French conglomerate Thales has deepened its R&D commitment in Singapore, strengthening its capabilities in four areas on how research outcomes can be used for in areas such as energy, sensors, acoustic and microwave devices and nano-photonic circuits.
In this effort, Thales is collaborating with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and CNRS International, the French National Centre for Scientific Research. The collaboration called CINTRA lab was set up in 2009 and has been renewed for its fourth tenure.
The lab works on research in the field of carbon-based materials, nanostructures, and nano-photonics.
A Thales press statement said that developing smart materials required in this disruptive age of technology, calls for cooperation between research teams and the academic world. Hence the renewal of the CINTRA Lab which offers a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing. The diversity in research teams have brought to this partnership well-rounded and unbiased research studies while cross-disciplinary pollination has also helped in new discoveries.
Beginning with partnership in fundamental sciences, including in modelling and simulation; materials synthesis and characterisation and domain knowledge, the lab has expanded towards a strong fundamental understanding and application-based research of 2D materials and metamaterials which is fashioned from composite materials such as metals and plastics. Research has also expanded to include AI in materials design.
“The CINTRA lab is one of our early examples of upstream research collaboration in Singapore. The established credentials of CINTRA demonstrate Thales’ influence within the scientific and technical communities,” said Emily Tan, Thales Singapore chief executive officer and country director.
