Thales Deepens its Research & Technology Commitment in Singapore with Extension of Joint NTU / CNRS Laboratory
- The CNRS International – NTU – Thales Research Alliance (CINTRA) laboratory is renewed for its fourth tenure, entering its 15th year of strong partnership between CNRS, NTU and Thales since its inception in 2009.
- The lab works on research in the field of carbon-based materials, nanostructures and nano-photonics, leveraging the strengths of each partner to develop solutions from Singapore, serving the needs of the scientific and technical communities.
- The extension of the lab is testament to Thales’ commitment to continuous upstream Research & Development (R&D) beyond its headquarters, driven by Singapore’s strategic importance for the Thales Group.
With one of the highest R&D expenditures in the region, Singapore is a leading regional hub for upstream research. Thales has long aligned with that ambition, with one of five R&D centres for the Group located in the country, testament to the Group’s strong commitment to research and technology.
Left to Right: Professor Antoine Petit (President, CNRS), Professor Luke Ong (Vice President Research, NTU), Ms Emily Tan (CEO & Country Director, Thales in Singapore
The CINTRA lab was established in October 2009, with the three parties (NTU, CNRS and Thales) inaugurating the lab in the presence of Singapore’s then Minister of Education and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (currently Singapore’s Defence Minister) and France’s then Minister for Higher Education and Research, Mrs Valerie Pécresse.
The partnership began through mutual interests in fundamental sciences, including in modelling and simulation; materials synthesis and characterisation and domain knowledge. Over the years the lab rides on the crest of new waves of materials discoveries and has metamorphosed towards a strong fundamental understanding and application-based research of 2D materials and metamaterials, as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) for materials design. Physically situated at the NTU campus, this fourth tenure of the lab highlights the strategic importance of Singapore for upstream research for the Thales Group.
In this renewed partnership, Thales will be focusing on strengthening capabilities through four main application areas on how research outcomes can be used for energy, sensors, acoustic and microwave devices and nano-photonic circuits.
To develop the Smart materials required in this disruptive age of technology, Thales relies heavily on cooperation between research teams and the academic world. The continued partnership with NTU and CNRS offers a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing and attracting talented science graduates to build on acquired expertise. The diversity in research teams have brought to this partnership well-rounded and unbiased research studies while cross-disciplinary pollination has also sprung forward new discoveries.
“The CINTRA lab is one of our early examples of upstream research collaboration in Singapore, back when the country was enhancing its reputation as a leading R&D hub in the region. I am proud that this spirit of co-designing and prototyping continues with the extended tenure of the lab, working together with our esteemed partners CNRS and NTU. The established credentials of CINTRA demonstrate Thales’ influence within the scientific and technical communities, and is especially significant as Thales celebrates its 50th year of presence in Singapore this year.”
Emily TAN, CEO & Country Director, Thales in Singapore
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technologies – to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers – businesses, organizations and governments – in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions.
Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of €17.6 billion.
About Thales in Singapore
Thales established its presence in Singapore in 1973 to support the expansion of aerospace-related activities in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years, the company has expanded and today is involved in the main sectors of Aerospace (including Air Traffic Management); Defence & Security and Digital Identity & Security (DIS). Thales also has an established Research, Technology and
Innovation (RTI) footprint in Singapore, housing a Research and Technology team (one of five for the Thales Group worldwide), an Innovation Hub and the Digital Factory in Asia.
For the Digital Identity & Security business, Thales operates the Group’s largest multi-module DIS Manufacturing Competence Centre in Singapore, together with an Engineering Competence Centre working on research and product development for multiple sectors, including banking, telecommunications and automotive. In Aerospace, the largest avionics manufacturing site for the
Thales Group is located in Singapore.
Thales employs over 2000 people of over thirty nationalities in Singapore, across four primary sites located in Ayer Rajah Crescent, Changi North Rise and at WeWork@Suntec.
