science research companies in singapore

Singapore’s biotech scene: six companies leading the way

Singapore set out to become a global biotech hub back in 2000, and, although still awaiting its big success story in the industry, it is currently a leading hub in the APAC region for R&D, biopharma manufacturing, and commercial operations, with a growing startup ecosystem that includes numerous biotech companies.

In 2000, the government in Singapore made biomedical research the fourth pillar of the city’s state economy, known as the National Biomedical Science Strategy. Then, in 2003, under the initiative, the country established Biopolis, which is a custom-built biomedical R&D hub. Over the next 20 years or so, billions of dollars were invested in the life sciences sector.

Nowadays, despite the presence of global companies in the region, Singapore is still focusing on growing its own biotech community. And, as it relies on its network of top universities and research institutions, there are several companies popping up across the country. 

In this article, we take a look at six of those companies (in alphabetical order), all of which are showing growth across different areas within the biotech industry in Singapore. 

Table of contents

Albatroz therapeutics.

Having secured a seed funding round of $3 million in April this year, Singapore-based biotech company Albatroz Therapeutics is developing therapeutic antibodies against a novel target that degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). The novel ECM degradation target is a protein complex activated by a glycosylation pathway, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of solid tumors and arthritis – the two indications that the company is currently focused on.

While at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, Fred Bard, the chief executive officer (CEO) and scientific co-founder of Albatroz, discovered the pathway that controls protein glycosylation and drives ECM degradation. The study of this pathway led to the discovery of the company’s novel target, which becomes exposed at the cell surface after glycosylation. Activation of this target occurs specifically in tumors and arthritic synovial membranes, connective tissue that lines the joint capsule. 

Albatroz’s targeted antibodies have high specificity for this target, selectively reducing extracellular matrix degradation while also minimizing toxicity.

Furthermore, Albatroz has recently become a recognized leader in the Singapore biotech community. Earlier this year, the company announced it was the first Amgen ‘Golden Ticket’ recipient in Singapore , whereby it was awarded a one-year free residency in NSG Biolabs’ fully-equipped, turnkey, and certified BSL-2 laboratory, alongside additional facility benefits, and connections to Amgen’s scientific and business leaders.

A Singapore synthetic biology startup, Allozymes’ mission is essentially to upend traditional manufacturing methods through rapid, sustainable enzyme engineering. The company points out that using chemical processes to manufacture ingredients is highly polluting, while current methods of isolating natural ingredients from plants and animals are also damaging to the environment, as they typically utilize high volumes of biomass, energy, water, and land. This is why the Singapore-based biotech company wants to create custom-designed enzymes; in order to solve this issue in a sustainable and scalable fashion.

Allozymes has employed a proprietary microfluidics technology to build its next-generation enzyme engineering platform, which can build and test millions of enzymes per day. This boosts the likelihood of success in being able to develop the most effective enzymes. It is also significant, because, generally speaking, finding new and useful enzymes is a complex, slow process, so the fact that Allozymes can screen up to around ten million enzymes per day, represents a significant improvement in this area compared to using traditional robotics technology. 

Allozymes also has an ongoing partnership with GenScript , a global biotechnology group. As part of the collaboration, Allozymes provides an ultra-high-throughput screening service for applications across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food and beverage, while GenScript provides the mutant libraries construction and expression.

Singapore-based biotech company Gero is working in the field of longevity , hoping to cure root causes of chronic diseases, as well as slow down aging itself. It is a pre-clinical stage company, and its aim is to create therapeutics through the use of AI, with its GERO.AI platform being used for drug discovery purposes. 

The company’s approach is to apply machine learning algorithms originating from the physics of complex systems to build clinically relevant disease progression models in real-world human data and identify clusters of diseases with shared biology. After this, the AI-enhanced genetic study on the progression models, in conjunction with whole-exome sequencing data, reveals novel therapeutic targets that are potentially applicable to several indications simultaneously.

Gero also has a platform called GeroSense, which creates digital biomarkers to measure health changes via smartphone with a precision blood test.

In January 2023, Gero announced that it had entered a research collaboration with Pfizer to apply its machine learning technology platform to discover potential targets for fibrotic diseases, using large-scale human-based data. 

Hummingbird Bioscience 

Hummingbird Bioscience – which raised $125 million in series C financing in 2021, led by Novo Holdings – is attempting to lead a new way of engineering precision biotherapeutics that can define the future of precision medicine, with a focus on important biologically validated targets in cancer and autoimmune disease that have previously been elusive and difficult to drug. 

The Singapore-based biotech company has a proprietary Rational Antibody Discovery platform, which it uses to discover and engineer precision therapies, and unlock the therapeutic potential of these targets. It then uses biomarker-driven clinical trials to maximize the probability of successful clinical development. 

Hummingbird’s lead candidate (currently in phase 1b trials) is HMBD-001. It is an anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody, meaning it targets HER3, which is a potent driver of tumor growth and resistance against cancer drugs, as its activation is driven by the dimerization with HER2 and EGFR, triggering the MAPK/PI3K signaling pathway that promotes cancer cell division and growth. HMBD-001 is engineered to bind strongly and specifically to the dimerization interface of HER3, which allows it to interfere with HER3’s ability to dimerize and block its activation. 

In May this year, Hummingbird announced that it had entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck to evaluate HMBD-001 in combination with Merck’s cetuximab in squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma. 

KBP Biosciences 

Based in Singapore, biotech company KBP Biosciences has built a proprietary discovery platform that it says incorporates world-class processes for novel compound identification established around two major areas – organ protection and anti-infection. The platform includes a substantial compound library, high-volume screening and optimization techniques, and a pharmacological experiment platform for evaluating pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) and toxicology for various novel drug candidates. The platform has generated each of KBP’s candidates currently in clinical and preclinical development. 

KBP’s small molecule compound library includes rich chemical entities consisting of compounds designed and synthesized by the company with unique chemical structures and high potency, compounds synthesized based on different core structures that cover almost all known core structures, as well as a natural product library of compounds extracted from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms. 

On Monday October 16, it was announced that Novo Nordisk had agreed to acquire ocedurenone for uncontrolled hypertension, with potential application in cardiovascular and kidney disease, from KBP for up to $1.3 billion. Ocedurenone was KPB’s lead candidate, and is an orally administered, small molecule, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (nsMRA) that is currently in phase 3 trials.

RVAC Medicines

Headquartered in Singapore, with sites also in Boston and Shanghai, RVAC Medicines is an mRNA platform company, focusing on the development and commercialization of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines across a range of disease areas, including COVID-19.

In fact, earlier this year, the biotech company received approval from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to initiate a phase 1b clinical trial in Singapore to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidates. The candidates include one vaccine against the ancestral strain, one against an Omicron strain, and a bivalent vaccine candidate with components of both ancestral and Omicron strains. 

Additionally, in March this year, RVAC announced a research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, which is focused on the discovery and development of mRNA vaccines that can modulate the body’s normal immune response as possible treatments for certain autoimmune diseases and allergic conditions. And, more recently, in June this year, it was announced that the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), will provide funding of up to $3 million to advance and accelerate the manufacturing process for RVAC’s next-generation mRNA vaccine platform technology. The reason for the partnership is that, using innovative manufacturing approaches, RVAC’s mRNA platform could speed up the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines, and help to get doses into arms more quickly when responding to future epidemic or pandemic diseases.

Singapore’s biotech scene: looking ahead

Singapore’s stance as a leading R&D hub in the APAC region, alongside its considerable investment in life sciences, and network of top universities and research institutions, means that it has the potential to grow its biotech sector even further in the coming years. Furthermore – as can be seen from the fact that many of the companies listed in this article are startups – the country’s growing startup ecosystem will also allow for the launch of more and more biotech companies, so that they can continue to bring their innovative ideas forward onto the world stage.

6 Biotech Companies in Singapore to Know

These companies engineer products out of living organisms.

At the turn of the century, Singapore set out to become a world-class biotech hub, introducing a government initiative that led to the construction of the Biopolis research and development center.

Twenty years on , Singapore’s biopharmaceutical exports and biotech-related companies have skyrocketed. The sector as a whole is set to grow by 8 percent on an annual basis.

But there’s just one thing holding the sector back — a talent shortage . To close the gap, building a talent pipeline through measures like scholarship, fellowship and on-the-job training programs as well as attracting generative companies and startups — like those listed below — has become a priority for the biotech hub-in-the-making.

Top Biotech Companies in Singapore

Hummingbird bioscience, albatroz therapeutics, kbp biosciences, 6 top biotech companies in singapore.

Takeda has been around since 1781, working to build a global reputation as a global leader in innovating disease treatment and prevention. The pharmaceutical company’s expertise covers gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, rare diseases like hemophilia and Hunter syndrome, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines for dengue, Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

Takeda Is Hiring | View Open Jobs

Hummingbird Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotech startup specializing in biotherapeutics that treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Using insights from its in-house, AI -enabled Rational Antibody Discovery platform, the company’s research team can design tailor-made antibodies capable of inactivating cancer cells on site, inhibiting tumor growth and even preventing drug resistance. Hummingbird received $430 million in a licensing deal, granting Endeavor BioMedicines exclusive rights to its antibody-drug conjugate worldwide.

Hummingbird Bioscience is Hiring | View Open Jobs

Albatroz Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotech startup developing therapeutic antibodies that prevent cancer growth and treat arthritis. Its novel method inhibits the proliferation of cancerous cells and their recurrence while minimizing toxicity. Founded in 2020, Albatroz Therapeutics secured $3 million in a seed round to support its research, and was named the winner of the first Amgen Golden Ticket in Singapore.

Albatroz Therapeutics is Hiring | View Open Jobs

Related Reading What Is Bioprinting?

Gero is a biotech company focused on curing chronic, age-related diseases via AI-driven drug discovery. Its large health models are generative , predictive machine-learning systems that have been trained using massive amounts of real-world human health datasets, and, by cross-matching phenotypes, can decode the shared biology of diseases. In 2023, Gero raised $6 million, and partnered with Pfizer to research therapeutic targets for fibrotic diseases.

Gero is Hiring | View Open Jobs

Allozymes is a deep tech company using proprietary microfluidics technology to build the largest in-house database of enzymes. With 10 million enzyme variants analyzed per day, the company claims that its enzyme engineering platform can produce results that are 200 times more accurate at a tenfold faster pace than robotics methodologies. This high-throughput screening service, which is being developed by a 20-person team , would provide organic, custom-built catalysts to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food and beverage industries.

Allozymes is Hiring | View Open Jobs

KBP Biosciences is a biotech startup creating an integrated discovery and development platform that generates novel biotherapies for organ protection and anti-infection treatments. Operating from four international bases, the company’s research teams cross-match biomarkers in order to uncover underlying physiological and pathological processes that initiate disease, splitting the work across three focus areas — organ, anti-microbial and immunology research. Its flagship product, a drug that treats uncontrolled hypertension, sold for $1.3 billion.

KBP Biosciences is Hiring | View Open Jobs

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• March 29, 2021
• By Asian Scientist Newsroom

To empower local researchers in their pursuit of great science, A*STAR’s Research Support Centre in Singapore offers expertise, scientific services and technological support all in one platform.

AsianScientist (Mar. 29, 2021) – From developing homegrown COVID-19 diagnostic kits like Fortitude to identifying novel SARS-CoV-2 mutations , Singapore’s steady investments into its biomedical sector clearly paid off during the pandemic. By the time COVID-19 hit the Republic’s shores, local and international players in the country’s buzzing biomedical scene were ready to rise to the occasion—enabling Singapore’s robust pandemic response.

At the heart of Singapore’s biomedical research ecosystem is the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Research Support Centre (RSC). By offering everything from on-demand access to sophisticated equipment and scientific services to a talent exchange platform connecting employers with prospective employees, RSC plays a crucial role in powering biomedical innovation in the Republic.

With co-funding from the National Research Foundation, RSC also supports four National Shared Platforms , namely the Immunomonitoring (IM) Platform, SingaScope, Singapore National Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry (SingMass) and Translational Pathology Consortium (TPC).

True to their name, these platforms are available to researchers nationwide—in hope of collectively advancing Singapore’s scientific contributions for the benefit of mankind. Here’s a look at the National Shared Platforms and the expertise they offer. Boosting immunology research

Over at A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), the Immunomonitoring (IM) Platform provides a full spectrum of research services. The IM platform not only has the largest flow cytometry platform in Southeast Asia, but it also consists of other services including multiplex analysis of proteins (MAP), immunogenomics , mass cytometry and computational immunology .

By combining genomic, proteomic and cell-based assays, the IM platform generates a complete picture of the immune system and response within the context of health and disease. Accordingly, the IM platform allows immunologists to integrate complex data from multiple approaches and extensively analyze both steady-state and progression of disease or treatment.

To date, the IM platform has enabled over 130 research partnerships, resulting in more than 1,500 peer-reviewed publications, including many critical COVID-19 studies. Both flow and mass cytometry were involved in the characterization of leukocytes from severe COVID-19 patients.

The IM platform was also deployed to examine plasma samples of patients infected with the Δ382 variant of SARS-CoV-2 . Through MAP, these patients were found to have a more effective T-cell response and platelet regulation during the early stages of infection.

As more COVID-19 variants emerge, the IM platform could help advance detection as well as the development and/or response to treatments and vaccines. With its state-of-the-art technologies, the IM platform not only furthers research collaborations, but also creates better healthcare and economic outcomes. Pushing the boundaries of microscopy

Now an indispensable research tool in laboratories worldwide, microscopes have revolutionized the sciences by rendering visible what was once hidden in plain sight. The SingaScope microscopy infrastructure network brings the benefits of microscopy to researchers across the country—combining the A*STAR Microscopy Platform with resources like SingHealth’s Advanced Bioimaging as well as the Centre for Bioimaging Sciences and Singapore Microscopy and Bioimage Analysis at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The network also includes the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) Optical Bio-imaging Centre consisting of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine .

With 69 high-end microscopes housed across four research organizations, SingaScope offers instrumentation and expertise to support and enable live-cell imaging, 3D imaging, molecular imaging, ultrastructural microscopy, superresolution microscopy and more.

To further streamline the process and promote collaboration, SingaScope is developing an online database to enable scientists to find the microscopes they need with a single click. Through the database, researchers can reach out to relevant experts for consultation on all stages of their imaging experimental pipeline. This database will be available at the SingaScope website in late April 2021.

“To see a researcher from any other institution coming to use the instruments within A*STAR is a real pleasure,” commented Dr. Graham Wright, RSC Acting Director and founding member of SingaScope. “Particularly if they couldn’t have done their experiment otherwise.”

Amassing biomedical expertise

Similar to SingaScope, the Singapore National Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry (SingMass) consolidates world-class research centers to offer mass spectrometry applications to scientists within Singapore’s shores and beyond. Each of the three centers under SingMass—namely the Protein and Proteomics Centre (PPC), Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING) and Functional Proteomics Laboratory (FPL)—cover a complementary area of expertise.

At NUS, PPC enables protein identification and the study of post-translational modifications, while SLING equips researchers to better understand the complex biochemistry of lipids. Meanwhile, A*STAR’s FPL integrates multi-omic approaches to analyze signaling networks and the interactions between nucleic acids and proteins, among many others.

“Omics studies provide a wealth of information unrivalled by any other methods, enabling scientists to gain deep insight into the biological machinations of life,” explained Dr. Radoslaw Sobota from FPL. “However, access to omics technologies is limited due to the high entry cost and lack of skilled personnel capable of understanding the research objectives and tailoring specific methods to suit the needs of the scientific questions.”

Through SingMass, Sobota and his colleagues aim to eliminate the barrier of entry for their counterparts in Singapore and beyond by providing access to cutting-edge technologies, qualified personnel and proteomics expertise in one national platform.

A deeper dive into disease

Often described as the bridge between science and medicine, pathology—the study of the nature of disease and injury—underpins nearly every aspect of clinical care. By examining tissues and body parts, pathologists can impart valuable insights for disease diagnosis.

The Translational Pathology Consortium (TPC) provides four key capabilities. Within TPC, the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-certified Advanced Molecular Pathology Lab (AMPL) at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR receives over 4,000 requests every year and offers experimental pathology services to academia, pharma and biotech companies.

As the only GLP-certified in vitro toxicology facility in Southeast Asia, TPC enables researchers to investigate the effects of toxic conditions on cells, tissues and organs. Together with Hamburg-based oncology company Indivumed , the consortium is also establishing an Asian-centric Cancer Database to accelerate precision diagnostics and treatment for cancer patients in the region.

Through the BioPharma Innovation and Solutions (BPIS) division, TPC works closely with researchers to provide solutions and support in molecular pharmacology and bioanalysis. With its veterinary pathology arm, the consortium also provides diagnostic services to animal hospitals and veterinary clinics in Singapore.

Finally, TPC closely collaborates with spin-off companies like MiRXES to discover novel biomarkers and industry partners like Invitrocue to develop consultative telepathology services.

All in all, TPC provides scientists with high-quality histopathology support for both human and veterinary samples, right in Singapore. In doing so, the platform overcomes the many legal and administrative challenges of sending specimens across national borders, reducing turnaround times and cost without compromising quality.

With support from RSC and the four National Shared Platforms, it’s never been easier to kickstart scientific research in Singapore. Visit the RSC website for your research needs now! Asian Scientist Magazine is a media partner of the A*STAR Research Support Centre.

Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Immunomonitoring Platform. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

#A*STAR #A*STAR Research Support Centre #flow cytometry #Histopathology #Laboratory Tools #Mass Spectrometry #Microscopy #Pathology #Singapore #Telepathology

Asian Scientist Newsroom

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

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Made In Singapore: Local Science And Tech Companies To Watch

Published On Fri, 21 Oct 2022

Supporting local isn't the only applicable to F&B and retail - here, we speak with AMILI and Dialyss, for a closer look at how companies in the science and tech industries are making waves in Singapore.

When we talk about Singaporean brands and companies, the first things that comes to mind would probablybe prominent local businesses like Shopee , DBS, and Song Fa Bak Kut Teh , all of which fall in more commercial sectors. For a country as small as Singapore, it’s impressive to see local companies like these grow to become global businesses. But commercial brands aren’t the only ones making waves internationally. In fact, many of our local science and tech companies situated in Singapore Science Park have made great breakthroughs in more niche sectors and industries. Here, we speak with Toh Kai Yee, Head of Laboratory Operations and Research at AMILI, a precision gut microbiome company located at The Rutherford, and Jasmin Wong, Director and CEO of Dialyss, a sorbent dialysis technology company located at The Galen, to find out more about the breakthroughs that they’ve attained, and the importance of the work that they do.

Toh Kai Yee, Head of Laboratory Operations and Research at AMILI. Image courtesy of AMILI.

Kai Yee (seated, second from left) and a part of AMILI's Laboratory and Research team pictured inside AMILI's laboratory in Singapore. Image Courtesy of AMILI.

After stool samples have been sent in by volunteer donors, laboratory technicians will extract them for preparation and processing. Image courtesy of AMILI.

When not in use, gut microbiome samples are stored at -80°C. Image courtesy of AMILI. 

Toh Kai Yee, Head of Laboratory Operations and Research at AMILI

Did you know that AMILI, a Singapore-based precision gut microbiome company at The Rutherford at Singapore Science Park, houses Southeast Asia’s first and only gut microbiome bank for research and clinical use.

To break this down, gut microbiomes, which are found in human stools, consist of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in the digestive tract, and play a key role in almost every aspect of human health, like brain, gut, and cardiovascular health, as well as metabolism and immunity.

In their gut microbiome bank, AMILI gathers gut microbiome samples from volunteer donors to perform research and transplants, as well as contribute to the world!s largest multi-ethnic Asian gut microbiome database.

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

In a nutshell, I oversee AMILI’s gut microbiome transplant programme. I work with doctors to ensure donors are healthy, and process the gut microbiome samples to be used in transplants by clinicians both locally and regionally. I also develop protocols and workflows with my colleagues to study the 100 trillion microbes in our gut, and how these microbes impact human health. I also study the reverse of this, i.e. how diet and lifestyle affect our gut microbes.

2. Tell us more about AMILI’s gut microbiome transplant bank.

Our gut microbiome transplant bank was set up in 2019, and is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Since then, we’ve provided transplant preparations to a number of hospitals and clinics in the region to treat a variety of diseases and infections like Clostridioides Difficile Infection (CDI), a type of bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhoea and potentially life-threatening complications.

Outside of that, researchers globally are exploring transplants for a variety of other indications such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Autism. We are also hopeful that providing easy and reliable access to high-quality microbiome transplant preparations via the AMILI bank will encourage the uptake of gut microbiome transplants in Singapore and the region.

An estimated 48,000 transplants are performed annually in the USA, with success rates of over 85%. Singapore!s first transplant was performed in 2014 by our co-founder, Dr David Ong, but the treatment has yet to become mainstream here.

3. How does the process of gut microdome donaton differ from blood donation?

The process actually looks something like this: Apply -> Answer general lifestyle questionnaire -> Send your poop sample (which is where the gut microbiome is found!) -> Answer food frequency questionnaire

That said, it is actually harder to qualify to be a gut microbiome donor than a blood donor. This is because we follow the most stringent screening protocols worldwide, and our success rates are aligned with the global statistics of about 2%. Once donors are deemed eligible, they would be required to donate their gut microbiome regularly over two months, as long as they stay pathogen- and disease-free.

4. What is the importance of gut microbiome donation?

The short answer is because it saves lives! By supporting us and other researchers in advancing scientific research, and in building an Asiafocused gut microbiome bank, we save lives right away through the transplants we carry out, and in the future through research discoveries applied into clinical practice.

Even though Asia accounts for about 60% of the world’s population, more than 71% of public microbiome profiles come from America, Canada and Europe. This is why it’s important for us to conduct research locally and regionally within Asia.

Every year in September, we run a public health awareness campaign called Poop Saves Lives, where we raise general awareness of how one!s poop can potentially save a life. However, our call for poop donors runs all year long, and we welcome interested parties to visit the website to find out more, and to consider donating their poop.

What are some fun facts about gut microbiomes?

• The gut microbiome can weigh up to 2 kilograms! • About 30% of the solid matter in our poop is bacterial. • 70-80% of immune cells are present in our gut, which means that if we want to boost immunity, we should look to the gut for solutions. • Gut microbes are heavily influenced by our diet and environment—about 10 times more so than our genetics. • Samples for the Asian microbiome reference library can be stored indefinitely in the stabilising solution at -80°C, while gut microbiome transplant preparations can be stored for over two years.

Jasmin Wong (L), Director and CEO of Dialyss, and Dr Christian Bluechel (R), co-founder of Dialyss. Image courtesy of Dialyss. 

Jasmin Wong, Director and CEO of Dialyss

A med-tech startup incubated at Temasek Polytechnic and based in The Galen at Singapore Science Park, Dialyss uses innovation and technology to increase dialysis patients’ mobility, freedom, and quality of life. This is done through their sorbent technology which allows a minimal volume of dialysate (or dialysis fluid) to be used per hemodialysis treatment. Dialyss’ sorbent technology is the first regenerative dialysis technology to comply with the strict requirements of today’s industry standards for hemodialysis devices. It is the key enabler for the miniatuarisation and cost effectiveness of the portable home hemodialysis device, Neokidney. Dialyss was acquired by Neokidney’s parent company, NextKidney, in early 2022 to combine the expertise of both companies in bringingthe device to market in 2024.

1. How does dialysis usually work, and how does this differ from Dialyss’ technology?

There hasn’t been much innovation in the field of dialysis for the past 50 years, unlike other medical areas like cardiology, diabetes management, and plastic surgery. Majority of dialysis patients with kidney failure or end-stage renal disease in Singapore are on hemodialysis—more specifically, single pass dialysis systems paired with reverse osmosis water purification. This involves blood being pumped out of patients’ bodies and into an artificial kidney machine, where blood will be filtered through a dialyser before being pumped back into patients’ bodies..These systems are bulky, immobile, and use large volumes of water (about 120 litres), so patients would have to travel down to dialysis centres three to five times a week for dialysis that lasts about four hours each time.

However, our sorbent technology only requires five litres of fluid per dialysis session. It allows patients to carry out hemodialysis treatment in the comfort of their own homes, and gives patients the freedom to take charge of their dialysis schedule. Our technology also does not require additional water or drainage, so it can be easily used in areas affected by disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, and warfare.

2. What is the significance of making dialysis more portable?

Singapore is ranked first in the world for diabetes-related kidney failure, with 5.5 new patients in Singapore diagnosed with kidney failure daily on average. For many of these patients, dialysis is the focal point around which their life and the lives of their family revolves because of how time- and energy-consuming it is. Portable dialysis devices would give these patients full freedom to choose the location of their treatment, and even allow them to travel while being treated. We are currently developing a portable sorbent-based home hemodialysis device with NextKidney, a med-tech company based in Switzerland. The total weight of the device is less than 10kg, and fits into cabin sized luggage. This makes the Neokidney the lightest and most compact hemodialysis device in the market.

With smaller cartridges and a regenerative system, Dialyss aims to make the process of hemodialysis more portable and accessible for all patients. Image courtesy of Dialyss.

3. What were some of the challenges you faced since starting up Dialyss?

We moved into The Galen at the start of the pandemic in 2020. It was difficult setting up a new office and laboratory due to the restrictions in place, and disruptions on the logistics side.  Despite these challenges, we’re now well on our way to completing and marketing our portable hemodialysis device in 2024.

4. You’ve personally been in the med-tech industry for quite a while now. What is it that keeps you going?

I started off as a nurse working with patients with kidney failure. I learnt a lot about the challenges faced by patients and their families, and wanted to help them overcome these challenges in a practical way. At the same time, I am also inspired by stories of patients around the world who refuse to let dialysis stop them from having adventures, chasing their dreams, and enjoying life. This pushes my team and I to create solutions that would make a difference in a patient’s quality of life. Our technology aims to improve the efficiency of dialysis treatments, and make treatment more accessible and affordable for all patients, especially those in rural areas.

5. What are your hopes for the future of Dialyss?

We are currently working towards commercialising our device in Europe, US and Asia by expanding our development and manufacturing capacity in Asia. Sorbent-based hemodialysis is not well known in Singapore, so another one of our goals is to work closely with local physicians and government agencies to spread a greater awareness of its benefits to patients, our healthcare system, and government.

Though most of the work that AMILI and Dialyss do are behind closed laboratory doors, the impacts of their research and products have the potential to improve many lives, and are making waves in their respective industries not just in Singapore, but in the region as well.

That said, we’re excited to see how much further they’ll go in the near future.

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Our strong relationships with world leaders in bio-medical, genetic, chronic disease and nuclear research – as well as leading pharmaceutical companies – means we have considerable experience in Class 1, 2 and 3 containment laboratories. This includes our work delivering a range of facilities for world-class academic establishments which are continuing their quest for game-changing research and advancements in education.

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Our dedicated specialists operate exclusively in the science and health sphere. With their peerless expertise and our award-winning in-house tech capability, we engage clients early to create world-leading spaces tailored to their needs. It means we’re fully equipped to take on everything up to the biggest projects across Europe and guide clients on the journey from inception to completion, and beyond.

The spaces we’re creating will save and improve lives for years to come. We are working with University College London (UCL) on its new £300m home for Neuroscience, enabling clinicians, scientists and researchers to pioneer world-leading testing and treatment on neurological illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s, long into the future. Our ‘bench to bedside’ approach creates places that boost productivity, where faculty, researchers, clinicians and students can work and learn together.

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American healthcare giant, imperial college molecular sciences research hub, the oak cancer centre, transforming live buildings into award-winning research environments.

Our bespoke solutions arm complex environments with everything they need to attract the very best talent and take leading science and research spaces into the future. As leaders in transforming underused spaces into world-class, tech-led facilities built to evolve with the industry, we deliver the life science, research and education environments of tomorrow – today.

We are behind One Mabledon Place in Central London – one of Europe’s largest pathology labs – which includes complex mechanical and electrical services infrastructure and highly specialised clean rooms. The 11-storey facility is equipped to provide world-class pathology and diagnostic facilities, transporting millions of blood samples to the UK’s largest specialist centre for cellular pathology, 60 Whitfield Street, each day – our second scheme with Health Services Laboratories (HSL).

Our experience working in live, critical environments means we not only deliver to deadline, but ensure that critical infrastructure is operational and coordinated with minimal disruption to our client’s people.

“We are pleased to have appointed ISG to work with us to deliver a very special building that sits within our Estates Transformation programme, creating a new research and clinical environment for neurological diseases where patients, clinicians and academics can come together in a state of the art, collaborative, combined facility for the first time.” Kevin Argent, deputy director of UCL Estates and director of Estates Development

Building a better and more sustainable future

We’re proud to lead the way in sustainable building engineering practices and are thrilled to be working with The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) to create its new HQ at The Entopia Centre, as it seeks to inspire the fight against climate change.

At Imperial College London’s Sir Michael Uren Hub in West London, our commitment to building a brighter, more sustainable legacy was recognised with a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating after we introduced a revolutionary ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) method as a sustainable substitute for cement. The method retains the strength of concrete but produces a fifteenth of the emissions – a pioneering legacy for the Hub, which is home to over 500 engineers, clinicians and scientists tasked with developing new, affordable medical technologies.

The life and work of Imperial College alumnus, Sir Michael Uren, is transforming life-changing research at his former university, and the lives of generations to come.

Sir Michael Uren, Sir Michael Uren Hub, Imperial College London, UK

“Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) new HQ at The Entopia Building will exemplify and enable our mission to support and inspire the leadership and innovation we need to transition to sustainable economy. Our aim is to create a highly collaborative, sustainable workspace to bring together Cambridge’s academic and innovation communities with our network of companies and sustainability leaders and accelerate solutions to global sustainability challenges.” Dame Polly Courtice, former founder director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

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Related content, ucl neuroscience, construction and refurbishment, london, uk, a crowning moment fit for a princess.

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How Singapore Punches Above Its Weight In Advancing Drug Discovery And Development

By Dr Hao Weidong, Chief Scientific Officer, Experimental Drug Development Centre

• The Singapore government's long-term commitment to building the biomedical science ecosystem is not only yielding results for the economy, but enabling strategic business partnerships, talent attraction and innovative breakthroughs in drug discovery.

When I was presented with the opportunity to work in Singapore, I was very impressed by the high-impact publications by researchers from the various biomedical research institutes here. What ultimately pushed me to make the move to Singapore was the exciting opportunity to work across various biomedical research institutes in the ecosystem and the chance to participate in Singapore's concerted translational efforts to advance drug discovery and development. My brother, who had worked and lived in Singapore for several years, also strongly encouraged me to take up this offer.

Promising outlook for biotech in Singapore

Over the last three decades, the Singapore government has sustained investments in research, innovation, and enterprise (RIE), with the RIE2025 plan dedicating about S$25 billion to research and development (R&D). An additional S$3 billion will be injected this year to deepen capabilities in new growth areas 1 .

Singapore's R&D efforts have yielded positive societal outcomes and economic growth. In 2021, there were more than 25,000 people working in the field, many of whom had high-paying and high-value jobs. This strong collaboration among ecosystem players in striving towards a common goal was one of the key reasons that attracted me to Singapore.

Based on a report by global strategy firm LEK Consulting, the number of Singapore-based biotechnology companies grew substantially from 7 in 2012 to 52 in 2022, with this number projected to increase by over 61.5 percent between 2022 and 2032. Looking at the venture funding landscape, DealStreetAsia and Enterprise Singapore reported that start-ups in the healthcare sector closed 67 deals with a cumulative value of US$0.97 billion in the past two years, despite the recent global downturn in biotech investments.

Advancements have fluctuated during the past two decades; various regions around the world have attempted to create biotech hubs with varying levels of success. But towards the end of 2023, Singapore saw an increase in investor interest and new biotech incubators launched. For instance, in November, Flagship Pioneering announced the opening of a regional hub in Singapore for expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

While Singapore's biotech achievements may seem small in comparison to other regions in the world, I believe Singapore is in a good position to punch above its weight. What sets Singapore apart is its geographical location in the heart of Asia, its long-term commitment to invest in R&D and talent, and its strong belief in meaningful partnerships and synergistic collaborations.

Drawing on collective strengths

Singapore overcomes the constraints of its size by combining efforts and working with partners to draw on collective strengths. It is no different in the biotech space: research institutes, universities, hospitals, MNCs, startups and government agencies like the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) work in unison towards a common goal.

To foster the growth of biotech and deep-tech start-ups in general, several incubator spaces have been set up in Singapore. For example, A*StartCentral (A*SC) was championed by A*STAR to provide space, mentorship, and funding to support A*STAR spin-offs and external start-ups. A*SC has supported around 140 start-ups, half of which are biotechs. Between 2016 and 2022, the startups incubated there had raised more than S$950 million in funding. In my opinion, these are significant figures given Singapore's size.

Grow your startup with A*StartCentral!

Several incubators have also emerged from synergistic collaborations in recent years. A tripartite alliance between Nanyang Technological University (NTU), A*STAR, and the National Healthcare Group gave birth to co11ab , a biomedtech incubator embedded in the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU, situated near healthcare institutions such as hospitals.

Furthermore, Singapore has drawn the attention of international collaborators. In September last year, Johnson & Johnson partnered the Singapore Economic Development Board to set up JLABS, which helps early-stage biotechs in Singapore translate their research into solutions. A month after, global life science company Evotec SE partnered both local and global venture capitals to launch 65LAB , which supports biotechs in achieving commercial success and creating positive patient impact.

I experience this spirit of collaboration keenly in my role as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) . EDDC is a national platform for drug discovery and development. We work closely with many partners to translate publicly funded local research into commercialised drugs.

This includes out-licensing drug candidates developed with our partners in Singapore's ecosystem to foreign biotechs and big pharma. Our pipeline includes small molecules and biologics that span various diseases, including oncology, fibrosis, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, and autoimmune diseases like lupus. To this end, I highlight some key success stories.

We have out-licensed a panel of cancer-specific antibodies—a product of the close multi-institutional collaboration between A*STAR, EDDC, and the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium—to Boehringer Ingelheim. Under the global licensing agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will advance the preclinical and clinical development as well as the commercialisation of these antibodies. We have also collaborated with NTU on compounds against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which were licensed to US-based Neuro-Horizon Pharma for commercialisation.

Licensing Agreement With Boehringer Ingelheim To Develop Targeted Cancer Therapies

EDDC has also played an instrumental role in helping local biotechs grow. In 2018, we out-licensed the cancer drug ETC-206, developed at EDDC, to Singapore biotech AUM Biosciences. The company went on to raise US$27 million to fund their research and has partnered big pharma MSD and Roche to run clinical trials.

EDDC itself sponsors and oversees clinical trials that it initiates. Singapore achieved a major milestone in 2023 with EBC-129, the first made-in-Singapore antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that was made possible by the collaborative efforts of EDDC, A*STAR research institutes, and the National Cancer Centre Singapore. EBC-129 has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to enter first-in-human clinical trials for solid tumours.

First Made-In-Singapore Antibody Drug Conjugate Enters Clinical Trials

Well-positioned for Asian-centered research

Situated at the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore's central location fosters a melting pot of diverse ethnicities, making it an ideal hub for collecting and researching data on the varied DNA and genomes that constitute the Asian phenotype. The racial diversity of Singapore's population—which mainly comprises Chinese, Malays, and Indians—allows us to capture Asia's genetic diversity effectively.

Singapore has invested significantly in large-scale and longitudinal studies to develop well-characterised and deeply phenotyped datasets. In the era of precision medicine, these datasets provide valuable information on the Asian population and fill in the knowledge gaps of existing datasets that are often Euro-centric. This is important as Asian populations often have differing disease phenotypes from Western populations for conditions such as cardiovascular (CV) disease and cancer. Our datasets can thus be leveraged to discover biomarkers for better diagnostics and patient stratification, as well as drug targets for more precise therapeutic interventions.

One of Singapore's most ambitious initiatives in this space is Precision Health Research Singapore (PRECISE) – a central entity implementing Singapore's National Precision Medicine Strategy across government, research and health clusters and private industries. The genomes of 100,000 Singaporeans are being sequenced with the goal of creating an Asian reference genome that addresses the underrepresentation of Southeast Asian populations in existing genomic datasets. PRECISE has also put in place robust data governance measures to ensure data privacy and protection.

Singapore has also created the Asian neTwork for Translational Research and Cardiovascular Trials (ATTRaCT), which uses genetic, clinical, and imaging data from an existing study on heart failure that spans 11 countries in Asia. The ATTRaCT platform integrates top expertise in cardiovascular clinical and biomedical sciences across the nation, bringing together A*STAR research institutes, with Singapore's national heart institutions as well as academic institutions.

The Asian neTwork for Translational Research and Cardiovascular Trials (ATTRaCT)

The robust dataset includes longitudinal follow-ups on patient outcomes as well as community-based controls. ATTRaCT will provide valuable insights to guide R&D on cardiovascular disease progression, enabling the discovery of new drug targets and drug repurposing to improve clinical strategies for Asian patients with heart failure.

Commitment to build up R&D and nurture talent

As the saying goes: 积土成山，风雨兴焉；积水成渊，蛟龙生焉. For any industry at its nascent stage, significant funding is needed to nurture growth so that the industry can become self-sustaining. I believe the Singapore government has done well in this regard by providing substantial public funding to build up R&D and nurture talent.

In terms of infrastructure, Singapore has created Biopolis and Fusionopolis — R&D hubs that bring together biomedical and science & engineering capabilities to seed new areas of research and business. Housing EDDC, and many of A*STAR's research institutes, the precinct is a fertile ground for inter-disciplinary collaborations to foster innovation, and support public and private organisations embarking on end-to-end business activities.

Singapore also prioritises talent development. A*STAR offers academic scholarships to train scientific talent who will eventually contribute to Singapore. Other efforts include the Singapore Biodesign (SB) Innovation Fellowship Programme (IFP) . The SB fellowship focuses on entrepreneurial talent in the health technology sector, while the IFP targets mid-career professionals who wish to develop technology commercialisation skills. Overall, these talent development efforts help provide skilled labour for Singapore's R&D ecosystem.

Nurturing Talent with A*STAR Graduate Academy

A promising trajectory

Looking forward, I have a bullish outlook on Singapore's biomedical sector. The government has long-term committed investments in the sector. Moreover, the nation's conducive business environment and favourable government policies are attracting biopharma companies and venture firms, including Chinese companies and firms, which are considering Singapore for its strategic position in Asia. More and more businesses setting up shop in Singapore bodes well for the sector's growth and future.

In addition to seeing Singapore become a regional biomedical hub, I hope to witness the successful commercial launch of more made-in-Singapore biopharmaceutical products by Singapore-based entities in the coming years. With more of such accomplishments, we can then truly say that we have ushered in Singapore's biotech era.

For this to happen, I believe local stakeholders should continue to work collaboratively to build up our drug discovery and development capabilities within the ecosystem, leverage technologies such as automation and AI, and forge strategic partnerships with global multinational corporations, to further Singapore's translation of innovative research to novel drug candidates and viable therapeutics.

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About Bio Laboratories

Bio Laboratories Pte Ltd is a leading distributor of scientific products for life science research, biomedical, industrial, pharmaceutical and analytical laboratories in Singapore and South East Asia. We focus on serving customers through the innovative and responsible application of science and technology. Bio Laboratories prides itself on its efficient service and technical service support.

Value Propositions

To our shareholders.

Profitability and Integrity. To strive for market leadership in our businesses while maintaining the highest standard of integrity and ensuring reasonable returns on a secure investment.

To Our Customers

Long-term partnerships. We value our customers and commit ourselves to give our utmost best, in service and value. To develop long-term partnerships based on trust and respect.

To Our Employees

Team Spirit. We care for our people by providing challenge; opportunity and helping them develop their potential to the fullest. We encourage initiative and team work, while individual achievement is duly recognized and rewarded.

To Our Society

Civic Responsibility. To be a good, responsible corporate citizen by acting professionally and ethically in all business conduct.

Our Quality Policy

We market only products and services that will ensure customer satisfaction and are dedicated to consistently exceed the expectations of our customers.

Bio Laboratories Pte Ltd is a leading distributor of scientific products for life science research, biomedical, industrial, pharmaceutical and analytical laboratories in Singapore and South East Asia. Founded in 1994, our business partners include Sakura, Deltalab, Beckman-Labcyte, Nova, Biotix, SPL, Corning, Pall, Agilent, ThermoFisher, PAA and other established international companies. Together, we provide our customers with solutions, through the innovative and responsible application of science and technology. Bio Lab focuses on meeting customer needs by supplying fast, efficient and user-friendly customer service. The company prides itself of its excellent after sales and technical service support with an experienced team of factory trained technical personnel.

Corporate Base : Singapore Ownership : Private, Local ownership Year Founded : 1994 Corporate Activities : Distribution of scientific laboratory equipment and supplies for the medical, clinical diagnostics, lifescience research, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Market Segments :

• Hospitals & Private Clinical Laboratories
• Universities, Polytechnics & Schools
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To be the leading lifescience company in Singapore.  

Our Mission

To be acknowledged as a leader in serving customers through the innovative and responsible application of science and technology.  

Our Strategy

To acheive our mission, we ensure relevance, comprehensiveness, practicality, quality and reliability in our range of products and services.

Bio Laboratories Pte Ltd

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Biolab expressly objects to any different or additional terms in Customer’s purchase/ sales order documentation, unless agreed to in writing by Biolab. Receipt of this acknowledgement, without written objection to any of the terms and conditions referenced herein within seven (7) days of receipt hereof, shall be deemed to be acceptance of all the terms and conditions stated herein. The above conditions shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by the law.

The terms and conditions of sale contained herein shall apply in all quotations and offers to sell and purchase orders accepted by Bio Laboratories Pte Ltd (“Biolab”).

Biolab’s acceptance of any proposal to purchase or purchase order issued by the buyer identified on the older acknowledgement or quotation to which these terms relate (hereinafter, such buyer is referred to as “you”) is expressly made conditional on the terms and conditions of sale as set forth herein, irrespective of whether you accept them in writing, by implication or by acceptance of and payment for the goods sold hereunder. These terms and conditions of sale shall govern the contractual agreement entered into between Biolab and you with respect the goods sold to the exclusion of any terms or conditions of purchase proposed by you.

• Unless otherwise stated in writing by Biolab, all prices quoted shall be exclusive of transportation, insurance, taxes, customs fees, duties and other charges related thereto, and you shall report and pay any and all such charges and hold Biolab harmless therefrom. Prices quoted relate only to the goods referenced herein and do not include intellectual property, industrial property, or patent rights of any kind
• Delivery terms shall be as set forth in Biolab’s written acceptance of your order. Delivery dates shall be as agreed between Biolab and you, as set forth in Biolab’s written acceptance of your order (‘Agreed Delivery Date’). Agreed Delivery Dates shall be extended appropriately if Biolab is delayed by reason of an event of force majeure. Buyer assumes all risks once shipment leaves our facility unless otherwise stated on the order confirmation. Scheduled deliveries are to be completed within 12 months of PO date.
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State of the Industry Report: Cultivated meat and seafood

This report covers the commercial landscape, consumer insights, investments, regulatory developments, and scientific progress in the cultivated meat and seafood industry.

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Explore new data and industry insights

Executive summary.

• Find companies
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In the history of food and agriculture, 2023 was a milestone year—the year that real animal meat made without animals was first approved for sale in the world’s largest economy. For the first time, U.S. consumers ordered cultivated meat at two restaurants helmed by world-renowned chefs.

Additionally, cultivated meat broadened into new settings in Singapore, including the first butchery where it was on display and served in the adjoining bistro. And just after 2023 ended, there was more exciting news for cultivated meat: in January 2024 Israel became the third country to advance the approval of cultivated meat sales, and the first to advance the approval of cultivated beef. Fresh consumer insights and market analysis pointed to growing international interest in cultivated meat. New partnerships and global alliances formed to advance the science and scaling of cultivated meat.

Report highlights

• Industry partnerships
• Infrastructure developments
• Fresh consumer insights
• Private investment data and insights
• New scientific and technological research
• Public investments
• Regulatory updates
• Industry outlook

Key developments 

The State of the Industry Report: Cultivated meat and seafood provides a comprehensive global analysis of the growing cultivated meat and seafood industry including new partnerships, consumer insights, investments, scientific progress, and government and regulatory developments. Highlights featured in the report include:

Commercial landscape

Path-to-market milestones.

• In the United States, cultivated chicken products from UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat debuted at two restaurants. 
• Huber’s Butchery in Singapore became the world’s first butchery to sell cultivated meat when it began carrying GOOD Meat’s cultivated chicken in its bistro.
• In January 2024, Israel became the third country in the world to advance the approval of cultivated meat (Aleph Farms’ cultivated beef product) and the first country to advance the approval of cultivated beef. 
• Around the world, the number of publicly announced cultivated meat companies (focused primarily on cultivated meat inputs or end products) rose to 174 in 2023, up from 166 in 2022.
• In 2023, 10 new cultivated meat facilities opened across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Two large-scale plants—Mosa Meat’s 30,000-square-foot facility in the Netherlands and CellX’s factory in Shanghai—opened in 2023. 
• ADM partnered with Believer Meats to refine and expand the cultivated meat production process.
• Large company involvement in cultivated meat deepened, and Danone and Central Bottling Co.—which owns Coca-Cola Israel—both invested in cultivated milk.

Investments

All-time investment reaches $3.1 billion.

• Cultivated meat and seafood companies raised $225.9 million globally in 2023, bringing the total for the industry (since 2013) to $3.1 billion—a fraction of the investments flowing into other technologies and innovations, like renewable energy, with the potential to reduce emissions and address climate goals. 
• While the 2023 raises represent a sizable decrease from the $922.3 million raised in 2022, this mirrors the broader tepid private funding environment. In 2023, companies and investors alike faced elevated inflation, rising interest rates, and a mixed economic outlook. As a result, global venture funding fell 42% year-over-year (YOY) in 2023 to its lowest levels since 2017 (for context, investments in food tech startups declined by 61% YOY). 
• The largest deal raised in 2023 was Meatable’s $35 million Series B round. Meanwhile, the number of unique investors in cultivated meat and seafood totaled 111 in 2023 compared to 204 in 2022.

Science and technology

Growing scientific ecosystem.

• Breakthrough research showed promising improvements to the taste, texture, and nutritional composition of cultivated meat, bringing it ever closer to product parity with conventional meat.
• The examination of scalability and bioprocess design included one notable study that highlighted several scenarios to bring cultivated meat to mainstream markets at price parity with conventional meat by reducing media costs, improving biomass yields, utilizing significantly larger bioreactors, and exploring hybrid product approaches. 
• Multiple studies demonstrated that cell culture media can be produced at a much lower cost and with much less environmental impact using non-animal ingredients and food-grade components.
• The Alt Protein Project (APP) welcomed 24 new chapters (including expansions into countries where APP was not previously represented, such as Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal,  Switzerland, and Turkey). Tufts University became the first in the United States to offer an undergraduate minor in cellular agriculture.

Government and regulation

New public investment and governmental support for cultivated meat and seafood.

• The United States, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, and more supported the creation of new cultivated meat infrastructure and market development.
• A report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) focused on alternative proteins, including cultivated meat’s potential to benefit the environment and public health.
• The United Kingdom led 2023 cultivated meat funding announcements with an allocation of £12 million ($15 million) for a new research hub at the University of Bath followed by an estimated £3.4 million ($4.3 million) for seven research projects on cultivated meat.

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Find companies focused on cultivated meat and seafood 

These companies focus primarily on cultivated meat and seafood. This database is dynamically updated; the total number of companies may differ slightly from what has been reported in the State of the Industry Report as we continuously improve our dataset. This list is intended to be as comprehensive as possible, but should not be considered exhaustive. You can learn more about these companies in our company database.  Are we missing something? Let us know about an update to a company’s record by filling out our company database edits form or submit a new company using this form .

Find cultivated meat and seafood production facilities

These production facilities have cultivated meat or seafood production capacity. This database is dynamically updated; the total number of facilities may differ slightly from what has been reported in the State of the Industry Report as we continuously improve our dataset. This list is intended to be as comprehensive as possible, but should not be considered exhaustive. Are we missing something? Let us know by filling out this form to add a cultivated meat or seafood-focused production facility to the database.

Download our at-a-glance summary

Don’t have time to read the full report? Check out our summary for a quick view of the highlights and key data points from our 2023 State of the Industry report for cultivated meat and seafood.

Meet the authors

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Elliot Swartz, Ph.D.

PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST, CULTIVATED MEAT

Elliot Swartz analyzes scientific progress and bottlenecks in cultivated meat.

Areas of expertise: cultivated meat: cell culture media, costs, and environmental impact

Faraz Harsini, M.Sc., Ph.D., DipACLM

SENIOR SCIENTIST, BIOPROCESSING

Faraz analyzes how best to scale the cultivated meat industry and ensure that products can enter and grow in the marketplace as quickly as possible.

Areas of expertise: biotechnology, cultivated meat, technical analysis and research

Claire Bomkamp, Ph.D.

LEAD SCIENTIST, CULTIVATED MEAT & SEAFOOD

Claire Bomkamp is focused on cultivated seafood and driving forward GFI’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative.

Areas of expertise: the science and technology of cultivated seafood, cultivated seafood startups, research, and university programs, scaffolding, science communication, fish puns.

Daniel Gertner

BUSINESS ANALYST

Daniel identifies market opportunities and analyzes the alternative protein industry landscape.

Areas of expertise: research and analysis, economics

Michael Carter

POLICY SPECIALIST, DIPLOMACY

Michael supports the Policy and Government Relations team by providing original writing and analysis in support of alternative protein development and deployment.

Areas of expertise: research and analysis, content creation, electoral politics

Taylor Leet-Otley

CONSUMER RESEARCH LEAD

Taylor Leet-Otley oversees GFI’s consumer research, keeping the organization and the industry in touch with consumers’ needs & beliefs in the fast-moving alternative protein category.

Areas of Expertise: Consumer insights, market strategy, branding & marketing

Liz Fathman

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Liz leads the editorial and engagement team within Comms to steward and strengthen GFI’s owned and social channels, earned media work, and events and community engagement.

Areas of expertise: strategic communications, content creation and storytelling, publishing, ethnography, small-scale agriculture, regional food production

Jessica Colley Clarke

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Study: If you give companies R&D credits, they are more likely to acquire startups

by Kim Matthies, European School of Management and Technology (ESMT)

Firms that receive research and development (R&D) credits are much more likely to acquire venture capital (VC) backed startups, alongside investing in their own R&D efforts, according to new research by ESMT Berlin.

These findings , available as a working paper, emerge from research by Merih Sevilir, professor of finance at ESMT Berlin and head of the department laws, regulations, and factor markets at the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), alongside her IWH colleague William McShane.

The researchers wanted to understand how established firms contribute to the startup ecosystem and identify how the R&D credits play a role in this market.

To do so, they used data from over 3,500 U.S.-headquartered firms that received tax credits related to R&D, over a 25-year period. Using mergers and acquisitions (M&A) platforms, such as Thomson Reuters M&A data, Sevilir and McShane then reviewed the acquisitions made by these firms who received tax credits, to understand how they were utilizing this tax break.

They found that investment by these firms in M&A expenditure is similar in volume to that of R&D expenditure in the sample, with a mean of 104.5 million USD per year and 115.18 million USD per year, respectively.

While the researchers also found that one standard deviation change in the tax-based cost of R&D capital is associated with approximately a 10.6% lower expected count of acquisitions of VC-backed firms. This clearly shows that if R&D taxation increases, firms are less likely to acquire startups.

Interestingly, larger organizations were only interested in using these tax credits to invest in startups who were VC-backed, ignoring firms that were not VC-backed.

"For firms that receive R&D credits, much of the spending will go on human capital i.e. wages and expenses for inventors," says Prof. Sevilir. "However, there is no guarantee here that this R&D investment will prove to be cost effective or even create any new developments. For larger firms, it can make more sense to acquire a startup who is already creating an innovative product or service, and help to fund their journey, as opposed to starting from scratch on their own."

For startups, the researchers say that this acquisition by a larger firm can be a huge positive to their organization. Startups typically lack the taxable income necessary to benefit from tax credits, therefore being acquired allows them to boost their growth and innovation capabilities through a greater cash injection.

While for firms, acquiring these high-performing startups allows them to diversify their R&D efforts, and likely improve their future potential innovations by using an outsourced team to invent, as well as their own.

The researchers say that this reallocation effect of R&D tax credit-induced M&A activity by established firms plays a significant role in supporting startups, which have a high need for capital but limited access to it.

Provided by European School of Management and Technology (ESMT)

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