2. Speeches
Speech by Second Minister S Iswaran at the International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT) at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre
29 June 2015
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Prof BVR Chowdari, President, Materials Research Society, Singapore, and Organizing Chairman, ICMAT,
Prof Hanns-Ulrich Habermeier, President, International Union of Materials Research Societies,
Prof Freddy Boey, Provost, Nanyang Technological University,
Distinguished Conference Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
1. Good morning. I am pleased to join you today for the 8th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT).
2. This year’s edition is special, as it is being held in collaboration with the 16th International Union of Materials Research Societies International Conference in Asia, and the 4th Photonics Global Conference. The joint conference is taking place for the first time, bringing together 2,200 delegates from all over the world. The pooling together of expertise and knowledge in advanced materials through the 3 conferences will promote networking and sharing, leading to unique opportunities to forge new partnerships and collaborations.
R&D and innovation are key components of Singapore’s economic strategy
3. The Singapore Government is committed to supporting R&D as a critical enabler for economic growth and competitiveness. Since the launch of the first five-year National Technology Plan in 1991, the Singapore Government’s public investment in research, innovation and enterprise has increased by eight-fold, from S$2 billion (USD$1.5 billion) in 1991 to S$16.1 billion (USD$12.1 biliion) under the current Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2015) plan.
4. As part of the Government’s investment, we have supported advanced materials R&D as a critical enabling technology. Many cutting-edge devices across a spectrum of industry sectors ranging from electronics, aerospace, clean technology and biotechnology depend on the development of materials with specific properties to perform highly specialised functions. Recognising this, Singapore’s investment in research and innovation has supported the development of a strong base of materials research capabilities in our public research institutes and institutes of higher learning, as well as through public sector research collaborations with industry.
5. We have seen several successes in our materials research scene. For example, researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) have produced the highest resolution printed colour images that are physically possible, using nano-patterned gold and silver as “ink”. This research has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The same team followed up with innovations that not only made the image more photorealistic, but used more scaleable processing methods and cheaper materials such as aluminium. They have successfully reproduced a micron-sized version of Claude Monet’s Impression Sunrise in full colour and detail. This advance could pave the way towards a new generation of low-cost, high-resolution color printing with direct applications in security tagging, cryptography, and information storage. The inventors are currently in discussions with companies to use their technology to create forge-proof security marks on high-value items.
6. Local expertise in materials science and technology has also enabled us to make inroads into the medical devices sector. For example, Amaranth Medical Inc, a medical device company that develops and manufactures a novel technology platform for fully bioresorbable
scaffolds, emerged through the collaboration between Kamal Ramzipoor, President and Chief Executive of Amaranth Medical, and two polymer experts at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Professors Freddy Boey and Subbu Venkatraman. The scaffolds, which have several advantages over typical metal stents, such as strength and flexibility, and a unique drug delivery capability
, are currently undergoing clinical trials in South America.
Strong linkages between public research institutions and industry are key to ensuring that research outcomes translate into benefits for the economy and society
7. Strong linkages between research institutions and industry are important drivers for materials R&D in Singapore, and help to ensure that the outcomes from materials R&D lead to results that have economic impact and address societal needs.
8. Examples of such partnerships are the two joint labs between A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Engineering. The first lab undertakes R&D in natural fibre composites in collaboration with industry. The use of fibres such as flax, hemp, jute or sisal in the composites industry is currently limited. With NUS’ expertise and SIMTech’s experience, the Natural Fibre Composites Joint Lab is working on applications for natural fibres with enhanced properties for the manufacturing sector. This market is expected to grow with a cumulative annual growth rate of 11 per cent over the next five years, due to the need for light-weight, cost-effective products and push for sustainability.
9. The second Large Format Machining Joint Lab focuses on machining and tool development, complex parts machining capability and in-situ machining process monitoring. These capabilities are key to enhancing the competencies of local precision manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul companies in undertaking high value manufacturing of large and complex parts.
10. Besides working with local companies, our public research institutes have also collaborated with large multinational corporations with positive outcomes. Mitsui Chemicals began its relationship with IMRE in 2005, due to IMRE’s strengths in polymers and nanocomposites. Arising from the collaboration projects, four joint patents between A*STAR and Mitsui Chemicals have been filed. One of these patents is on “hard coating materials”, which is based on POSS
clay which has since been commercialized by Mitsui. The technology has been applied to optical lens to provide these with excellent weather and scratch resistance.
ICMAT is an excellent platform for the international materials science research community to share research advances, network and build partnerships
11. Partnerships among researchers are critical to advances in science and technology. International conferences such as ICMAT provide excellent platforms in bringing together scientists from all over the world to network, learn and discuss ideas which could seed new ideas and partnerships. I am therefore encouraged to see that ICMAT has grown from strength to strength as a key global conference in the materials research events calendar. The joint organisation of ICMAT this year with the 16th International Conference of the International Union of Materials Research Societies, and the 4th Photonics Global Conference is yet another milestone which marks international recognition of the conference.
12. I am also glad to note that in keeping with ICMAT’s global positioning as a key materials conference, we have with us notable luminaries of materials science who will be giving keynote lectures at the conference. Professor Subra Suresh, who will deliver the first plenary lecture, entitled “Materials Science in Medicine”, is the current President of Carnegie Mellon University in the USA. His previous posts include being the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering at MIT.
13. The second plenary lecture will be delivered by Professor Michael Graetzel, on “The Advent of Mesoscopic
Solar Cells”. Professor Graetzel, who leads the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, is the 2010 winner of the Millenium Technology Prize, the world’s largest technology prize. Prof Graetzel is no stranger to Singapore, having close associations with both NUS and NTU. I am sure the community gathered here will greatly benefit from their presentations at the conference.
Conclusion
14. On this note, I would like to wish all participants an intellectually stimulating and fruitful meeting, which I hope will lead to the seeding of new partnerships and collaborations. Thank you.
http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/06/Full-Color-Printing-Aluminum-Nanostructures.html
Bioresorbable materials are materials that can be broken down by the body, and do not require mechanical removal, e.g. bioresorbable sutures.
Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane
Mesoscopic refers to materials with dimensions between those of atoms to micrometres. As a comparison, the thickness of a strand of human hair is about 100 micrometres.