2. 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 worldclass education institutions.
3. TIF – Scheme
Funding – Up to $500K per project
Duration – Up to 2 years
Principal Investigator – from Polytechnics and ITE
4. TIF – Performance Indicator
Intellectual Property (IP) Translation
Process
Improvement
(Productivity)
RCAs
Basic &
Applied
Science
Intellectual
Property
Development of
New Product
Licenses
Services
Development of
New Service
Market /
Industry
Application
Foreground IP
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
5. 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
investment or resource contribution in-kind to the project;
monetary
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.
6. 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
7. 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 coshared by ITE,NUS & NUH
8. 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.
9. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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 hydrocarbon 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.
16. 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
17. Polys and ITE Technology Development Office
- Useful Contact Information
Institution
TIF Liaison Officers
ITE
Ms Jessica Lim
Jessica_Lim@ite.edu.sg
Ms Belinda Lam
belinda_g_f_lam@ite.edu.sg
Nanyang Poly
Ms Diana Sutanto
diana_sutanto@nyp.edu.sg
Ngee Ann Poly
Mr Peter Tang
tks@np.edu.sg
Republic Poly
Ms Janice Tan
janice_tan@RP.EDU.SG
Singapore Poly
Ms Lew Woon Cheun
LEW.WOONCHEUN@SP.EDU.SG
Temasek Poly
Mr Daryl Tan
daryltan@tp.edu.sg