One of London’s top universities said it will strengthen the UK’s ties with Singapore as it opened a research centre there.
Imperial College launched the new centre which will see its scientists working closely with university, industry and government partners in the city state.
It is the first time Imperial has set up a research centre of this kind outside the UK in its 117-year history.
The first research project to be undertaken at the centre aims to improve the security of medical devices and health data.
A spokeswoman for Imperial said the centre will open a gateway for stronger science and technology ties between London and Singapore and will enable Imperial to expand activity in the region.
Imperial staff and PhD students will be working in laboratories at the centre alongside people from Singapore’s top universities and institutes. They will work on projects to tackle major globalchallenges such as pandemic preparedness, climate, the transition to net zero, and artificial intelligence.
The centre will be known as Imperial Global: Singapore.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London said: “We are immensely excited to further boost Imperial's contribution to Singapore's research and innovation ecosystem."Imperial Global: Singapore will connect with world-leading science and technology in Singapore and Southeast Asia and open a gateway for stronger collaboration with the UK.”
The first research programme to be carried out at the centre, which will improve the security of medical devices and health data, is called IN-CYPHER, and will be undertaken in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Academics from Imperial and NTU Singapore will develop betterways to protect implantable active devices, such as pacemakers, and secure the data protection of connected wearables and healthcare systems.â¯
As technology in healthcare improves and more personal data arecollected and stored, there have been security concerns about the risks and threats of personal data being stolen or medical devices operation being disrupted by accidental or malicious actors.
The new centre will be based at the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE). CREATE is an international research campusand innovation hub that hosts interdisciplinary research centres from top global universities and research institutes to work in collaboration with local institutions.
Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) of Imperial College London, said: “Joining CREATE will kickstart a pipeline of innovative research and technology between scientists and engineers at Imperial and partners in Singapore. Global challenges such as health, climate and sustainability cannot be tackled by one country alone, we need to collaborate around the world to develop and shareideas and breakthroughs.”
British High Commissioner to Singapore, Kara Owen, said: "In September 2023 our two Prime Ministers committed to work together in science, innovation, research and technology to develop solutions to tackle global challenges and drive economic growth, and to safeguard our future security and bolster economic prosperity. This partnership could not be a better example of what they meant: a long-term partnership commitment, fusing academic and research excellence with the innovation of our private sectors on a critical issue for our people. I offer my warm congratulations and can’t wait to see what this collaboration produces.”
Imperial college already has 350 students from Singapore, and 3000 alumni who call Singapore home.
