The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES) is the University of Cambridge’s first overseas research centre. CARES is based in Singapore and brings together researchers from around the world to work on new scientific advances and technologies that will benefit Singapore and the international community. CARES is funded by the Singapore government through its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) and works closely with local Singaporean institutions Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore.

The majority of CARES’ research aims to positively contribute to Singapore’s ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change while supporting the country’s progress and prowess in economic, technological, environmental and social dimensions. Its flagship research project, Cambridge Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technology, systematically investigates the raw materials, processes and products of the local chemical industry and investigates technologies to lower the carbon footprint of this major pillar of Singapore’s economy.

The ideas generated from CARES’ carbon reduction programme became the spark for two active spin-off companies. Accelerated Materials focuses on the scale-up of nanomaterial technology and Chemical Data Intelligence harnesses the power of AI and chemical data to find sustainable routes in the chemical supply chain.

The CARES Research Fellows spearheading their individual spin-offs have found success by tapping into CARES’ dynamic proximity to other CREATE partners in Singapore and local agencies. Accelerated Materials secured translational seed funding from the MIT-supported SMART Innovation Centre in CREATE to refine their ideas before the company’s launch. Chemical Data Intelligence leveraged CARES’ network with the Pharmaceutical Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS) to demonstrate its automated reaction network tools to global multinationals including Glaxo Wellcome, MSD International, Pfizer and Syngenta.

CARES will continue to mentor young talent in the programme with support from technology transfer offices Cambridge Enterprise in the UK and NTUitive in Singapore to bring new ideas to Singapore’s industrial landscape.