Singapore announces S$150 million investment in new materials discovery, schemes to support businesses in AI journey
New Marvel-AI platform will focus on four material classes with applications in fields such as energy and chemicals
Singapore is allocating S$150 million to establish the Materials Accelerator for Research, Venture and Enterprise Launchpad, or Marvel-AI, as part of four AI missions led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The platform, managed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and supported by various entities, will concentrate on four material classes – metal alloys, polymers and organics, ceramics, and composites.
These materials are vital for applications in energy, chemicals, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductors.
Marvel-AI employs AI to predict, experiment, and validate materials in a closed loop, with robotics automating the entire process. This accelerates the production of polymers, generating 75 samples in 24 hours, 25 times faster than traditional methods. The AI models learn from each experiment, enhancing their capabilities. Additionally, the platform can screen and test up to 470 unique metal alloys daily, 400 times more than conventional methods.
The government aims to develop human talent with expertise in materials science, AI, and automation, generating job opportunities. Professor Loh Xian Jun, executive director of Marvel-AI, believes the platform will bridge the gap between discovery and deployment, facilitating companies' evaluation of promising materials for real-world applications.
Industry partners, such as Foxconn Industrial Internet and ST Engineering, seek new materials through Marvel-AI, which provides them with specialist expertise, infrastructure, and validation capabilities. DPM Gan Kim Yong also unveiled the Champions of AI program, targeting 24 Singapore-based companies to integrate AI into their growth strategies.
The initiative includes workforce development, AI adoption within supply chains, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises through "Driving Entrepreneurship with AI" workshops. EnterpriseSG will launch Catalytic AI Solutions to help SMEs improve productivity and address industry challenges.
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
