Communicating research, breaking down walls

With effective genome testing, medical professionals could identify specific drug side effects before they happen. With the right processing method, waste from mushroom production could become a valuable pet nutrition topper. With novel techniques and technology, burn victims could have sheets of their own skin grown from just a small sample and grafted to heal large wounds.

These were some of the groundbreaking ideas presented at Falling Walls Lab Singapore 2023, organised by SGInnovate in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), EURAXESS Worldwide and the German Embassy Singapore .

14 researchers gathered to present their solutions to society’s greatest challenges like recycling vast amounts of battery waste, improving alternative protein production methods in a bid for greater food security and maximising data storage more efficiently. Participants were given just three minutes and three slides to communicate their work in a concise manner to a judging panel of distinguished academics and business leaders.

Dr Tan Pei Leng from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) emerged as the winner of the event with her idea to grow skin cells for large burn wound patients. On top of receiving a cash prize, Dr Tan will get the chance to present her breakthrough idea on an international stage, representing Singapore at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin later this year. She hopes that the summit will be an opportunity for her to create the connections she needs to take her idea from bench to bedside.