A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research

📈 Data vs. Disease: The Future of Health Innovation 🏥 In today’s hyper-connected world, health threats easily disrupt global health, commerce and industries. Biomedical #innovation is not just an advantage, but a necessity. In Enterprise Singapore’s video on how the #deeptech ecosystem is transforming healthcare, Dr Sebastian Maurer-Stroh shares how Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR (A*STAR BII) harnesses big data in bioinformatics to gain the upperhand in the fight against viruses — tracking their real-time evolution, forecasting future variations, and detecting emerging threats across the globe through cross-border initiatives with The GISAID Initiative. Advancements in digital epidemiology capabilities empower Singapore to punch above its weight in tackling global health challenges, enhancing pandemic prediction and public health. 💪 📺 Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/e4ruVJHm #InnovatewithASTAR

A new national health promotion strategy, Grow Well SG, has been launched to help parents navigate the challenges of raising children in a digital age. With evidence-based guidelines on screen time, this initiative aims to foster healthier lifestyles and support cognitive development in children and adolescents. At the heart of these guidelines is the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, a longitudinal research project led by Dr Evelyn Law, a principal investigator at A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (A*STAR IHDP) and assistant professor at National University of Singapore. Dr Law and her team discovered that children exposed to longer screen times had more "low frequency" waves in brain regions important for attention, indicating less alertness. These findings are crucial as they highlight the long-term impact of screen time on children's cognitive development. Key recommendations from Grow Well SG: 👶 No screens for children under 18 months 🕒 1 hour/day for ages 3-6 🕒 2 hours/day for ages 7-12 This research underscores the importance of collective action – from parents to educators to policymakers – to address the challenges of screen time and ensure our children thrive. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/gNQMeKhc *𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The full article is available only to SPH subscribers.   #ScreenTime #GUSTO #ASTAR #ChildDevelopment #ASTARResearch #ParentingTips

The alternative protein industry has had a transformative 2024—marked by both challenges and breakthroughs. In the latest issue of Asia Pacific Food Industry Magazine, ED of A*STAR Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Dr Sze Tan, shares her perspective in a special foreword, spotlighting APAC’s role as a global testbed for innovation. 💡 What’s shaping the industry in 2025? ✅ Consumer-first innovation: Tackling taste, texture, and nutrition barriers with regional insights ✅ Glocalisation strategies: Leveraging familiar flavours and ingredients to boost acceptance ✅ Public-private collaboration: Advancing research-driven solutions to enhance affordability, nutritional value, and sustainability A*STAR SIFBI’s work has already led to plant-based prototypes like siew mai and gyoza, paving the way for culturally relevant food solutions. 🚀 Read the full foreword and discover fresh insights: https://lnkd.in/ga_wKriY Let’s work together to accelerate a sustainable, delicious, and accessible future for alternative proteins! 🌱 #CreatingGrowth #EnhancingLives #WomeninScience #AlternativeProteins #FoodInnovation #Sustainability #PlantBased #FutureOfFood

Singapore faces growing challenges across multiple sectors as we work towards a greener and more resilient future. Through strategic public-private partnerships, A*STAR empowers industries to adapt and thrive. • Energy: Accelerating low-carbon technologies to support Singapore’s clean energy transition  • Transport: Strengthening rail maintenance capabilities to improve reliability   • Food: Advancing innovations in food processing to build a resilient supply chain  • Mobility: Driving EV battery recycling to foster a circular economy and greener transport systems Discover how A*STAR is shaping a sustainable and resilient future in our Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/gzngMsZC #EnhancingLives #AnnualReport #Sustainability #Innovation

✨ Wishing you a prosperous #LunarNewYear from all of us at A*STAR! ✨ The #YearoftheSnake reminds us of the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. At A*STAR, we remain committed to advancing science, driving innovation, and improving lives. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of breakthroughs and shared success. 🐍 #ASTARWishesYou #CNY2025

🌌 Singapore Joins Worldwide Network GNOME to seek Dark Matter! 🌌 Did you know that 95% of the universe is made up of dark matter and dark energy, yet we know so little about them? Singapore is taking a bold step to uncover this cosmic mystery by officially joining the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers to search for Exotic physics (GNOME), hunting for dark matter and other exotic particles! Through a collaboration between A*STAR, Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Singapore, Singapore’s participation in GNOME will advance local quantum metrology and astrophysical exploration. By combining diverse quantum sensors and machine learning, Singapore will host a state-of-the-art station to support GNOME’s endeavour of turning the Earth into a powerful “global observatory”. Together, we strive to decode the universe’s most profound mysteries, accelerate transformative discoveries in physics, and inspire smart applications — such as biomedical imaging, navigation systems and environmental monitoring. Stay tuned as we embark on this incredible journey to deliver our first search data in 2025! 🔭 Read more about Singapore’s entry to GNOME here: https://lnkd.in/gTHXN-xK.

✨ Pursuing Science in The Little Red Dot ✨   Meet Dr Masafumi Inoue, Senior Principal Scientist at the DxD Hub - Diagnostics Development Hub, who arrived in Singapore from Japan 29 years ago to embark on a scientific journey in our vibrant city-state. ☀️   From witnessing Singapore’s transformation into a global R&D hub to playing a vital role in developing COVID-19 diagnostic kits like the Fortitude kit, Dr Inoue has been at the forefront of innovation. 🚀   In an interview with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Dr Inoue shares how Singapore's collaborative ecosystem, supportive government policies, and cutting-edge facilities have enabled groundbreaking ideas 💡 to become reality.   Dr Inoue also commends Singapore’s excellence in bioscience and invites Japanese companies to explore the opportunities here.   Read more about his scientific journey 👇 https://lnkd.in/gWxp8p_T     Find out more about DxD Hub’s capabilities 👇 https://lnkd.in/g5-H-des   #InnovatewithASTAR #ExcellentScience #CreatingGrowth #EnhancingLives #Diagnostics

🌟 𝗔*𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗝.𝗣. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🌟 Assistant Chief Executive of Innovation & Enterprise, Ms Irene Cheong, recently represented A*STAR in two dynamic panels at the 43rd J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held in San Francisco: DNA of the Singapore Biomedical Ecosystem and Pioneering Partnerships: Spurring Biotech Innovation in Singapore and Beyond with Flagship Pioneering. During the discussions, Ms Cheong highlighted Singapore’s unique strengths as a world-class biomedical hub and gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. Key takeaways from Irene's insights included: 🔹 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? Singapore’s foresight, neutrality, and strategic location make it a gateway to APAC, enabling biotech companies to expand regionally while addressing Asia-prevalent diseases. A*STAR’s collaborations with academic and industry leaders fuel this ecosystem. 🔹 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 Dual-location companies and public-private partnerships can address gaps in scale-up funding and investment appetite. Ms Cheong stressed the need for innovative funding mechanisms and realistic success metrics. 🔹 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 Singapore offers unparalleled opportunities for companies looking to expand, thanks to its robust support for cross-border collaborations and its ability to connect global talent and science. A*STAR remains committed to advancing research, creating impactful solutions, and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers start-ups to scale globally. Together, let’s shape the future of biomedical innovation in Singapore and beyond! #InnovatewithASTAR #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartUps #LifeSciences

🏆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔*𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀! A*STAR celebrates our teams and colleagues who are recognised at the annual Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore) Firefly Awards for their excellence, innovation, and collaboration in advancing economic growth and driving meaningful impact. The Firefly Awards celebrate exceptional contributions across the MTI family, highlighting dedication to progress and innovation. Congratulations to all awardees. 👏 #FacesofASTAR Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) SingHealth