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The inaugural HTX CoE Day was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 3 July 2025, bringing together over 140 leaders from 15 CoEs to connect over a day of insightful discussions with a galvanising undertone: to not rest on our laurels, and to strengthen collective research and technology (R&T) efforts.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) (Development) Ng Yeow Boon emphasised the need for HTX’s CoEs to maintain clear and effective R&T strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
“We are really at a turning point. A turning point that has caused us to rethink whether our strategies of today are still relevant, and what we are doing today is effective for tomorrow,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) (Development) Ng Yeow Boon emphasised the need for HTX’s CoEs to maintain clear and effective R&T strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
“We are really at a turning point. A turning point that has caused us to rethink whether our strategies of today are still relevant, and what we are doing today is effective for tomorrow,” he said.

Research and development (R&D), he noted, is the “lifeblood of science and technology”. But with the 15 CoEs specialising in vastly different disciplines, interpretations of and approaches to R&D may vary across the teams.
And as the CoEs’ capabilities continue to grow, he urged CoE leaders to break silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration and establish strategic partnerships to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
And as the CoEs’ capabilities continue to grow, he urged CoE leaders to break silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration and establish strategic partnerships to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

The event’s keynote speaker, Professor Quek Tong Boon, Chief Executive of the Singapore National Robotics Programme, then spoke about harnessing technology as a force multiplier for our national security and addressed the key challenges faced in Singapore’s R&D landscape. He also highlighted the importance of tapping into the R&D ecosystem while balancing in-house development with the adoption of external capabilities.


Sharpening instincts
In two panel discussions, industry and academia professionals in the R&D space were also invited to share their thoughts on deepening upstream research and foundational science, as well as translating innovation into operational capabilities.
The segment titled “Shift Left/Shift Right – Balancing deep research and deployment” focused on a key idea at the core of HTX’s innovation journey – the ability to operate confidently across the entire R&D spectrum.
This involves being able to push bold, meaningful problem statements, and investing in foundational research for the future, at the early or “left” stages of the technology readiness level (TRL) pipeline, while also being able to successfully translate, integrate and deploy the research at the later or “right” stages.
In two panel discussions, industry and academia professionals in the R&D space were also invited to share their thoughts on deepening upstream research and foundational science, as well as translating innovation into operational capabilities.
The segment titled “Shift Left/Shift Right – Balancing deep research and deployment” focused on a key idea at the core of HTX’s innovation journey – the ability to operate confidently across the entire R&D spectrum.
This involves being able to push bold, meaningful problem statements, and investing in foundational research for the future, at the early or “left” stages of the technology readiness level (TRL) pipeline, while also being able to successfully translate, integrate and deploy the research at the later or “right” stages.

During this segment, Dr Portia Loh, Director of HTX’s CoE Hub, highlighted the importance of staying open-minded when finding solutions to problem statements, as they may not always be straightforward.
“In fact, HTX looks to the commercial sector to repurpose technologies from different fields, and apply and contextualise them for our applications (in the Home Team context),” she shared.
“In fact, HTX looks to the commercial sector to repurpose technologies from different fields, and apply and contextualise them for our applications (in the Home Team context),” she shared.

During the second discussion, the panellists, including Ang Chee Wee, HTX’s Assistant Chief Executive (Digital & Enterprise), all agreed on having the appetite to learn from failure, recounting how their own experiences of failure eventually led to even stronger iterations of their solutions.

Innovating the HTX way
In the afternoon segment of the programme, a curated group of CoEs showcased their R&D approaches and pillar programmes on topics such as quantum science, robotic swarm artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) impact assessment tools and smart shipyards.
In the afternoon segment of the programme, a curated group of CoEs showcased their R&D approaches and pillar programmes on topics such as quantum science, robotic swarm artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) impact assessment tools and smart shipyards.






The day came to a close with a special surprise – a reveal of CoE medallions that were designed by the CoEs themselves.



