Exploit Technologies, the marketing and commercialisation arm of A*Star, contributes news and articles for emerging technologies that are ready for the market. This follows a wide ranging discussion held in August between SHTA President, Mr Sunny Chin and Ms Woo Kwai Merng, Executive Vice-President of Exploit Technologies.

Picture: SHTA meets Exploit Technologies. From L to R:  Ms Esther Yeo, Manager, Science & Engr Commercialisation. Ms Woo Kwai Meng, Exec VP, Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Science & Engr Comericalisation. Ms Seeto Wei Peng, VP, Head, Corp Marcom and Mr Sunny Chin, President SHTA.

Invitation for SHTA News Column

Following a friendly and informal meeting with SHTA and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd or ETPL (the marketing and commercialization arm of A*Star) on 17 August, Mr Sunny Chin, President of SHTA and Ms Woo Kwai Merng, Executive Vice-President of ETPL have agreed to explore how both organisations can work together to encourage technology adoption amongst companies based in Singapore. One proposal that will be followed up on is the contribution of articles to SHTA’s website’s ‘Emerging Technology’ column by A*Star Exploit Technologies – a key driver of new technology transfer in Singapore.

Mr Chin explained how the column seeks to help SHTA members to learn more about and be exposed to new emerging technologies. On EPTL ‘s part, Ms Woo said they look forward to introducing inventions and new technologies that can be developed by companies to not just launch new products but also help them sustain and improve on their current processes, making them more efficient and the latest technologies to improve on current or new products to enlarge their present customer base.

In the next update of the SHTA website, some of the subjects for the column that were discussed include innovations and possible applications of new membrane technology, electrical micro-grid systems and developments in the technical-mechanical side of life science technologies. Other possible topics include profile interviews of the scientists and engineers for insights into how they developed the new technologies.

Ms Woo also said that through the column or talks, EPTL can also highlight other issues that are associated with acquiring new technologies. She said that in looking for potential collaborating partners, companies considering acquiring new technologies need to realise more often than not, the technologies do not come ready-made and to-use on a platter. They need to be fabricated, designed and packaged. Mr Chin said, “Technology invention alone cannot make it without productisation and commercialization. Sometimes it can incubate better in a business environment than just in the lab as the end user is the market validator.”

Another topic related to acquiring emerging technologies that Ms Woo felt Singapore companies, especially SMEs, need to have a mind-set change and more knowledge about is Intellectual Property (IP) rights. How Singapore businesses view and exploit IP is important and is a major issue in the licensing of new technology.