SinFooTech is all for creating a cleaner, greener future. So, when the local start-up discovered a method of turning soy whey − a by-product of tofu production − into a fruity and floral beverage, they spied a tasty opportunity for an alcoholic drink that checked all the eco-friendly boxes.
A chance encounter with IPI in 2015 evolved into a unique opportunity for Nipo International to collaborate with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on a groundbreaking innovation which can potentially help save money, lives and the environment. As a manufacturer of coating systems for the construction industry, Nipo is always exploring new technologies to bridge technology supply and demand.
GIIAVA’s partnership with NUS, sparked off by IPI, aims to repurpose low-grade vegetable oil for higher value-added uses, which increases revenue yet benefits the environment.
Dr Yashodhan Bhawe stood in front of several large tanks, looking puzzled. He was expecting a straightforward scale-up for a new vegetable oil upgrading process, but things turned awry when “big masses of blobs” were produced instead.
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.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones are becoming more popular for both recreational and commercial purposes. Due to the limitations of current lithium batteries, manufacturers are looking for alternative power solutions to keep drones in the air longer and reduce the inconvenience of recharging or changing batteries shortly after a flight.
In the construction industry, coatings are widely used for decorative and functional purposes. Examples of functional applications include anti-corrosion, water resistance and heat reflection. Nipo International Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based coatings specialist manufacturer, was keen to expand its capabilities. It was also looking into more environmentally sustainable solutions combined with enhanced performance due to changing market demands.
Collaboration can bring about solutions that cannot be produced in-house alone. The real challenge often lies in finding the right partner with the right competencies. Mase International Marketing Services, a leading distributor of cosmetics and toiletries in Asia, had previously found a partner via IPI’s network to develop a novel dye ingredient for a new range of hair dye products that limits hair damage and retains colour for a longer period.
Established in 1976, Mase International Marketing Services started off as a distributor of hair colour products. Over the years, the company has grown to become a leading distributor of cosmetics and toiletries products in Asia. Mase places great emphasis on innovation in Research & Development (R&D) in its hair products and is the only Singapore SME in this field with an R&D facility focusing primarily on hair dyes and hair growth formulations.
Wangi Industrial is one of the pioneers and value providers of high-quality surface finishing, technical glass, precision optics and optical thin-film coating solutions.
A firm believer of the need to constantly innovate, Mr Chew Ker Yee, Vice-President of Wangi, always seeks to collaborate with customers and machines suppliers to develop new products. However, working with these groups sometimes do not yield the desired outcomes.