Is Singapore navigating the ‘valley of death’ by creating a nanotech consortium?

Singapore’s new consortium appears to a be a solution to what’s been called the ‘valley of death’ or the ‘lab gap’. At least, that’s what I think it is since my understanding has been drawn from inference rather than direct knowledge.

Here’s a description of the technology and the consortium from the news item on Nanowerk,

Walls that are as colourful as a butterfly’s wing, new non-slip materials, adhesives that do not leave sticky residues, waterproof and anti-bacterial surfaces for everyday use? What’s more amazing is that these can be produced without using chemicals or potentially harmful, eco-unfriendly coatings but merely by carefully engineering the surface or ‘skin’ of materials using a unique method called nanoimprint technology (NIT). IMRE [IMRE Institute of Materials Research and Engineering] scientists have used the method, which involves making uniform, nanometer-sized structures to create a specifically patterned surface that produces a unique property. These often mimic natural surfaces, for example the structures found on lotus leaves so that the new materials are imbued with its waterproofing properties.

“The goal of ICON [Industrial Consortium on Nanoimprint] is to open up NIT’s many benefits to industries and to get them to adopt this versatile technique into some of their existing processes”, said Dr Low Hong Yee, Head of IMRE’s Patterning and Fabrication Group which is driving the consortium.

“ICON is a proactive way for research institutes like IMRE to give back to our stakeholders – industry and ultimately the community”, said Prof Andy Hor, Executive Director of IMRE. “We are confident in the potential of nanoimprint technology and are equally confident that industry will see results in their bottom lines by leveraging on this technology!”

Echoing these views, Prof Low Teck Seng, A*STAR’s Deputy Managing Director (Research), and Executive Director, Science and Engineering Research Council said, “A*STAR is keenly aware of our vast technological capabilities and the need for transferring these technologies to industry, which ultimately benefits the public at large. Industry consortia are but one of the many avenues A*STAR uses to shorten the route, and timeframe, that our research takes to reach your homes.”

In some ways this initiative reminds me of the move in Canada to give industry more access to university laboratories and equipment (at a cost) for industry’s research purposes.

This news item gives me the impression that Singapore is also having innovation issues,

The members of ICON will not only gain first-hand access to the advanced nanoimprint developments in A*STAR but will be able to work on joint, shared cost projects to develop new products and applications resulting in potentially huge savings in R&D costs and resources. Training of their manpower in nanoimprint techniques and tools as well as the prospect of networking with companies that cover the entire spectrum of nanopatterning services are sweeteners for membership.

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