Past Events

Calling all early-stage startups and scaleups! Are you developing AI-driven solutions that enhance the supply and production of alternative protein foods in urban environments? In collaboration with Google and SGInnovate, we invite you to pitch your solutions at the TFoodS 2024 Otter Tank in front of international food innovation experts on 6th November 2024. The focus is on harnessing AI to address the unique challenges of food production to provide solutions for dense urban areas. Submit your application by 10th October 2024 here. Click here for the full details and find out about TFoodS here.  

Join us for a fireside chat with Prof Joe Schmitt, a leading figure in infectious diseases and vaccine development.  He will be sharing his personal journey, including the highs, challenges and the lessons learnt from conducting groundbreaking research to holding top leadership roles in the pharmaceutical world. What to expect? This will be an informal, down-to-earth conversation where Prof Schmitt will share his experiences in vaccines, science, and leadership. Whether you’re working in healthcare, research, or simply interested in his journey, this is a unique opportunity to hear from someone who’s played a key role in shaping the field.   RSVP here!

Hosted by Prof Angela Casini, Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the event, themed “Supramolecular Approaches to Theranostics: The Way Forward,” will gather leading experts from academia and the industry. Featuring speakers from the Technical University of Munich, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the symposium will explore pioneering research on supramolecules and self-assembled materials, theranostics, and innovative strategies for imaging and therapy. Explore cutting-edge developments in supramolecular cancer radiotheranostics, bio-inspired and multifunctional materials, and their additive manufacturing, as well as AI-driven molecular design, and more, as we discuss the future of personalised medicine and therapeutic discovery for aging populations. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with thought leaders and shape the future of medicinal chemistry and precision healthcare.   Date: Tuesday 15 October Time: 9am – 6pm Venue: CREATE Tower Level 2 Theatrette, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602 Register: here   Programme below: Time Agenda 8:30am Registration begins 9:00am Welcome and introductory remarks “Supramolecules for Imaging and Therapy” 9:10am – 11:00am Prof Shawn Chen (NUS) – Cancer Radiotheranostics Siqin Chen (Prof Liu’s group – NUS) – Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy Prof Angela Casini (TUM) – Supramolecular coordination complexes: from drug delivery to theranostics Prof Roland Fischer (TUM) – Integration of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Materials to Functional Systems 11:00am Coffee break “Bio-inspired Supramolecules and Materials” 11:20am – 12:30pm Prof Giorgia Pastorin (NUS) – Application of exosome mimetics in pathological conditions Marta Tena (Prof Boekhoven’s group, TUM) – Supramolecular biomaterials with a time switch Yue Sun (Prof Miserez’s group, NTU) – Peptide Coacervates as Universal Vehicles for Intracellular Delivery of Macromolecular 12:30pm Networking lunch “Smart-strategies for Multimodal Imaging and Therapy” 1:30pm – 2:20pm Prof Bengang Xing (NTU) – Bioorthogonal Conjugation for Precise Imaging & Therapeutic Degradation Lena Koller (Prof Kossatz group, TUM, TranslaTUM) – Multimodal theranostics – harnessing the full combinatorial power of radioisotopes, fluorophores and drugs in translational oncological applications “3D-Printing and AI Tools” 2:20pm – 3:20pm Prof Jorge Da Silva Bartolo (NTU) – “Designing theranostic biomaterials through 3D printing” Prof Alessio Gagliardi (TUM) – “Machine learning to accelerate atomistic simulations to study non-covalent interactions” 3:20pm Coffee Break 3:40pm Assoc. Prof Xavier Bresson (NUS) – “Graph Transformers for Molecular and Material Science” 4:10pm Assoc. Prof Min-Yen Kan (NUS) – “Triaging Scholarly Information Overload: using LLMs to find promising candidates for X” Wrap up 5:00pm Concluding remarks

Join us for a seminar on “Targeting Climate-Neutral Aviation: How Radical is the Path?” led by Prof. Dr. Mirko Hornung, TUM Chair of Aircraft Design. Prof. Hornung also lectures modules in TUM Asia’s Master’s programme in Aerospace Engineering in Singapore. The talk will address the multiple pathways of alternative energies, new aircraft technologies, and changes in the operation of the air transport system to acheive the ambitious goal of climate-netural aviation. It will provide insights into our current status and the steps needed to achieve our targets by 2050 and beyond. Schedule: 4:30 pm   Introduction 4:35 pm   Targeting Climate-Neutral Aviation: How Radical Is The Path?  5:15 pm   Q&A Session 5:30 pm   Networking (refreshments will be provided)   Read about the abstract below and RSVP here.  

TUMCREATE’s researchers from Energy and Power Systems Group (EPSG) will be hosting a workshop on Renewable Energies in Southeast Asia. This workshop is part of TUMCREATE’s project on Singapore’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality. The session will explore current and future challenges and discuss requirements for a low-carbon energy system in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Our invited experts will address policy recommendations, technical aspects such as integration of solar photovoltaics, electricity imports, electricity demand and energy system modelling. The workshop includes a round-table discussion and networking opportunities. RSVP: here  

Join Marius Lux in a discussion about Science Entrepreneurship! Explore challenges and parallels between researchers and entrepreneurs, draw inspiration from success stories atTUM, tune in to a fireside chat with a science tech entrepreneur and get up close and personal during our networking session.  Register here 

  Learn more about how TUM’s Straubing Campus and TUMCREATE, a  multidisciplinary research platform of TUM based in Singapore, achieve a harmonious coexistence between economic growth and environmental growth by harnessing the potential of bioeconomy. Presented by Prof. Volker Sieber and Mr Nickolaus Stellner, this hybrid seminar will present you a number of groundbreaking research and practices to pursue global sustainability.   Date: 3 October 2023, Tuesday  Time: 4pm – 6pm (GMT+8)  Format: Hybrid  Venue: LT4A, Level 4, SIT@SP Building, 510 Dover Road, S139660     PROGRAMME SCHEDULE   3.30pm – 4pm Registration   4pm – 4.05pm Opening address by Ms Annette Himmelsbach, Information Officer and Office Manager, DAAD Information Point Singapore   4.05pm – 4.35pm Bioeconomy at TUM: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for a Changing World by Prof Volker Sieber   4.35pm – 5pm Pioneering Food Solutions by  Mr Nikolaus Stellner   5pm – 5.30pm Q & A   5.30pm onwards Networking with light refreshments       TOPICS    PROF. DR. VOLKER SIEBER TUM Chemistry of Biogenic Resources     At TUM, the bioeconomy is not merely a theoretical concept but a cornerstone of actionable strategies for a greener future. At its Green Fuel Center researchers converge to explore alternative, sustainable fuels that offer reduced carbon emissions and decreased reliance on fossil fuels. With SynBiofoundry@TUM, a creative hub was build that is dedicated to synthetic biology, accelerating the design and production of novel bio-based products and processes.   Among the diverse research fronts, several key domains of inquiry stand out. Biobased materials, a pressing area, investigates the substitution of traditional plastics and materials with sustainable bio-based and/or biodegradable alternatives derived from renewable biomass sources. Agricultural waste utilization exemplifies TUM’s commitment to circular economy principles, wherein agricultural residues are transformed into valuable commodities, curbing waste and fostering resource efficiency. In an era where food security and sustainable protein sources are paramount, TUM explores the radical idea of generating food and proteins from electricity and carbon dioxide. This approach holds the potential to revolutionise food production, minimise land usage, and alleviate environmental stress.   Mr NIKOLAUS STELLNER TUMCREATE Food Security    Big cities such as Singapore must import the vast majority of their food supplies. Because of limited available space, they cannot rely on conventional agriculture to achieve more food independence. To this end, the project Proteins4Singapore aims at tapping raw materials such as microalgae biomass from indoor production under controlled environment conditions to use them for the manufacture of protein-based alternative foods.   Proteins4Singapore is a highly interdisciplinary research platform with the goal to contribute to the secure food supply in highly urbanised areas. TUMCREATE will further explore concepts and strategies in other biotechnological areas to contribute to an emerging bioeconomy.       TO REGISTER: https://tum-asia.edu.sg/bioeconomy-pioneering-sustainable-solutions/

  Meet leading experts who will share their knowledge and experiences on various aspects of protein research. Learn about alternative protein sources, sustainable agricultural practices, innovative technologies, and their impact on global food security. The HEF AgriScience Symposium provides a platform for experts, researchers, and professionals in the field of agricultural science to explore the latest developments and innovations in food production. We will delve into the challenges and opportunities of the ever-changing global food landscape. This year, the HEF AgriScience Symposium also hosts the TFOODS conference together with TUMCREATE. TUMcreate is a research platform affiliated with the Technical University of Munich’s Singapore Campus. Its flagship project, ‘Proteins4Singapore,’ focuses on developing alternative non-animal protein sources using innovative processing and extraction methods and reverse food engineering. The team consists of experts from various scientific backgrounds, working towards creating plant-based products with improved texture, flavor, and nutritional profiles. They will conduct a life cycle assessment to assess the model’s viability and scalability for commercialisation. The conference includes a product fair and a shark tank event for groundbreaking food ideas.  Join this significant symposium to expand your knowledge, engage with like-minded individuals, and contribute to creating a sustainable and secure food supply for the world. Participation is free of charge. To register: https://eveeno.com/agrar-symposium-2023 

Join TUM Special Guest Speaker series, hosted by TUMCREATE, on the History of Technology and Modelling the Future of Energy Systems by Prof Thomas Hamacher, as he examines what would have happened if nuclear energy had been continuously developed and then in the year 2000 had been used as a competitive power generation technology, especially in the growing markets in Asia. Date: 16 August 2023, Wednesday  Time: 10am -11am Venue: CREATE Tower Level 2 Theatrette, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602 Registration: https://bit.ly/tumcreate-seminar-energy   Abstract For many decades, climatologists have been pointing out the expected problems caused by climate change and calling for a move away from burning fossil fuels. Despite this, there has been a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly at the beginning of the 21st. century. One of the main drivers was the expansion of electricity generation from coal. How could such a development come about despite the warnings? The answer lies in the lack of alternatives: renewable energies were not yet competitive, gas infrastructure was lacking and nuclear energy was not developed accordingly. This development can be explained in particular by the move away from nuclear energy in the 1980s. In the 1960s and 1970s, nuclear energy was regarded as the decisive future technology for generating electricity. The anti-nuclear movement did put an end to this development. In terms of an “alternative” history of technology, the lecture tries to examine what would have happened if nuclear energy had been continuously developed and then in the year 2000 had been used as a competitive power generation technology, especially in the growing markets in Asia and especially China. What effect would such a development have on carbon dioxide emissions? The aim of the lecture is to create a new understanding of the history of technology and in particular to compare the need for modern efforts to develop future scenarios with developments in the past and to test and question the methods. A gap in the philosophy of science needs to be closed here. What validity do statements about the future have and how can we communicate this better in our work and what did we do wrong in the past?   Speaker’s Biography Professor Hamacher (b.1964) conducts research on energy and systems analysis, focusing on urban energy systems, the integration of renewable energy into the power grid, and innovative nuclear systems (including fusion). Other focuses of his work are the methods and fundamentals of energy models. After studying physics at Bonn, Aachen and Columbia University (New York), Professor Hamacher received a doctorate from the University of Hamburg for his work on baryonic beta decay. Professor Hamacher has been with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics since 1996, most recently as head of the Energy and System Studies Group. From 2010 to 2013 he served as acting head of the Chair of Energy Management and Application Technology. In 2013, he was appointed Full Professor for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems. Furthermore, he is the Director at the Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering (MEP). Prof. Hamacher is a member of the Environmental Science Centre (WZU) of the University of Augsburg. Since 2011 Prof. Hamacher works also as PI in various projects at TUMCREATE.

Join TUM Special Guest Speaker series, hosted by TUMCREATE, on Development of Sustainable Biotechnological Processes for Food Applications by Prof Thomas Brück, an expert in the Development of Sustainable Biotechnological Processes for Food Applications. This event promises to be an enlightening experience, exploring cutting-edge advancements in biotechnology for a more sustainable future.  In this seminar, Prof. Brueck will present compelling examples of sustainable biotechnological processes specifically tailored for food applications. You will discover how his team has leveraged products from microalgae and oleaginous yeasts to revolutionize the food industry. One highlight includes a groundbreaking fermentation process that uses stale bread waste as a carbon source to produce microbial oil through the oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginous. He will also present his results of how  an area-efficient production method can be made with a remarkably favorable carbon footprint compared to commonly used vegetable oils. These innovative approaches are essential in meeting the growing food demand of our world’s population, especially in highly urbanised environments like Singapore.   Date: 17 August 2023, Thursday Time: 4pm – 5pm Venue: CREATE Tower Level 2 Theatrette, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602 Registration: https://bit.ly/tumcrate-seminar-biotechnology