Professor Heng Chye Kiang, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) at CDE commemorated the 20th anniversary of SONDRA, a Franco-Singapore research alliance between CDE, DSO National Laboratories and French institutions CentraleSupélec (previously Supélec) and ONERA.
Held on 4 April 2024, the event was also graced by leaders from SONDRA’s key partners: Dr Emmanuel Chiva, Chief Executive of the French Directorate General of Armaments, Mr Melvyn Ong, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) at Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Mr Cheong Chee Hoo, CEO of DSO National Laboratories, Mr Bruno Sainjon, CEO of ONERA, Mr Romain Soubeyran, President of CentraleSupélec, and the laboratory's former director Mr Marc Lesturgi and former co-director Mr Chan Hian Lim.
The collaboration is a longstanding one, officially launched on 28 April 2004 with the then Faculty of Engineering. The establishment of CDE in 2021 saw the coming together of the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Design and Environment, fusing two world-class schools. A future-focused, interdisciplinary learning and research institution, CDE has continued to nurture partnerships with numerous institutions both locally and globally.
Over the past 20 years, SONDRA has established key research capabilities in areas such as radar and applied electromagnetics while looking to expand further into topics such as the use of Artificial Intelligence for radar applications. This was done through the establishment of a Joint Lab that facilitates research collaborations between CDE and CentraleSupélec, with funding and support from DSO and ONERA.
One such collaboration involved the study of radar concepts via the joint PhD programme, which allows graduate students at CentraleSupélec to work with CDE professors at the College’s laboratories.
Associate Professor Koenraad Mouthaan (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Technical Manager at SONDRA, added, “SONDRA provides one of the strong research bridges between France and Singapore, and in particular, between NUS and SONDRA lab. It has enabled researchers and students from France and Singapore to meet, work together, and learn from each other.”
As part of its wider mission, SONDRA helps to harness new technologies to solve problems related to maritime surveillance in congested water areas, ground and air surveillance, and homeland security. It also conducts research in areas important to Singapore’s national defence and national security.
The ever-evolving modern defence landscape highlights the importance of cultivating strong partnerships and sustaining research exchanges, in which CDE plays a pivotal role. The College’s forward-looking, interdisciplinary approach will help enhance research outcomes and strengthen its partnership with SONDRA.
