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Research for Industry Centre

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Overview

The Research for Industry Centre (RIC) offers a wide range of specialised research, consultations, and problem-solving services for local, regional, and international industries. With our extensive and diverse research experience, technical knowledge, and state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, RIC provides industrial clients fast, reliable, cost-effective, and scientifically sound services and consultations that meet their expectations and solve their business problems. RIC strives to be an internationally recognised leader in providing unique industrial research and enhancing innovative technology development. The centre contains two divisions: the Industrial Innovations Division and the Industrial Consultations Division.

 

Our Services

  • Conduct high-impact research projects to meet industrial needs and solve industrial problems
  • Provide methods of development and validation. RIC’s analytical facility contains state-of-the-art instruments for analytical purposes, including, but not limited to:
    • High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
    • Gas chromatography (GC)
    • Gel permeation chromatography (GPC)
    • Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC)
    • Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis)
    • X-ray diffraction (XRD)
    • Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)
    • Volumetric gas adsorption analysis
    • RIC also has the advantage of using the facilities at RSS laboratories for research purposes
  • Conduct advanced training courses for industry staff
  • Organise seminars and workshops on issues pertaining to the industry
 

Other Research Units

 

Biosynthesis & Biocatalysis

Investigating the ability of microorganisms and their enzymes to convert waste or other materials into value-added products. Research focuses on the synthesis of biodegradable plastics and enzymes as biocatalysts. Our work is interdisciplinary with strong elements of chemistry, biology, and engineering. We collaborate with analytical, technical, polymer, and organic synthetic chemists to examine enzyme purification, gene expression, bioprocessing, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and polymer chemistry.

 

Materials Discovery

We study the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of advanced functional materials. Materials developed are examined for efficacy in addressing various environmental and energy challenges. Targeted applications include the separation or capturing of unwanted gas components, such as carbon dioxide, followed by conversion of the captured component into useful chemicals. We also work on the synthesis of MOFs for medicinal applications that include the delivery of therapeutic active agents.

 

Emerging Pollutants

The research unit was established in 2020 through a project entitled, ‘The Occurrence and Fate of Pharmaceutical Residues from their Sources to Water Bodies and the Food Chain,’ funded by the US National Academy of Sciences in 2016. The unit laboratory is equipped to prepare, extract and analyse levels of emerging pollutants (i.e. pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)).

 

Metallurgy & Materials Technology

Future sustainable and green energy requires new metal alloys that are lightweight, strong, and have the ability to be recycled efficiently. Light metal alloys, most notably those based on aluminium, are widely used in the housing, automotive, and aerospace industries due to their excellent mechanical properties (e.g., low specific weight, medium to high strength, good formability, corrosion resistance, and recyclability).

 

Advanced Research

Future sustainable and green energy requires new metal alloys that are lightweight, strong, and have the ability to be recycled efficiently. Light metal alloys, most notably those based on aluminium, are widely used in the housing, automotive, and aerospace industries due to their excellent mechanical properties (e.g., low specific weight, medium to high strength, good formability, corrosion resistance, and recyclability).

Key People