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SIIRD approved Total Research Spending of US$2.8m for 4 new joint R&D projects

 / September, 24

SIIRD approved Total Research Spending of US$2.8m for 4 new joint R&D projects
31 March 2008

The Singapore-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (SIIRD) today announced four newly-approved IT research and development projects jointly undertaken by companies in Singapore and Israel, with total research investment of US$2.8 million.

The beneficiary companies are:

• 7 Cans Pte Ltd and the Center for Educational Technology (CET) Ltd

These companies are collaborating on a three-dimensional virtual mathematics game designed to promote creativity, problem-solving and other thinking skills in elementary-level school children.

• Excelpoint Systems Pte Ltd and Santiaga Technologies Ltd

These companies are working on a low-cost and speaker independent voice interface system for drivers to use their mobile phones using Bluetooth-enabled car kit devices, for hands-free operation.

• RFNet Technologies Pte Ltd and Eurotech Communication Ltd

These companies are developing a device that offers both local area network and mobile network connectivity options for the transportation market such as travel coaches, limousines, taxis and buses.

• SensiMesh Pte Ltd and High Check Control Ltd

These companies are designing a wireless communication system that monitors the physical and chemical characteristics of liquids used in industrial processes.

In addition, 53 research scientists and engineers have been employed by the beneficiary companies to work on their respective projects. The new hires include:

• Dr. Yeo Boon Sain, R&D Director, SensiMesh

Dr. Yeo holds a PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London. He was the laboratory head of Wireless Sensor Networks Laboratory – part of the Institute for Infocomm Research under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research – from 2004 to 2005. He was then seconded to Wavex Technologies and Wavex Innovations as the Technology and Development Director from 2005 to 2007. He currently also serves as an adjunct Assistant Professor in the National University of Singapore.

• Dr. Sara Hershkovitz, Head of Math Department, The Center for Educational Technology (CET)

Dr. Hershkovitz holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Haifa in Israel. She served as an associate lecturer at the University of Haifa from 1998 to 2003, and worked as a member in several committees within the Israel Ministry of Education, with focus in planning curriculum for teachers' professional development and defining standards for Mathematics in the elementary school.

Mr. Chan Eng Chye, General Manager for SIIRD in Singapore, said: “Over the years, we have funded R&D projects undertaken by many companies to develop better products. Through our funding, SIIRD hopes that more Singapore companies will be keen on R&D collaborations with their Israeli counterparts. Such partnerships allow Singapore companies to tap on the high quality and level of Israel’s industrial research base to expand their own technological capabilities.”

Set up in 1997, SIIRD is an initiative led by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Office of Chief Scientist, Israel, to promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects between Singapore-based and Israeli high-tech companies, which would lead to successful commercialisation.

To date, SIIRD has approved 74 R&D projects with a total research investment of US$76.2 million, and has facilitated the employment of approximately 1,150 researchers in beneficiary companies from the two countries.

Additionally, SIIRD facilitated about 100 discussions related to R&D collaborations between companies in Singapore and Israel last year.

For more information, visit the SIIRD website at http://www.siird.com.

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