Singapore (CU)_ Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, NTU Singapore, inaugurated the Center for Advanced Robotics Technology Innovation (CARTIN) to create economical, safe, and user-friendly robotics technologies that would revitalize and redefine numerous Singaporean industries. The S$45 million research facility, managed by NTU Singapore, will create collaborative and human-centric robotics and autonomous system technologies for use in logistics, manufacturing, and eldercare. This is consistent with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2025 ambitions, which include robotics as a national priority.
CARTIN will enable close collaboration between NTU researchers and robotics researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, inaugurated the research center at the NTU Smart Campus. The Center for Advanced Robotics Technology Innovation (CARTIN) intends to establish an ecosystem that unites academic institutions, industrial partners, and public agencies to identify robotics solution gaps and provide a testing environment. Such an atmosphere would enable for a smooth translation of fundamental research into technology that can be used in industry.
NTU President Professor Subra Suresh expressed optimism over the new center. He said, “The launch of the Center for Advanced Robotics Technology Innovation (CARTIN) is a timely and natural extension of NTU’s work to add to the existing robotics and autonomous systems research efforts in Singapore and create a critical mass for the development and deployment of ground-breaking and innovative technologies. Expanding NTU’s impact on industry and society by translating inventions and creativity into outcomes that enhance economic benefits and quality of life is one of the key pillars of the NTU2025, the University’s five-year strategic plan.”
According to NTU Senior Vice President (Research) Professor Lam Khin Yong, “With a worldwide talent crunch and increasing digitisation accelerated by an aging population and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many sectors are turning to automation. The research innovations developed at CARTIN will go a long way in tackling manpower shortage while increasing productivity and efficiency. A unique aspect of the CARTIN is its ecosystem, which allows for close collaboration and involvement of industry partners from the outset to identify industry needs, which in turn fuel the research at CARTIN. This also means that research solutions can be test-bedded, demonstrated, and refined in real-world settings, ensuring a smooth transition as research outcomes at CARTIN are deployed in industry.”
Professor Quek Tong Boon, Chief Executive at National Robotics Programme (NRP) and Co-Chair of CARTIN’S Governing Board, expressed delight over the center’s launch. He said, “NRP is pleased to have CARTIN as a partner to undertake research and development that focus on the needs of our M&L (manufacturing and logistics) industry. Beyond developing application-driven technologies, CARTIN will also be a valuable platform that can contribute to NRP’s effort to grow a vibrant robotics ecosystem in Singapore in three other dimensions – talent development, enterprise development and greater adoption of R&A (robotics and automation) solutions in our industry.”
