NTU Singapore and Nanofilm Technologies International (NTI Nanofilm) today officially opened the NTI-NTU Corporate Laboratory with a showcase of next-generation nanotechnology solutions for industries spanning semiconductors, biomedical applications, and clean energy.
As part of the Corporate Lab's push to translate advanced coating technologies into real-world applications, NTU and NTI Nanofilm researchers are partnering the National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) to develop advanced coatings for dental prosthetics, with the aim of improving patient outcomes.
The event was officiated today by Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
NTU Vice President (Industry) Professor Lam Khin Yong said: "The NTI-NTU Corporate Laboratory shows what is possible when universities, industry, and public agencies work hand in hand, and demonstrates NTU's commitment to translating research into real-world solutions through close industry partnerships. One example is our new collaboration with the National Dental Centre Singapore to develop advanced coatings that make dental prosthetics more effective, safer for the body, and better for patients. This is the kind of impact we aim to deliver across the lab's research thrusts, including nanocoating for sustainable manufacturing, as well as clean energy, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing."
NTI Nanofilm Founder, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Shi Xu said: "The NTI-NTU Corporate Laboratory is a testament to what becomes possible when industry leads from the front. As a company that has spent decades setting the pace for nanotechnology adoption globally, NTI Nanofilm brings more than funding to this partnership - we bring relevance. We know the problems, the solutions, and the needs of the customer. This industry perspective is what enables the Corporate Laboratory as a launchpad. The collaboration with the National Dental Centre Singapore further exemplifies our foresight to bring our technologies into the oral healthcare sector, advancing dental treatments while promoting better healing for patients."
The NTI-NTU Corporate Lab was launched in November 2023. Today, it houses more than 60 researchers and PhD candidates working on 10 industry-focused projects across four research thrusts: coating equipment technologies, advanced materials, nanofabrication, and hydrogen energy.
The lab is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan, and developed in partnership with Enterprise Singapore.
Cutting-edge lab facilities for technology translation
The NTI-NTU Corporate Lab serves as a translational platform, bridging the gap between lab research and real-world manufacturing by validating and scaling advanced coating technologies for industry use.
NTI-NTU researchers have developed a novel process to address a longstanding challenge in advanced chip manufacturing: achieving uniform coatings inside the tiny holes etched into silicon wafers, the base material used to manufacture chips. These holes connect different layers of circuitry within a chip and need to be coated, but their small size - 1 to 3 micrometres - and depth make it difficult to achieve a uniform coating. The process developed by the researchers deposits thin films inside these holes, achieving more uniform coating coverage than conventional methods and giving chipmakers a higher-performance alternative.
The researchers have also developed a heat-conducting material called boron nitride to overcome the bottleneck of overheating in modern electronics, such as chips used in artificial intelligence systems, high-performance processors, and 3D integrated circuits. Boron nitride is efficient at heat dissipation but can currently only be produced in small amounts in the lab. To make real-world use in electronics feasible, the NTI-NTU researchers have built a system that can produce the material at 500 times the output of a conventional lab setup.
The lab's coating capabilities are also being applied to healthcare. A key achievement is the development of carbon-based nanocomposite coatings designed to work safely with human tissue, with strong potential for use in dental, orthopaedic, and joint implants.
The NTI-NTU Corporate Lab is partnering National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) to translate these advanced coatings to dental prosthetics, including dental implants, to improve their functionality and durability in clinical applications.
The advanced coatings are engineered to increase wear resistance, improve tissue integration, and provide effective antimicrobial protection. For the dentists, the greater durability of the implants can support more efficient treatment workflows. For patients, it could mean shorter recovery times, reduced risk of infections, better healing, and stronger long-term outcomes.
The collaboration brings together NTI Nanofilm's coating expertise, NTU's materials science capabilities, and NDCS's clinical knowledge. It was formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Professor Lam Khin Yong, Vice President (Industry), NTU; Dr Olivier Jarry, Chief Technology Officer, Advanced Materials Technology, NTI Nanofilm Group; and Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin, Chief Executive Officer, NDCS.
Clinical Associate Professor Goh said: "NDCS is excited to be part of this exciting collaboration, which brings together clinical insight, advanced materials science and industrial innovation. At NDCS, we witness firsthand the challenges associated with the use of dental prosthetics - such as long healing time and a risk of infection. The advanced coatings developed by the NTI-NTU Corporate Lab have the potential to significantly improve treatment outcomes and patients' quality of life. Through this tripartite partnership, we hope to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into tangible clinical solutions that will enhance treatment outcomes and improve patient care."
Beyond coating technologies, the NTI-NTU Corporate Lab is also advancing solutions in clean energy.
One such project is the lab's work on components for hydrogen electrolysers and fuel cells, which are key components in hydrogen production and use. These technologies are important building blocks in a hydrogen economy, but the high cost and limited durability of their key components have hindered wider adoption. Researchers at the lab are developing cost-effective materials and more durable components to make them more reliable, safer, and affordable.
Together, the innovations developed at the NTI-NTU Corporate Lab support Singapore's key industries, including the semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy sectors.
