Success Stories

Professor Gan Chee Lip has served with distinction as the Director of Temasek Laboratories @ NTU since 2012. During his term, he has overseen the development of advanced technologies in Microsystems, Protective Materials, Communications & Signal Processing research teams. Under his leadership, he facilitated the smooth transition of research from the University to the local Defence Technology Community. In 2013, Prof Gan received the National Day Public Administration Medal (Bronze) for his contributions to the nation.

Prof Gan has also led the Hardware Assurance team at Temasek Laboratories @ NTU to develop physical and circuit analysis techniques and software for advanced integrated circuits chips against hardware Trojans. These capabilities are essential to ensure the trustworthiness of the electronics used in Singapore’s defence systems. In 2016, the team won the Defence Technology Prize Team (R&D) Award in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments to enhance the defence capabilities of Singapore.

Professor Pan was the founding Director of the MINDEF-NTU Protective Technology Research Centre (PTRC) which was established in 1998 and has been pioneering R&D efforts in the Protective Technology domain. He is instrumental in building up core R&D capabilities for Singapore in the areas of Response of Structures Under Dynamic Loading, and Rock Engineering and Cavern Technology for defence application and homeland security. Under his leadership, the PTRC has become well known internationally for its pre-eminence in these areas.

Prof Pan has played an integral role in the build-up of a strong in-country capability in protective technology. As part of The Protective Technology Research Team, he was awarded the Team Defence Technology Prize in 2006, for developing innovative technological concepts and solutions to enhance the protection of defence facilities and critical infrastructure. His team's research work also demonstrated how technology can be creatively exploited in the optimisation of land use in Singapore.

Protective Technology Development and PTRC's Contribution to Defence Under Professor Pan's leadership, PTRC has spearheaded the following major R&D projects which have made significant impact on advancing protective technology in Singapore’s defence capabilities:

• Response of Structures to Explosions
• Rock Engineering and Cavern Technology

This is achieved through new sample preparation recipes, efficient high resolution imaging techniques and processing, and automated circuit analysis. The capabilities achieved can ensure the trustworthiness of electronics used in Singapore’s defence systems. In recognition of the team’s significant achievements, the Hardware Assurance Team is awarded the DTP 2016  Team (R&D) Award.

The PTR Team is made up of members from NTU, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA). The Team leader from NTU is Prof Pan Tso-Chien, Director of NTU's Protective Technology Research Centre, hosted in School of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Noteworthy R&D Milestones by the PTR Team include field tests to explore new methodologies of blast-resistance structures, underground ammunition facilities which has led to the establishment of the underground Technology and Rock Engineering (UTRE) Programme and a review of the state-of-the-art protective materials and advanced technology that protect structures against closed-in blasts and penetrations; as well as an assessment of new materials that could be incorporated into existing building for their protection.

DSO National Laboratories (DSO) and Temasek Laboratories @ Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have been researching into Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technologies for more than 10 years, specifically in materials characterisation, process development, design and testing.

Today, the collaboration has yielded a national capability to design and develop advanced MMIC technologies in Gallium Arsenide using Pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistor or pHEMT, paving the way to research into newer technologies such as Gallium Nitride. Such a capability enables the development of sophisticated electronic systems for a wide range of applications such as sensors and communications.

In recognition of the team's innovation in creating technological breakthroughs for Singapore's MMIC capability development, the Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit Research & Development Team is awarded the DTP2007 (R&D) Team Award.