If you were to consume a conventional Vitamin C pill, it would disintegrate as soon as it is swallowed, releasing all the Vitamin C at once. In contrast, a controlled-release pill would gradually release the same content, providing sustained absorption throughout the day. Now picture this pill, a hundred times larger in size, treating the environment. This is what Hydroemission, a Singapore-based materials science company, is developing and manufacturing.
Hydroemission’s controlled-release systems are applied across a range of environmental, industrial and consumer applications including air purification, mosquito control, odour management, and water treatment. With their proprietary encapsulation technique, active ingredients like insecticides, preservatives and scents, can be dispersed into the surroundings at a predetermined rate and duration to achieve the intended treatment results.
Looking to further optimise its controlled-release delivery technology for better treatment efficacy over the required period of time, Hydroemission approached IPI to source for potential partners to meet its short and long-term needs.
IPI recognised that the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), was fully equipped with the facilities and capabilities to support Hydroemission, and subsequently recommended and introduced the research institute to them.
Shortly after the introduction in August 2017, both parties entered a collaboration agreement in January 2018 to develop a testing protocol with tailored analytical methods for Hydroemission’s controlled-release delivery system and a three-year collaboration for characterisation studies and shelf-life analysis of its larvicide active ingredients.
“A*STAR ICES is a supportive technology partner with strong technical research capabilities. We are very pleased to collaborate with them and are confident that this partnership facilitated by IPI will enable us to develop new and better products in the future,” said Grace Chew, Technical Director and Co-founder of Hydroemission.
Sub Title
Hydroemission, a Singapore-based materials science company, partnered with IPI to optimise its controlled-release technology, enabling more effective environmental and industrial applications through a strategic collaboration with A*STAR ICES.
Impact Title
Driving Product Innovation and Enhanced Efficacy
Sub Title
Driving Product Innovation and Enhanced Efficacy
Sub Heading
Optimising controlled-release technology through strategic partnership.
At a glance
Materials & Chemicals
Industry
Technology Transfer, Partnership Facilitation
IPI Service
Controlled-release Encapsulation
Key Technology
Add Impact
The collaboration with A*STAR ICES, facilitated by IPI, enabled Hydroemission to develop new and improved controlled-release products. By leveraging advanced analytical methods and characterisation studies, Hydroemission enhanced the efficacy and reliability of its delivery systems, strengthening its position as an innovator in the materials science sector.
Product Innovation
Through access to A*STAR ICES’s research expertise and facilities, Hydroemission was able to optimise its proprietary encapsulation techniques. The partnership supported the development of tailored testing protocols and shelf-life analysis, enabling the company to meet evolving industry requirements and deliver sustained performance in its environmental and industrial applications.
Enhanced Technology Capabilities
Sub Title
Hydroemission partnered with IPI to access advanced research expertise, resulting in a multi-year collaboration with A*STAR ICES to optimise their controlled-release technology for greater efficacy and product innovation.
How it happened
After Hydroemission approached IPI to source potential partners for technology optimisation, IPI assessed the company’s needs and identified A*STAR ICES as a suitable collaborator. IPI made the introduction in August 2017, which quickly led to a formal collaboration agreement by January 2018. The partnership was structured to include the development of tailored analytical methods and a three-year programme of characterisation studies and shelf-life analysis, supporting Hydroemission’s ongoing innovation efforts.
The challenge
Hydroemission sought to improve the performance of its controlled-release technology to ensure more effective and sustained release of active ingredients. This required advancements in both formulation and analytical methods to validate efficacy over time.
Need for Optimised Delivery Systems
To achieve its optimisation goals, Hydroemission needed access to specialised research facilities and expertise in chemical engineering. The company faced limitations in developing tailored testing protocols and comprehensive characterisation studies on its own.
Access to Advanced Research Capabilities
The challenges title
The Challenge
The challenges description
Hydroemission had established itself as a leader in controlled-release systems, leveraging proprietary encapsulation techniques to deliver active ingredients for applications ranging from air purification to mosquito control and water treatment. However, as the demand for more effective and longer-lasting solutions grew, the company faced the challenge of further optimising its controlled-release delivery technology. The goal was to achieve better treatment efficacy over the required period of time, ensuring that active ingredients were released at precisely the right rate and duration to maximise their impact.
To stay ahead in a competitive market and address both short and long-term needs, Hydroemission recognised the necessity of advancing its technology platform. This required not only improvements in the formulation and release mechanisms but also robust analytical methods to characterise and validate the performance of their delivery systems. The company needed access to advanced research capabilities and expertise in chemical engineering to develop tailored testing protocols and conduct comprehensive characterisation studies. Without such enhancements, Hydroemission risked falling behind in delivering innovative products that meet evolving industry standards and customer expectations.
The Solution Title
The Solution
The Solution Description
IPI Singapore identified and facilitated a strategic partnership between Hydroemission and the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Recognising ICES’s advanced facilities and technical expertise, IPI recommended and introduced the research institute to Hydroemission to address their technology optimisation needs.
Following IPI’s introduction in August 2017, Hydroemission and A*STAR ICES entered into a collaboration agreement in January 2018. The partnership focused on developing a testing protocol with tailored analytical methods for Hydroemission’s controlled-release delivery system. Additionally, a three-year collaboration was established to conduct characterisation studies and shelf-life analysis of the company’s larvicide active ingredients. This collaboration enabled Hydroemission to leverage cutting-edge research capabilities, ensuring the development of new and improved products with enhanced efficacy and reliability.
Testimonial Section
Testimonial title
Client Perspective
Testimonial description
"A*STAR ICES is a supportive technology partner with strong technical research capabilities. We are very pleased to collaborate with them and are confident that this partnership facilitated by IPI will enable us to develop new and better products in the future."
Testimonial Name
Grace Chew
Testimonial Designation
Technical Director, Co-founder, Hydroemission
Business impact Heading
Business Impact
Business impact title
Accelerated product innovation and enhanced technology capabilities
Impact scores
Counter Text
Years of Collaboration
Counter Text
Partnerships Enabled
Overview
Hydroemission is a Singapore-based materials science company developing and manufacturing controlled-release systems for a wide range of environmental, industrial and consumer applications. Their proprietary encapsulation technique allows active ingredients such as insecticides, preservatives and scents to be dispersed at a predetermined rate and duration, achieving targeted treatment results in areas like air purification, mosquito control, odour management, and water treatment.
Slug
collaboration-enables-optimisation-of-controlled-release-technology
