HTX Chief Executive Chan Tsan (front row, centre) pose with the scientists and engineers from HTX’s Science Pillar. (Photo: HTX/Dorcas Yang)
HTX’s Science Pillar is greater than the sum of its parts, and even greater synergy between its four Centres of Expertise (CoE) will help it drive HTX 3.0 – the agency’s latest growth chapter that is focused on growing its impact to the Home Team.
This was the key message in HTX Assistant Chief Executive (Science) Lim Chin Chin’s address at the start of the second edition of Science Day, which was held on 14 August 2026.
The event brought together the engineers and scientists from HTX’s Science Pillar – it comprises the Forensics, Biometrics and Profiling, Human Factors and Simulation, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives CoEs – and gave them a chance to bond, share laughs as well as share their workplans with their peers.
To illustrate the power of solidarity and synergy, Chin Chin used an analogy featuring LEGO bricks, noting that it is only when the individual bricks are connected that their true potential is unleashed.
“When we connect our expertise deliberately, we can build stronger capabilities, generate deeper insights and create greater impact for public safety,” she said.
Chin Chin pointed out that the Science CoEs have already positively impacted the Home Team, with a recent example being the hair scanner that was developed in-house by the Forensics CoE. This device, which makes drug screening simpler and faster, was showcased at the Central Narcotics Bureau’s workplan seminar in July 2026.
Our science must not remain on a shelf. It must shape the operations of tomorrow.
One of the ways the Science Pillar will grow its impact to Home Team operations, said Chin Chin, is by prioritising the development of solutions that help solve the biggest challenges faced by the Home Team.
To drive greater synergy between the four CoEs, the Science Pillar has introduced nine task forces. Among them are the Facilities Task Force, which will explore how laboratory spaces and equipment can be shared more effectively across CoEs, and the AI in Science Task Force, which focuses on boosting AI literacy and adoption, accelerating discovery, and giving scientists more time to do what they do best — think, question, experiment and solve difficult problems.
Partnerships, not just within the Science Pillar but also with external parties, too, will be crucial.
“Impact, however, is not only about the capabilities we develop – it is also about our ability to bring the right people and ideas together,” she said.
“Every paper we publish, every conference we convene, every partner we engage and every capability we showcase strengthens the reputation of the Science Pillar, and this gives us something important: the ability to attract more talent, build partnerships and create opportunities that none of us could achieve alone.”
