THE Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) on Wednesday (Feb 12) launched MedTech Catapult, an initiative meant to accelerate the development and commercialisation of life science instruments and medical devices.
The S$38 million initiative, located at the research and development centre Biopolis, provides support to medical technology (medtech) companies to help them bring their products from concept to market, as well as connect them with local contract manufacturing enterprises.
The initiative was first announced during the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Budget Committee of Supply debate in March 2024.
Dr Mary Kan, programme director for MedTech Catapult, said it will run for four years, with plans to support close to 20 companies over this period.
“Projects are carefully selected based on their commercial viability, considering factors such as quality improvements, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and potential partnerships with at least two local suppliers or contract manufacturers,” she told The Business Times.
Depending on demand and pipeline growth, the initiative may be expanded or further resourced under Singapore’s research, innovation and enterprise 2030 plan to support more companies.
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The programme began operations on Apr 1, 2024. It has since received 11 applications, and now has two active projects with five more in the pipeline, she added.
The S$38 million pumped into the initiative will be primarily used across three areas – infrastructure, through setting up wet and dry labs; direct support for projects in areas such as design and manufacturing optimisation; as well as manpower.
Dr Kan said that MedTech Catapult has a current staff strength of 16 across three teams, and there are plans to hire up to 20.
The launch was officiated by guest of honour, Dr Tan See Leng, minister for manpower and second minister for trade and industry.
Dr Tan said that speed-to-market is key for the medtech sector, and companies need “a stable, predictable (and) transparent environment (that) allows for strong synergy between their research and development (R&D) and manufacturing arms”.
“To stay relevant and competitive, it is important for (local manufacturers) to constantly upgrade their product offerings,” he said.
“This would require them to develop R&D capabilities, which many do not have today for various reasons – whether it’s lean teams, or just limited access to resources.”
MedTech Catapult therefore serves to plug that gap by empowering its local manufacturers to partake in the R&D of new medical devices and life science tools, such as through connecting product owners and contract manufacturers, identifying high-value project ideas and translating these ideas into commercial products, he said.
“The aim is to provide the design and development expertise, as well as networks, that companies need to successfully launch their products into the market,” Dr Tan added.
Support for companies
MedTech Catapult also unveiled a local supplier and contract manufacturer directory that details the capabilities of local manufacturers and allows medtech companies to find partners for scaling and other opportunities.
Examples of such capabilities include metal injection and ceramics injection moulding, as well as precision metal machining for key components required in imaging devices.
The directory, which currently lists about 30 companies, is jointly supported by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, A*Star, Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board, as well as Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association. The list of companies will be continuously updated.
Dr Tan said the directory “provides a snapshot of local capabilities in medtech manufacturing”.
“This way, we can then tap the collective expertise of our medtech players, and we can develop better solutions to move the sector forward,” he said.
MedTech Catapult’s active projects include a remouldable orthopaedic cast made by Castomize, a spin-off from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
The shot arm cast, which can conform to patients’ recovery stages, has been registered as a Class A medical device with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority. It is currently undergoing clinical testing in five hospitals, as well as private clinics across Singapore and South Korea.
MedTech Catapult said that it will support Castomize refine the design and manufacturing process of its next-generation product, for scalability and to meet growing demand. “We are helping (Castomize) to redo its manufacturing product,” said Dr Kan, “That, we hope to finish in one year’s time; then it should be ready to go to market.”
Dr Kan noted that medtech development can take around five to seven years before the product can go to market. MedTech Catapult aims to lower this development time through its support. “I think we hope to bring a product into the market in three to five years, if possible,” she said.
