Even before she entered university, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Environmental & Water Technology graduate Jocelyn Tay already got a headstart in research work.

In her final year in poly, she took on a research internship where she assisted research engineers at NP’s Environmental & Water Technology Centre of Innovation in a project to recycle discarded glass into ecofriendly building materials.

The transfer of knowledge and expertise from researchers to students has always been a major part of NP’s technology thrust. In the next few years, technology development will continue to propel NP forward in its research and innovation initiatives.

CONSOLIDATING RESEARCH EFFORTS

Before she graduated from Ngee Ann, Jocelyn Tay (left) gained valuable experience assisting research engineer Dr Sun Xiaolong in developing building materials out of waste glass.

The Technology Development Office will identify and evaluate the market potential of four key technology clusters:

Sustainable development, bioscience technology, digital media and intelligent systems, and nanotechnology and advanced materials. This, in turn, will help NP increase collaborations with the industry on research projects with commercialisation potential.

Over the last three years, NP has been involved in more than 200 consultancy projects and obtained substantial grants of more than $10 million to fund its R&D initiatives.

Mr Foo See Meng, Deputy Principal of NP, who is leading the effort, said, “We hope to turn our ideas into new products that are useful to the economy, bringing applicable research results that will benefit the industry.”

DEVELOPING STAFF CAPABILITY THROUGH R&D

A key aspect of Ngee Ann’s technology thrust involves students working closely with researchers in R&D work to benefit the industry.

The two Centres of Innovation, which now come under the purview of the Technology Development Office, help to develop small and medium enterprises by helping them adopt technology to create products that can compete in a global marketplace.

In addition, lecturers from academic departments will be seconded to these Centres of Innovation from time to time, so that they can be involved in research development and be at the forefront of the latest technological developments.

“Teaming up staff and students to work together in R&D projects is a highly effective method of capability development. In this way, we’re prepared to meet the challenge of a knowledge-driven economy that is characterised by rapidly changing technology,” said Mr Foo.