MINDEF AND NTU STRENGTHEN DEFENCE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP

A super-elastic ceramic that can bend and recover its shape upon heating may well be used to create body armour to protect our soldiers in the future. And a special algorithm will allow our military radio communications systems to pick up weak signals in a noisy environment.

These are just two of the many defence scientific breakthroughs achieved by scientists from the Temasek Laboratories at Nanyang Technological University (TL@NTU) since its establishment in 2003.

The research centre is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and NTU to develop technological solutions to enhance the defence of Singapore. Over the last 10 years, it has grown from three research programmes and 10 scientists, to 15 research programmes and over 200 researchers and staff today.

Speaking at the TL@NTU's 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony and technology showcase held at NTU on 15 Jan, Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing noted that technology had been a key pillar of Singapore's defence, enabling the country to overcome its limited space, manpower and budget.

Citing the example of how defence scientists had upgraded and developed the Republic of Singapore Navy's frigates and the Army's SAR 21 rifle, Mr Chan said: "MINDEF has therefore made it our mission to build up a robust defence science and technology ecosystem in MINDEF, DSTA and DSO... The work of the defence technology community, in applied research, system development and engineering support, ensures that the SAF is always equipped with the right hardware and technology."

He added that MINDEF had also tapped on the larger scientific and technological community, internationally and locally, for innovative ideas.

In his speech, Mr Chan noted that MINDEF's collaboration with NTU dated back to some 25 years back, and this underscored its commitment to a continued partnership with NTU.

In the last 25 years, MINDEF and NTU has collaborated to set up other research centres, focusing on energetic materials, satellite technology, protective technology and electro-magnetics.

And this partnership is set to be strengthened, with the creation of a new Office of Research and Technology in Defence and Security (ORTDS) at NTU later this year, to spearhead NTU's new strategic thrust in the area of defence science. ORTDS will bring all NTU defence-related research centres and laboratories under its wing, including the TL@NTU.

NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson, who announced this at the ceremony, said: "NTU is a big university and we have many collaborations with MINDEF and other defence organisations. We need to coordinate that to make it more efficient, to know what the left hand and right hand are doing.

"Therefore we have to put up this office where a lot of the defence-related research is going to be put together, coordinated and funded, and have a more direct dialogue with MINDEF."

Mr Chan said he was pleased that NTU would further strengthen its partnership with MINDEF by embarking on the new strategic thrust in defence and security research, and that he was "confident that this new focus area will enhance NTU's research capacities to continue generating great ideas and translate them into cutting-edge capabilities to meet the SAF's technology needs".

He also noted that TL@NTU innovations had not only contributed to Singapore's defence but also to the commercial sector.

For example, a type of microchips, jointly developed by TL@NTU and DSO National Laboratories, can be used in military sensors and communication systems as well as in commercial vehicle radar systems and smart phones.

"This is an example of MINDEF stretching our defence dollars, by developing technologies that not only contribute to the security and defence of Singapore but also have commercial applications to benefit all Singaporeans in their daily lives," said Mr Chan.

Such "dual-purpose" research will be a key feature in the new NTU research thrust.

Chief Defence Scientist Professor Quek Tong Boon lauded TL@NTU's achievements and attributed its success to its ability to translate research breakthroughs into real-world applications.

Referring to the works exhibited at the technology showcase, Professor Quek said: "The work that you see here in the radar system and micro system - these are real technologies that (TL@NTU) has created for us, which make a difference to our defence.

"If I look back over the last 10 years, what TL@NTU has done for us is very significant and impressive, and I look forward to TL@NTU continuing to contribute, to make a difference for Singapore."