Leveraging Academia-Industry Collabs to Scale-up S&T Innovations

Global challenges are too large to tackle in isolation. The creation of new shared value in public research through academic-industry collaborations are gaining momentum in innovations in the science, life science, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries.

- Chow Woai Sheng

There is a need to recognise and value the contributions that academic-industry collaborations have on both current research and the future of science. As a global leader in the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets, Agilent’s long-term partnerships with academia and universities have helped shape a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Singapore.

Technology is a key driver of research and innovation

New technology and systems are now an important area of concern to governments, and scientific research success increasingly depends upon advanced technology and sustainable innovation. When academic researchers explore problem statements, it is crucial that they have the freedom to pursue different solutions with the help of industries with technology innovation to develop those solutions.

This is the emergence of a new paradigm in academia-industry collaborations where a space is created for professional connections to boost idea sharing, research outcomes and training. The drive for collaboration was further fueled by the Singapore government’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan, part of the National Research Fund (NRF) program in committing S$25 billion to take Singapore’s science and technology to the next stage of development.

Impact of academia-industry collaborations

Academia and industry collaboration comes in many forms, covering a broad range of research areas from small co-funded projects to multi-million-dollar projects with the establishment of iconic analytical facilities that push scientific boundaries to enhance the quality of life for the communities.