22 November 2018

Driving the future of Singapore’s innovation and enterprise

NUS Engineering Dean Prof Chua Kee Chaing launched the inaugural Industry. He hoped that the event is the first in a series of forums to interact and exchange ideas with industry partners.
NUS Engineering Dean Prof Chua Kee Chaing launched the inaugural Industry. He hoped that the event is the first in a series of forums to interact and exchange ideas with industry partners.

NUS Engineering held its inaugural Industry Day on 21 November 2018. Titled "Enabling Industry Innovation", the event aims to bring together partners from industry, government and academia to explore and collaborate in driving the future of Singapore's innovation and enterprise.

NUS Engineering Dean Prof Chua Kee Chaing kick-started the first Industry Day with a welcome speech. Prof Chua hoped that the event is the first in a series of forums to interact and exchange ideas with industry partners.

The two keynote speakers represented the government and industry. Mr Chiu Wen Tung, Group Director (Research & Development) of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) presented some of the digital tools used by URA in city planning for Singapore, while the Head of Airbus Aerial Asia Dr Bernard Leong shared with the participants the various solutions that the company has been working on, including disaster recovery and real estate inspection using unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones.

Assoc Prof Chua Kian Jon, Ernest explaining how the “Green” Air – the revolutionary air conditioner -works.
Assoc Prof Chua Kian Jon, Ernest explaining how the “Green” Air – the revolutionary air conditioner -works.

A panel discussion moderated by Prof Yoon Soon-Fatt, NUS Engineering Vice Dean (Industry), focused on the impact of digital transformation on research, enterprise and education. The panelists comprising Dr Leong, Mr Chiu, President of New Enterprises & Ventures at ST Engineering Mr Russell Tham and NUS Senior Vice President (Graduate Education & Research Translation) Prof Freddy Boey discussed topics such as the changes that have to be implemented to education in this digital era, the juxtaposition between data privacy and collection of data necessary for digital tools, as well as the push and pull factors of industry-academia partnerships.

An exhibition showcasing over 20 NUS Engineering research projects, in various themes from water to energy, were set up to facilitate conversations between the Faculty's researchers and industry representatives. Some projects featured included an innovative water treatment system that uses UV LED module for water purification, a water-absorbing hydrogel, a compressor-less cooling system, jagged edge noise barriers, as well as facial-and speech recognition software and application.

The exhibition will remain open for viewing till Saturday, 24 November at NUS Engineering Block EA.

A panel discussion moderated by Prof Yoon Soon-Fatt, NUS Engineering Vice Dean (Industry), focused on the impact of digital transformation on research, enterprise and education. From left: Prof Yoon, NUS Senior Vice President (Graduate Education & Research Translation) Prof Freddy Boey, President of New Enterprises & Ventures at ST Engineering Mr Russell Tham, Mr Chiu and Dr Leong.
A panel discussion moderated by Prof Yoon Soon-Fatt, NUS Engineering Vice Dean (Industry), focused on the impact of digital transformation on research, enterprise and education. From left: Prof Yoon, NUS Senior Vice President (Graduate Education & Research Translation) Prof Freddy Boey, President of New Enterprises & Ventures at ST Engineering Mr Russell Tham, Mr Chiu and Dr Leong.

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