Singapore NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS), announced two major co-investment partnerships and an international education initiative to strengthen Singapore’s role as a global innovation hub for deep tech. The announcements were made at the opening of the revitalised i3 building, the new nucleus of NUS innovation.
i3, a hub for entrepreneurship: At its core, NUS Enterprise supports the founders, innovators, and risk-takers who drive change through its integrated focus on education, ecosystem and research, and venture building and investing. “i3 is the nexus on which the NUS Enterprise flywheel spins. It brings together all the pieces in the ecosystem, fuelling the momentum to drive global impact and Singapore’s entrepreneurial success,” said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise).
The redesigned i3 Building was officially unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Gan Kim Yong, to the global innovator community.
The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by dignitaries including Dr. Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise); Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President; Mr. Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees; Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost; and Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS Enterprise. The event marked a significant milestone in fostering innovation and collaboration within Singapore's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, in his opening remarks, said, "Through the National GRIP, we target to train 300 startup teams by 2028, and nurture over 150 spin-offs by 2030. The I3 building is designed to facilitate this process, by offering incubation support and mentorship, and providing an open and collaborative space where researchers, students and industry partners can come together to experiment, prototype and co-create. In addition to innovators, we also want to cultivate entrepreneurs, people who are willing to take the leap to turn prototypes into products, projects into companies, and ideas into businesses.
Expanding capital and partnerships for deep tech ventures:
NUS Enterprise launched a new co-investment framework with SG Growth Capital, the strategic investment platform of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), to channel greater capital into deep tech start-ups and selected venture capital (VC) funds. The investment amount into a VC fund would match NUS Enterprise’s investment depending on SG Growth Capital’s evaluation of the fund.
In a parallel move, NUS Enterprise signed a S$20 million (approximately US$16 million) co-investment agreement with Lotus One Investment Pte Ltd, part of the Lotus Singapore Group, to jointly support both NUS spin-offs and VC funds. Profits from these collaborations will be significantly reinvested to strengthen NUS Enterprise’s innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, further amplifying impact.
Together, these initiatives will provide greater support for NUS-affiliated start-ups and broaden co-investments in VC funds, complementing the S$150 million (US$116 million) NUS VC Programme launched in July 2025.
“NUS is committed to creating stronger pathways for deep tech start-ups to succeed,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President. “These partnerships give our ventures greater access to capital, networks, and expertise, while reinforcing NUS’ role in advancing deep tech innovation and contributing to a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Singapore, the region, and globally.”
“With the support of SG Growth Capital and Lotus One Investment, deep tech ventures in the NUS ecosystem gain access to global expertise, quality capital, and expansive networks,” said Dr Tan. “These partnerships strengthen our integrated ecosystem - uniting education, research, and venture creation- to attract outstanding talent and nurture start-ups that deliver innovation with lasting global impact.”
Complementing these capital partnerships, NUS Enterprise announced a S$2 million (US$1.5 million) pilot collaboration with Stanford University, made possible through a donation from the Khetan Foundation.
The NUS Enterprise flywheel : Under Dr Tan’s leadership, NUS Enterprise has built a “flywheel” that unites education, research, venture creation, and capital. By nurturing talent and accelerating start-ups, each success attracts investment, creates jobs, and delivers real-world impact - momentum that in turn draws fresh talent and resources to power the next wave of innovation.
(From left) Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise); Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President; Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry; Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees; Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost; and Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS Enterprise, launched the NUS i3 building, a launchpad for innovation and impact, on 16 September 2025.
