Singapore is interested in such technology not only because it can provide alternative food sources for Singapore and other urban centres in Asia,"but also because they are natural additions to Singapore’s established industries, such as advanced manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, and specialty chemicals", said Dr Koh.
A*Star senior director for the food and consumer cluster Ralph Graichen noted that apart from a clearer overall strategy and synergies across units, a single research institute also provides"one focal point to interact with industry". The new institute brings together the existing Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Biotransformation Innovation Platform, Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety Programme, and Natural Product Library.