Welcome to START Centre
The Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation (START) Centre is set up as a national-level facility to bridge the translation gap between laboratory processes and full-scale final product. START serves as a vital platform for research institutions and industrial partners to transform their innovative technologies into commercially viable products and processes.
About START Centre
Singapore is a world leader in the development of innovative separation technologies, especially in the area of Water, where it is recognised as a global Hydrohub. Several novel technologies have been developed by our Institutes of Higher Learning and industrial players. Our role is to accelerate the translation of these technologies into unique, commercially viable products.
One of the biggest challenges for commercialisation of IP-protected novel technologies, is the translation gap between laboratory processes, results and testing, and full-scale final product. The translation of lab–scale technologies directly to the final industry application would involve a significant risk in most cases. This translation gap comprises several key challenges, including the scaling-up of component materials and equipment, systems level thinking, and testing at the pilot scale in an actual application setting.
START centre, which is staffed by several industry experts, scales up the membranes (hollow-fibre or flat-sheet), followed by module design, fabrication and testing at increasing sizes. This is followed by system design, integration, and piloting at scale under real-life conditions. Throughout this process, we work closely with potential industrial partners.
Some of the projects we have worked on include nano-filtration membranes for low-pressure water softening applications, membrane distillation, Pressure Retarded Osmosis for energy optimization in desalination, as well as modular and skid design. In addition, START Centre has collaborated with various industry players on the application and pilot testing of these technologies.
START Centre was launched in June 2016 under the Water Centres of Excellence (CoE) Programme, which is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and implemented by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.
What We Do
Our Mission
START Centre is a unique Centre of Excellence in Singapore dedicated to bridging the gap between early-stage inventions and commercially viable products and processes. Leveraging our expertise in industrial-scale membrane fabrication, module design and construction, testing, system design and piloting, we transform good inventions to great solutions.
Our Vision
To establish Singapore as a global membrane hub by leveraging our expertise to develop innovative solutions for global sustainability challenges. START Centre focuses on national priorities such as reducing seawater desalination costs, industrial wastewater treatment, process membranes, resource recovery, carbon capture, and other key areas critical to a sustainable future.