Features

Singapore — a knowledge-based economy known for its business efficiency and global competitiveness — is fast becoming the information and communications technology (ICT) capital of the world. In 2013, the World Economic Forum ranked Singapore as the most ‘network-ready’ country in Asia, well ahead of its neighbors Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

In view of rapid growth in Singapore’s infocommunications sector, the A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) has partnered with key players in Singapore’s ICT economy to found REACH@I²R (REsearch And Commercialization Hub), a cluster of joint laboratories designed to nurture technological innovation that meets the needs of multiple industries.

“REACH@I²R brings together a diversity of scientific capabilities to address the specific needs of local and international companies,” says Lee Shiang Long, executive director of I²R. More than 130 research and development personnel are already working in the joint laboratories and their expertise is helping to accelerate co-innovations with industry partners in finance, energy, telecommunications, healthcare, transportation, media and entertainment. “REACH@I²R truly epitomizes our concept of marrying research with industry,” Lee affirms.

To ensure the greatest impact, Lee is leading REACH@I²R with a system approach that harnesses I²R’s diverse range of scientific capabilities and is supported by several key initiatives, including the creation of a vibrant ‘ecosystem’ for ICT research that incorporates multinational and globally competitive companies, as well as small and medium enterprises. REACH@I²R focuses on fostering ICT innovation that brings value to Singapore’s economy, setting up the necessary infrastructure and processes for tighter integration with industry, as well as working with local government to ensure sustained investment in ICT in Singapore.

Already, the REACH@I²R cluster has produced several original ICT solutions. In the field of healthcare, these include a system for assessing visual acuity, performing augmented-reality laser surgery and detecting eye diseases, co-developed with Singapore’s National Healthcare Group and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, as well as technologies for detecting myopia, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, in collaboration with Japanese optical equipment manufacturer Topcon.

REACH@I²R is also making progress in the area of communications, including the development of energy-efficient networks for high-capacity communications, in conjunction with Singapore’s ST Electronics. In the area of human language and speech technologies, REACH@I²R laboratories are creating software for voice authentication, speech recognition, real-time interpretation and automated dialog replacement. One such example is a voice recognition software for unlocking smartphones, developed with Chinese web services company Baidu.

In the automotive industry, in conjunction with the Chinese automobile and new-energy company BYD, REACH@I²R is developing autonomous technologies for driving vehicles remotely, activating brakes and steering wheels. In the energy sector, smart grids for the production and distribution of electricity with significantly improved connectivity, security, stability and intelligence are the focus of a REACH@I²R collaboration with energy utility group Singapore Power.

Singapore’s positioning as an attractive gateway for companies looking to grow internationally has made A*STAR a partner of choice for the co-creation of knowledge and innovation for the global market. “We have many companies that are proactively investing in joint labs at REACH@I²R. They have faith in our capabilities and decided to co-innovate with us on a sustained basis to create a competitive edge for themselves,” notes Lee. “Embracing research and development in this way is set to positively impact the infocommunications ecosystem in Singapore.”

About the Insitute for Infocomm Research

The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), Singapore’s largest information and communications technology research institute, is a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) family. Established in 2002, the I²R’s vision is to power a vibrant and strong infocomm ecosystem in Singapore. The I²R focuses on conducting mission-oriented research to address key challenges faced locally. At the I²R, intelligence, communications and media (ICM) form three strategic thrusts. The institute’s research capabilities cover information technology, wireless and optical communication networks, interactive and digital media, sensors, signal processing and computing. The I²R performs research and development in ICM technologies to develop holistic solutions across the ICM value chain, believing that the greatest impact is created when research outcomes are translated into technologies that partners can readily deploy at a competitive advantage.