Professor Benjamin Tee, Principal Investigator (PI) at the NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII), Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the NUS College of Design and Engineering, has been shortlisted for the 2026 Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize. 

Recognised as one of only five shortlisted candidates worldwide, Professor Benjamin Tee joins an exceptional group of internationally renowned researchers competing for one of the world's most prestigious honours in engineering research.

The A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize is the IET's flagship research prize and among the most distinguished international awards in engineering and technology. The Prize provides £500,000 in annual funding to recognise outstanding researchers whose work has significantly advanced radar and microwave engineering, lasers and optoelectronics, or medical engineering. Renowned for its rigorous selection process and global prestige, the Prize is widely regarded as one of the highest honours in engineering research.

Professor Benjamin Tee's research focuses on developing next-generation flexible and stretchable electronic sensors through the integration of novel materials with advanced nano- and microfabrication technologies. His current work centres on creating skin-inspired electronic materials and systems that combine materials science, electronics, biology and artificial intelligence. These innovations hold tremendous promise for applications in robotics and healthcare and are expected to address some of the most pressing challenges in health, robotics and AI in the years ahead.

Beyond academic research, Professor Benjamin Tee is also committed to translating scientific discoveries into real-world impact through entrepreneurship. He has co-founded two Singapore-based medical technology companies—Privi Medical and Hannah Life Technologies—to accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge biomedical innovations.

His pioneering work has attracted widespread international recognition and has been featured by leading global media outlets, including CNN International in its Next List series, CNA's documentary series ASEAN's Next Generation Leaders (ANGeLs), as well as BBC World Service and National Geographic.

According to the IET, the 2026 A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize focuses on medical engineering. Professor Benjamin Tee was shortlisted for his pioneering research on intelligent bioelectronic materials and sensing technologies, which aims to endow electronic devices with capabilities such as sensing, self-healing and adaptive learning. His work provides key enabling technologies for the future of precision medicine, digital health and intelligent healthcare systems, while demonstrating both significant scientific originality and strong translational potential.

Professor Benjamin Tee's shortlisting for the IET A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize not only reflects his outstanding international standing in medical engineering and intelligent materials, but also highlights NUS's continued leadership in interdisciplinary research and technological innovation.

According to the IET, the recipient of the 2026 A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize is expected to be announced in early 2027.