Schaeffler Innovation Challenge Inspires Young Engineers and Scientists to Strengthen Singapore’s Food Security

2023-04-05 | Singapore

• 53 undergraduate and postgraduate students participated in the challenge, which aims to foster innovation and creativity in robotics
• Prizes of the two winning teams include cash grants, mentoring by Schaeffer and NTU experts, and a chance to collaborate with international R&D specialists
• The Schaeffler Innovation Challenge demonstrates the company’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting innovation to navigate future-oriented challenges

Singapore | April 6, 2023 | Schaeffler, a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, has announced the winners of its inaugural Innovation Challenge. The inaugural challenge targets undergraduate and postgraduate students from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) across all academic disciplines, to apply their knowledge and creativity in robotics to strengthen Singapore’s food security.

The first-place prize was awarded to Team Green Thumbs comprising students from NTU’s Mechanical, Aerospace, as well as Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, for their concept on sustainable harvesting of giant Kelp using sensors and machine learning technology.

Organized in partnership with NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NTU I&E), from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), the inaugural challenge attracted 53 students with 13 ideas, with the two finalist teams – iFlex and Green Thumbs – moving on to the prototyping stage. The two finalist teams were shortlisted based on their innovative projects and pitches through a rigorous evaluation process.

“I was inspired to see such an exceptional level of talent and creative thinking from the next generation,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing Tomas Smetana, Senior Vice President of Advanced Innovation at Schaeffler. “As an innovative technology partner and supplier, we recognize that the industries we work in are transforming, and we want to be at the forefront of these changes. Through the Schaeffler Innovation Challenge, we can identify and work with talented, diverse and passionate teams that align with our advanced Innovation-to-business strategy for the future.”

As part of its advanced innovation-to-business strategy, Schaeffler has identified six product innovation clusters and two production innovation clusters to shape and accelerate technological transformation of mobility and motion. These include, energy solution, mobility solutions, digital solutions, eDrive solutions, robotics solutions, material solutions as well as new production concepts and advanced manufacturing.

The Schaeffler Innovation Challenge, which focused on mechanical and software robotic solutions, challenged teams to improve vertical farming processes in support of Singapore’s 30 by 30 food security goal. Robotics is one of the six innovation clusters identified by Schaeffler.

“The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of strengthening food security domestically, with border closures and supply chain challenges. Given Singapore’s reliance on food imports, we are leveraging our strong R&D footprint and talents with our institutional partners to turn these challenges into opportunities,” Micah Shepard, Regional CEO Southeast Asia/Pacific at Schaeffler, said.

The winning team was awarded cash prizes and the opportunity to collaborate with Schaeffler’s R&D team to develop their ideas further. The company also plans to mentor and support the participants to help turn their ideas into reality. The winners were also chosen in an intense finale that saw both teams presenting their prototype solutions to a judging panel comprising executives and experts from Schaeffler and NTU. For more information on the Schaeffler Innovation Challenge, please visit Schaeffler Hub for Advanced Research at NTU | Schaeffler Singapore