With increased recognition of the environmental impact and the potential loss in value of the by-products from aquatic wastes, such as frog and fish, which have been traditionally discarded, researchers are increasingly looking at how to recover biomaterials such as collagen and develop them into high value-added products for various applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.
Armstrong Industrial Corporation (Armstrong), a leading Singapore manufacturing group with operations in Asia covering the data storage, electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial sectors, was exploring relevant technologies in new sectors that could leverage its foam, rubber and elastomer expertise. Health and personal care applications was one such potential area. Through IPI’s Tech Alert service and open innovation platform, Armstrong was introduced to Collagreen Tech Pte Ltd (Collagreen), a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University that develops methods to recycle bio-waste from the local frog farms and fisheries into high-value collagen.
In February 2017, a related Armstrong entity and Collagreen formalised a collaboration to develop collagen-based products for the medical, consumer cosmetic skin care and food & beverage industries. This collaboration included working together on specific projects as well as investment in a minority equity stake in Collagreen.
“Armstrong and Collagreen share a vision to synergistically create a high-value innovation-led business that leverages the scientific, operational and commercial strengths that each party has individually,” said Phyllis Ong, Deputy CEO of Armstrong.
“Collagreen’s business is strongly committed to developing innovative technologies to extract and transform bio-waste into products that fill a market niche. With our experience in extracting bio-active collagen, we are confident that the collaboration with Armstrong will accelerate the development of our collagen products for various interesting applications in the near future,” commented Chelsea Wan, Managing Director of Collagreen.
The traditional disposal of aquatic by-products, such as those from frogs and fish, has long posed environmental concerns and resulted in a significant loss of potential value. As awareness grows about the environmental impact of such waste, there is increasing interest in finding ways to recover valuable biomaterials like collagen from these sources. However, the challenge lies not only in developing effective extraction technologies but also in identifying viable commercial applications that can transform what was once considered waste into high-value products. Armstrong, with its established presence in manufacturing and materials expertise, recognized the opportunity to diversify into new sectors such as health and personal care. Yet, entering these markets required access to innovative technologies and partners capable of transforming aquatic waste into usable biomaterials. The company needed a way to bridge its operational strengths with cutting-edge scientific advancements to create products that meet the demands of the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.
IPI Singapore introduced Armstrong Industrial Corporation to Collagreen Tech Pte Ltd through its Tech Alert service and open innovation platform. Collagreen, a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University, specializes in developing innovative methods to recycle bio-waste from local frog farms and fisheries into high-value collagen. By facilitating this connection, IPI enabled Armstrong to access new scientific expertise and technology that aligned with its strategic goals. Following this introduction, Armstrong and Collagreen formalized a collaboration in February 2017 to jointly develop collagen-based products targeting the medical, consumer cosmetic skin care, and food & beverage industries. The partnership encompassed joint project development as well as Armstrong's minority equity investment in Collagreen, leveraging both parties' scientific, operational, and commercial strengths to accelerate product innovation and market entry.
"Armstrong and Collagreen share a vision to synergistically create a high-value innovation-led business that leverages the scientific, operational and commercial strengths that each party has individually."
"Collagreen’s business is strongly committed to developing innovative technologies to extract and transform bio-waste into products that fill a market niche. With our experience in extracting bio-active collagen, we are confident that the collaboration with Armstrong will accelerate the development of our collagen products for various interesting applications in the near future."
Armstrong Industrial Corporation (Armstrong) is a leading Singapore manufacturing group with operations across Asia, serving sectors such as data storage, electronics, automotive, consumer, and industrial markets. The company sought to expand into new sectors by leveraging its expertise in foam, rubber, and elastomer technologies, with a particular interest in health and personal care applications.