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In a bid to bolster digital economic growth across the Asia Pacific region, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and an international company that drives global commerce through digital innovation, have embarked on a strategic collaboration. Over the next five years, the partnership aims to spearhead groundbreaking research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), leveraging the company’s industry expertise and NTU Singapore’s research prowess.
The Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA), signed during Singapore’s Personal Data Protection (PDP) Week, marks a significant milestone in advancing digital trust. Witnessed by Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the agreement was formalised by the Chief Technology Officer of the company, and Professor Lam Khin Yong, Vice President (Industry) at NTU Singapore.
Under the MRCA, the company commits to invest up to SG$ 20 million to support research initiatives focused on PETs. This collaboration aims to empower businesses to derive greater value from data while ensuring robust privacy safeguards. Specifically, PETs for Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be developed to enhance data security and reliability, facilitating secure data sharing without compromising confidentiality.
The partnership will be anchored at NTU Singapore, where researchers will work closely with the company’s Digital Trust Centre. This collaboration will feature real-world applications, focusing on refining industry tools and processes for machine learning and secure data insights sharing. Advanced PETs such as zero-knowledge proofs and federated learning will play pivotal roles in these projects, aimed at nurturing specialised talent and enhancing research capabilities.
The Head of the Data Algorithm and Technology Department at the company and Professor Lam Kwok Yan, Executive Director of NTU Singapore’s Digital Trust Centre, will co-chair a joint research committee overseeing these initiatives. The committee will explore innovations in large language models that uphold user privacy during data training and querying processes, presenting their findings at prominent AI safety conferences.
Senior Minister of State, Mr Tan Kiat How, highlighted the importance of robust data protection for Singapore’s digital economy, underscoring governmental support for partnerships fostering PET development. The Chief Technology Officer confirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging academic collaboration with NTU Singapore to pioneer new privacy-enhancing solutions that address evolving business needs.
Professor Lam Khin Yong reaffirmed NTU Singapore’s dedication to translating research into practical applications, advancing digital trust and security in partnership with global industry leaders.
NTU Singapore is a leading research-intensive university with a strong focus on digital technology and innovation. It harnesses tech-enabled solutions to support better learning and living experiences, the discovery of new knowledge and the sustainability of resources.
OpenGov Asia reported that NTU Singapore researchers recently developed a revolutionary ‘band-aid’ that monitors health biomarkers like glucose, lactate, and urea from sweat. This smart plaster offers a painless and non-invasive method for patients, especially those with diabetes, to track their health continuously.
This device, unlike traditional methods that rely on blood tests, utilises microlasers embedded in a soft hydrogel film to deliver precise readings in just minutes. The innovation not only enhances global healthcare monitoring but also aligns with the university’s strategic plan to leverage research for societal benefit. Future advancements are targeted at broadening the device’s ability to detect a wider array of substances present in sweat.
In another development scientists from NTU Singapore achieved a major advancement in X-ray imaging technology. By integrating gold layers into detection devices, they have significantly enhanced brightness by 120%, resulting in sharper, clearer, and more detailed X-ray images.
Initiatives like these, led by NTU Singapore, promise to impact a range of fields, highlighting the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation to benefit society at large.
