Diagnostics Innovation Hub Launched in Singapore

Led by A*STAR and its commercialization arm, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd. (ETPL), the hub “will bring together clinicians, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and industry professionals onto a common platform to fast track the development of clinically-validated, market-ready diagnostic tools and solutions,” the government noted. “Through their participation, diagnostics ecosystem partners will gain experience and acquire the knowledge of taking diagnostic products through the process of validation, testing, regulation and, finally marketing and commercialization.”

Multi-nationals such as Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Thermo Fisher Scientific, along with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups are among a number of partnerships that already are supporting the hub initiative, the government said.

Overseas firms supporting the initiative include South Korean SME Gencurix. Managing director Lorenzo Kim said the hub is helping his company to “successfully take the first step” towards establishing a diagnostics research and development service centre in Singapore.

“The hub is committed to embrace a borderless one-Singapore approach to catalyse the growth of the industry so as to establish Singapore as a global hub for diagnostics innovation and development,” DxD CEO Sidney Yee said. “Singapore is both a gateway to the rest of Asia, as well as a channel to access the international markets.”

A*Star oversees 18 biomedical and physical sciences and engineering research entities centred in the country’s twin research hubs of “Biopolis” and “Fusionopolis.” Biopolis is home to biomedical research institutes and private research organizations while Fusionopolis is a “self-sustaining environment,” which A*Star said makes the zone an idea “test-bedding site” for new technologies.

According to A*Star’s Science, Technology & Enterprise Plan for 2015, “the long term aim is for Singapore to be among the most research intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economies in the world in order to create high value jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans.” The agency’s commercialization arm manages the intellectual properties resulting from A*Star research.

Since launching the country’s first national technology plan in 1991, total R&D expenditure has increased from about 760 million Singapore dollars (SGD) ($610m) SGD 6.5 billion ($5bn) in 2010, Singapore’s National Research Foundation said.