. This configuration allows the membrane to efficiently adsorb and reject charged pollutants and heavy metal ions while minimizing fouling through its antifouling properties. To implement this technology, a portable water filtration bottle has been specifically designed, fabricated, and evaluated. The filtration bottle incorporates a single-stage bipolar nanoporous membrane module, serving as a reusable filter. The technology demonstrates rejection rates (>95%) for divalent and trivalent heavy metal ions such as Arsenic (As), Copper (Cu2+), Cadmium (Cd2+), Lead (Pb2+), and Chromium (Cr3+) at concentrations ranging from 20 ppm to 100 ppm. The compact and low-pressure nature of this technology makes it highly versatile and suitable for various applications. It offers a convenient and reusable filtration solution for industrial wastewater treatment and the purification of drinking water. By effectively addressing the challenge of heavy metal pollution, this technology contributes to environmental protection and safeguarding human health. Overall, this advanced water filtration solution combines the advantages of a bipolar nanoporous membrane and a portable filtration system. Its exceptional rejection capabilities, energy efficiency, and versatility make it a promising tool in mitigating heavy metal contamination and ensuring access to clean and safe water. The technology provider is looking for interested parties from the water industry to license or acquire this technology.