translational r&d and innovation fund (tif) - moe
TRANSCRIPT
Ministry of Education Translational R&D and Innovation Fund
(TIF) for
Polytechnics and ITE
TIF – Objectives Enable new innovations which will improve or develop new products,
processes and systems that generate economic payoffs;
Enable self-initiated applied research ideas to be developed to the point which demonstrates potential for product development or improvement that could attract industry funding;
Support the Polytechnics’ and ITE’s partnership with the industry, especially local SMEs, to augment technological capabilities;
Support the Polytechnics/ITE in building up R&D capabilities beyond the few selected niche areas of Centres of Innovation (COIs);
Improve the overall quality of Polytechnic and ITE education by updating and developing staff expertise and providing realistic project work opportunities for students; and
Enhance the Polytechnics’ and ITE’s standing as innovative and world-class education institutions.
TIF – Scheme
Funding – Up to $500K per project
Duration – Up to 2 years
Principal Investigator – from Polytechnics and ITE
TIF – Performance Indicator Intellectual Property (IP) Translation
Intellectual Property
RCAs
Licenses
Services
Process Improvement (Productivity)
Development of New Product
Development of New Service
Foreground IP
Basic & Applied Science
Market / Industry
Application
Research• Funded by
public funds (NRF & MOE)
• Performed by AUs & RIs
Translation• Funded by both public & private sector• Requires interaction between research
performers and industry to steer research outcomes towards industry applications
Industry Adoption / Commercialisation• Competitive stage
which is mainly funded and directed by industry
TIF – Project Criteria
IP translation project must meet ALL of the following technical requirements:
Project must be initiated from a documented background IP;
Industrial relevance demonstrated through industry’s monetary investment or resource contribution in-kind to the project;
Significant technical development must be shown through the difference in technology readiness for commercialization between the Background IP and possible translation outputs listed earlier. This can be made with reference to the Technology Readiness Level.
TIF – Desired Outcomes Tracking Indicators: Number & Type of Background IPs translated (patents, trademarks,
industrial designs, trade secrets, etc.)
Application of the IPs whether by way of research collaboration agreements (RCAs), license agreements, service agreements or other instruments
Industry that the Background IP is translated to
Number of foreground IPs filed and awarded.
Number of new products/processes and services that arise from IP translation
Revenue generated from projects conducted by translator with industry, i.e. project cost/fees
Revenue that arises from IP (patented and non-patented) licensing, i.e. upfront payment and/or royalties collected
Number of industry staff trained
Number of in-house experts hired by industry
Project 1 (ITE) A) Title Percutaneous access to kidney assist device (PAKAD)
for kidney stone surgery B) Brief Description of Project
Development of a medical device to shorten the time needed for surgeons to create renal access path on kidney stone patients by needle-puncturing in PCNL (Percutaneous-nephrolithotomy).
C) Background IP & Source (from NUS, NTU, A*STAR, Polys/ITE?)
This innovation is entirely new. IP generated are co-shared by ITE,NUS & NUH
Project 1 (ITE) D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc.
A PCT application (PCT/SG2013/000375) was filed on 28 Aug 2013. Functional prototype of the device has been developed, proof-of-concept was successful with design verification tests carried out by 3 NUH surgeons (collaborators).
E) Impact of Project 2 local companies, Osteogen and Fong’s Engineering & Manufacturing to join the team for final development work and commercialization. A new funding application were submitted.
Project 2 (TP)
A) Title Novel Micro/Nano Optical Elements for Multiview 3D Display using
Nanoimprinting (awarded by NRF TRD Fund) B) Brief Description of Project Develop a glasses-free display prototype using nanoimprint technology. C) Background IP & Source (from NUS, NTU, A*STAR, Polys/ITE?) IMRE, A*STAR D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. A glasses-free 3D working prototype for smartphone platform, which has
promising commercial potential. Further gap funding from A*STAR and development resulted in successful commercialization.
E) Impact of Project A start-up licensed and commercialise the FIP.
Project 2 (TP)
Project 3 (NP) A) Title Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane Bioreactor for Waste Water Treatment B) Brief Description of Project New concept of producing electro-spun nanofibre membranes of varying pore sizes and
using different materials or polymer for waste water treatment. C) Background IP & Source IF Grant of $598,473. Collaboration with Prof. Seeram Ramkrishna from NUS. D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. A Patent is filed. Discussions on licensing are on-going. E) Impact of Project The design concept of prototype machine for spinning nanofiber has high potential for
upgrading to a production model.
Project 4 (NP) A) Title Hybrid Solar Membrane Water Reclamation System B) Brief Description of Project Design of novel dual layer hydrophilic and hydrophobic fiber-membrane and tested in
bench-scale membrane distillation unit C) Background IP & Source IF Grant of $766,960. D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. A patent is filed. The pilot plant is put in Marina Barrage for evaluation. E) Impact of Project The pilot run is showing promising results. Discussion on the licensing is on-going.
Project 5 (NYP) A) Title Real-time Multi-point Diffraction-based Imaging System for Strain Measurement (ReMuDis) B) Brief Description of Project ReMuDis is capable of 2-dimensional full-field strain measurement and analysis with micrometric sensitivity and accuracy. The system is based on a novel Multi-point Diffraction Strain Sensor (MDSS) technology developed by NTU. By the use of a tunable micro-lens array with laser interferometry and image analytics, the MDSS technology dramatically improves the sensitivity and accuracy of the measurement while providing small-area high-resolution full-field distribution measurement capability C) Background IP & Source (from NUS, NTU, A*STAR, Polys/ITE?) NTU D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. New Foreground IP generated Solution for high precision measurement instrument . E) Impact of Project Contribution of capability development for metrology. New method for measurement. Project Development opportunities for staff and students.
Project 6 (SP) A) Title Removal of Persistent Toxic Substances From Wastewater using Nanomaterials B) Brief Description of Project The team developed a multi-staged Photo-catalytic wastewater treatment system which
uses advanced oxidation process with Tio2 as catalyst to breakdown organic compound in wastewater.
C) Background IP & Source (from NUS, NTU, A*STAR, Polys/ITE?) Combined IPs from Advanced Material team and Academic Chemistry faculty at SP D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. A PCT Patent was filed. An industrial scale prototype was developed with an industry
partner. An inventor of the technology was seconded under the SPRING funded T-Up scheme to assist the company.
E) Impact of Project Technology to be deployed to resolve the company’s internal wastewater problem. The
company is also exploring ways to package the wastewater treatment technology into their core services as a strategic advantage.
Project 7 (SP) A) Title Hybrid VOCs Biofiltration System B) Brief Description of Project In this project, the team developed a bio-filtration system for the treatment of
petroleum based VOC. The development used SP’s own patent on treating contaminated aqueous hydrocarbon solution. Bio-cultures as an active ingredient cultured through SP’s patented method will be deployed to breakdown the hydro-carbon compounds, This system uses limited amount of water as oppose to wet scrubbing and the system will lack the recycling of carbon absorbent as it has none.
C) Background IP & Source (from NUS, NTU, A*STAR, Polys/ITE?) Singapore Poly D) Outcomes – Foreground IP, Product, Services, etc. Prototype product. E) Impact of Project Providing treatment solutions to local industry, especially Maritime & offshore MNCs.
Collaboration with Local Universities – Challenges & Opportunities
A. Challenges Background IPs (BIPs) too upstream for translation Background IPs not industry driven. Lack of awareness and matching of the Universities and Polys/ITE’s
capabilities, expertise and resources Licensing agreement
B. Opportunities Stronger interaction among research performers from Universities &
Polys/ITE Active involvement from BIPs owner Co-development of background and foreground IPs Systematic sharing of Background IPs in sectorial, IP portal Background IPs with defined scope for applications
Polys and ITE Technology Development Office - Useful Contact Information
Institution TIF Liaison Officers
ITE Ms Jessica Lim [email protected] Ms Belinda Lam [email protected]
Nanyang Poly Ms Diana Sutanto [email protected]
Ngee Ann Poly
Mr Peter Tang [email protected]
Republic Poly Ms Janice Tan [email protected]
Singapore Poly
Ms Lew Woon Cheun [email protected]
Temasek Poly Mr Daryl Tan [email protected]