From left to right: Mehdi Gmar, Deputy CEO for Innovation, CNRS; Chan Tsan, CE HTX; and Dominique Baillargeat, Scientific Executive Director, CNRS@CREATE. (Photo: CNRS)
HTX has deepened its collaboration with France’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, National Centre for Scientific Research) and its Singapore subsidiary CNRS@CREATE through a five-year tripartite Master Agreement (MA), which paves the way for the three parties to collaborate on Science & Technology (S&T) projects that solve public safety challenges relevant to the Home Team, especially those in the following areas:
- Transformative technologies for environmental and operational intelligence
- AI-Robotics
- Human Factors & Simulation
- Quantum Technologies
- Forensics
- Cybersecurity
In February 2025, HTX signed a research agreement with CNRS@CREATE to develop advanced modelling and simulation tools for Singapore’s tropical urban environment. Subsequently, on the sidelines of French President Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to Singapore in May 2025, HTX and CNRS signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen their collaboration in S&T innovation for public safety.
HTX’s ongoing and expanded collaboration with CNRS and CNRS@CREATE is expected to accelerate technological innovation for the Home Team, groom the next generation of S&T talents, and provide support for Singapore’s public safety objectives.
The HTX-CNRS partnership is aligned with Singapore and France’s recent upgrade in relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has expanded their collaboration in areas such as defence, security, energy, and AI.
HTX Chief Executive Chan Tsan said, “This strategic partnership with CNRS and CNRS@CREATE amplifies HTX’s ambition to harness the best science and technology in service of public safety and security. Our close collaboration with our French partners will provide access to cutting-edge research talent and knowhow, accelerate the development of robust and deployable technologies and turn ideas into impactful capabilities for the Home Team and beyond.”
Mehdi Gmar, Deputy CEO for Innovation of CNRS, added, “We are truly delighted that the research carried out across our laboratories—both in France and within the vibrant innovation ecosystem of CNRS@CREATE in Singapore—can now be more effectively matured, scaled, and deployed through this strengthened partnership with HTX. This agreement represents a pivotal step in bridging fundamental research with large-scale operational impact. It enables us to bring together scientific excellence, advanced technological development, and the real-world challenges faced by Singapore’s security forces. By pooling our expertise, we are creating an environment where laboratory breakthroughs can transition more rapidly into high-performance solutions for public safety. This collaboration exemplifies the values of CNRS: curiosity-driven research that ultimately benefits society at large, and we are proud to contribute to such a meaningful endeavour.”
Prof Dominique Baillargeat, CEO of CNRS@CREATE, shared, “This milestone builds on the research collaboration that CNRS@CREATE has initiated with HTX for more almost two years now. It not only reinforces our existing partnership but also propels our shared vision for scientific collaboration between Singapore, France, and the wider ASEAN region. For CNRS@CREATE, this agreement represents a remarkable opportunity to broaden and strengthen our activities in Singapore, while deepening our engagement in cutting-edge research alongside the Home Team Science & Technology Agency. Advancing fundamental research and ensuring the effective transfer of innovation are both crucial, but it is equally important that these high-impact solutions can be deployed efficiently at scale in Singapore. Through this cooperation with HTX, we will also be able to bring these solutions to maturity and enable their deployment in France, creating a truly bilateral impact.”
CNRS is a public organisation under the French Ministry of Education and Research founded in 1939. With over 1,100 laboratories and employing over 33,000 people, it is the largest fundamental research organisation in Europe. In 2025, CNRS was ranked third globally for research by the SCImago Institutions Rankings, an international ranking of research-focused institutions.
CNRS@CREATE is CNRS’s first overseas subsidiary. It works with Singapore’s universities, research institutions, and the international partners of CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise) to conduct research and application of technologies in areas that are relevant to Singapore’s social and economic needs.
