On 25 October 2024, the “National University of Singapore Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUSGRTII): Investment Liaison and Entrepreneurship Mentoring Event for Medical Equipment Startups” concluded successfully. The event was guided by the Intellectual Property Bureau of Guangzhou Development District, and jointly organised by entities like NUSGRTII, Guangzhou Intellectual Property Exchange Center Co., Ltd.
To facilitate deeper liaison between quality medical equipment startups and investment agencies, NUSGRTII handpicked five projects from medical equipment technology startups to exhibit to the specialists. These five projects came from the technology research efforts by the National University of Singapore, and Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Some projects have already been successfully implemented with the help of NUSGRTII, while others are currently in the process of implementation. The five projects are briefly introduced below.
StratifiCare Pte. Ltd.: StratifiREY The World’s First Yttrium-90 Radiation Microsphere Efficacy Pre-Diagnostic Kit for Liver Cancer
(StratifiREY The World’s First Yttrium-90 Radiation Microsphere Efficacy Pre-Diagnostic Kit for Liver Cancer)
Originating from StratifiCare Pte. Ltd., and jointly developed by the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore and Duke-NUS Medical School, this project has been granted patents in China, Europe and Japan. StratifiREY efficacy pre-diagnostic kit for liver cancer is capable of accurately predicting if patients with liver cancer would suffer from long-term effects caused by Yttrium-90 radiation microsphere therapy. This saves up to six months of precious treatment time, and a huge sum of treatment costs. Currently, the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, a manufacturer for clinical diagnostic equipment, are working together to develop StratifiREY efficacy pre-diagnostic kit for liver cancer. Beckman Coulter is the industry giant for flow cytometry and diagnostic reagents. Its GMP-certified production facility will provide the quality assurance for the supply of the StratifiREY pre-diagnostic kit.
JN Medsys Pte Ltd: Outstanding and High-Performing, yet Affordable Digital PCR Product
(Clarity Plus Digital PCR System)
This project originated from JN Medsys Pte Ltd, a medical technology innovation company, which currently incubated by NUSGRTII. It focuses on developing and manufacturing top-quality medical equipment and systems. The digital PCR technology utilises superchips that enable rapid and precise digital quantification of single molecules. It ensures a simple and effective workflow for sample loading, distributing and sealing, thereby guaranteeing the replicability and accuracy of the results. JN Medsys has innovation and quality as its core, as it combines advanced technology in the product, further expanding the application of digital PCR in research and clinical settings.
M.I. Cloud Tech Pte. Ltd.: Reorganisation of Rare Earth Innovative Technologies for Sleep Disorders, Physical Performances and Rehabilitation Programs
This project was developed by M.I. Cloud Tech Pte. Ltd. (Revival Technology), a startup hatched by the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP) that primarily focuses on the application of advanced rare earth recombination materials in the health and wellness sector. The core product of the project, a helical interference magnetic field component, enhances muscle and vascular wall elasticity, rapidly increases blood oxygen levels, and promotes local blood circulation. It has a broad range of uses, including alleviating sleep apnea, improving sleep quality, enhancing physical performance, relieving pain, promoting wound healing, and supporting diabetes recovery. Currently, the product has passed local clinical trials and third-party certification in Singapore and holds 16 invention patents, covering multiple countries across Europe, America, and Asia.
MicroVeNUS Pte. Ltd.: Laser Confocal and Light Sheet Microscope
This project, developed by MicroVeNUS Pte. Ltd., is a high-tech company currently incubated at NUSGRTII, specialising in the research, manufacturing, and technology transfer of microscopes. The product uses Focal Modulation Microscopy (FMM), an innovative microscopic imaging technique that selectively modulates light intensity at the focal point, hence achieving effective selective excitation and collection of fluorescence emission or backscattered light. This modulation and demodulation approach significantly reduces background signals caused by multiple scattering. The product module integrates FMM with line-scanning confocal microscopy, combining the advantages of high acquisition speed with strong optical sectioning capabilities. This allows for the high sensitivity, high image contrast, and rapid imaging required for live cell and tissue imaging, thus supporting ideal visualisation of dynamic processes such as calcium ion fluctuations, rapid muscle contractions, vesicle tracking, and blood flow.
Yimiji Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.: AI Medical Image Processing Platform
This product originated from Yimiji Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which is established by artificial intelligence (AI) experts, products and business teams from Singapore and China. It is currently being developed by NUSGRTII. The project offers an AI-based medical imaging processing and collaboration platform to address the varying needs during clinical surgical procedures. It primarily includes pre-operative planning, intra-operative navigation, post-operative assessment, discussion and sharing of surgical plan, precise surgical execution.
Each team substantially displayed their projects’ technological advancement and potential for market application, during this event. Expert investment judges from Hongtai Aplus, Efung Capital, and Shenzhen Deming Capital, with their rich industry knowledge and keen market insights, conducted comprehensive evaluations of each project from multiple aspects, including innovation, market potential, technological maturity, and also provided constructive feedback and guidance on the direction for the projects’ future developments.
NUSGRTII has been on the forefront of technological innovation ever since its establishment, and has conducted various activities, such as scientific exchanges, entrepreneurship mentoring, and resource liaison, while actively expanding deep collaborations with the global industry ecosystem. In the future, the research institute’s innovation incubation platform, Block 71 Guangzhou, will continue to leverage on the National University of Singapore’s strong capabilities to connect global innovation resources, and build an interdisciplinary, cross-sector and cross-industry innovation application ecosystem. It will introduce and incubate more high-quality and technologically advanced enterprises and projects, injecting strong momentum for technological innovation and industrial upgrading in Huangpu District, Guangzhou, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
