A*STAR and Enterprise Singapore are working towards expanding the Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-Up) programme to include researchers from Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). The proposed expansion would give local companies access to a wider pool of scientific and technical expertise for research, product development and commercialisation.
Announced by Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Energy, Trade and Industry, at the T-Up Awards 2026 during Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) on 29 October, the expansion is envisaged to be introduced progressively, subject to partnership arrangements being worked out with the institutions. The ceremony also recognised four A*STAR researchers, nominated by their respective companies, for contributions to regenerative medicine, AI-powered rehabilitation and construction automation technologies.
Expanding access to research capabilities
Established in 2003, T-Up places A*STAR researchers and engineers within local enterprises for up to two years. These secondments allow companies to work directly with specialists on technical challenges, develop products and processes, create intellectual property and strengthen their internal research and development capabilities. More than 1,000 researchers have been seconded to over 500 companies since the programme began, including nearly 300 researchers who worked with more than 150 businesses across different industries in the past five years. Companies supported through T-Up recorded 65% higher R&D spending, 44% higher revenue and 22% higher employment than similar firms that did not participate in the programme, according to A*STAR.
The proposed expansion would extend access to research expertise beyond A*STAR’s institutes, enabling researchers from IHLs to work directly with enterprises on industry challenges. This arrangement would give companies a wider range of specialist knowledge to draw upon while creating more opportunities for researchers to apply their expertise in commercial settings. For businesses that struggle to build in-house research capabilities, the programme provides an avenue to work with researchers on specific technical and product development requirements, though the expansion remains dependent on partnership arrangements being finalised with the higher learning institutions.
Healthcare projects advance clinical development and AI validation
Two of the four researchers recognised at the 2026 awards worked with CareCam, a Singapore company developing AI-powered technologies for mobility assessment and rehabilitation. The company’s 3DGait platform uses a single tablet camera to assess walking patterns and mobility, supporting applications such as rehabilitation and frailty screening. Because earlier validation had primarily involved healthy adults, further technical improvements and clinical testing were needed to support its use among patients with more complex mobility conditions.
To advance the platform, Dr Ramanpreet Singh Pahwa, a Senior Scientist from A*STAR’s Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing (IAIC), was seconded to CareCam from May 2024 to May 2025. His work focused on improving the platform’s AI and sensing capabilities, including enhancements to pose estimation algorithms, the integration of LiDAR technology and the introduction of additional clinical assessment features. These improvements supported 3DGait’s development for wider healthcare use and enabled deployment at an enterprise scale, while generating new intellectual property and strengthening CareCam’s technical capabilities.
Dr Guo Ling, also a Senior Scientist from IAIC, worked with CareCam from March 2024 to March 2025, focusing on validating 3DGait for stroke rehabilitation, where patients may exhibit atypical walking patterns that require more specialised assessment. She led work covering clinical study design, patient recruitment, data collection, quality control and algorithm development. The validation process included comparisons with gold-standard motion capture systems to assess the platform’s accuracy and reliability for patients with stroke and other complex mobility conditions. Her contributions also helped CareCam establish internal capabilities for clinical AI validation, supporting future product development and healthcare deployment. According to Gan, CareCam has since deployed 3DGait clinically across public hospitals and polyclinics in Singapore and expanded overseas, including into the United States.
Another award recipient, Dr Beatrice Ho from A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, worked with BetaLife, a Singapore biotechnology company developing stem cell-based regenerative medicine treatments for diabetes and other chronic diseases. BetaLife’s research involves human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which can be developed into different cell types, including pancreatic islet cells with potential applications in diabetes treatment. Developing these therapies requires evidence of their feasibility and manufacturing processes capable of supporting further development.
During her secondment from July 2023 to June 2025, Dr Ho led efforts to develop clinical-grade stem cells and validate pancreatic islet cells derived from hiPSCs. She also helped establish scalable manufacturing processes and generate intellectual property, strengthening BetaLife’s research capabilities. The collaboration supported the growth of BetaLife’s research team and strengthened its ability to secure funding and partnerships. BetaLife has since expanded into China through a joint venture with local partners to advance its clinical development work.
Genios deploys first commercial Intelligent Lifting Frame
The fourth award recipient, Dr Joel Stephen Short from A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), contributed to the development of Genios’ Intelligent Lifting Frame (iLF). Genios is a Singapore company developing lifting and automation technologies for the construction industry. Its iLF is designed to improve stability and control when lifting heavy prefabricated components, helping to reduce load sway and support safer handling during construction operations.
Before moving the technology from a research prototype towards commercial use, Genios needed to refine and validate the system’s control mechanisms. Dr Short, who was seconded to Genios from July 2025 to January 2026, led work on the development and refinement of anti-sway and flywheel-gyro control algorithms. His contributions included testing and validation of the control systems, alongside the preparation of operator training materials to support deployment. The work helped improve load stability and strengthened the operational knowledge needed to use the equipment commercially, with A*STAR reporting that the project helped Genios deploy its first commercial Intelligent Lifting Frame.
