NUS Enterprise evolves into NUSX, expanding global pathways for deep tech ventures

NUS Enterprise evolves into NUSX, expanding global pathways for deep tech ventures

Opening a new chapter in a 25-year journey, NUSX convened A5X, Asia's first global innovation and venture summit, which also featured the Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon to advance innovation and venture creation.

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NUS Enterprise celebrated its 25^th anniversary with a new identity: NUSX, where breakthroughs become advantage.

The integrated venture-building and research commercialisation platform aims to connect research, talent, industry, capital and global markets to turn discoveries into scalable ventures.

Its rebrand was unveiled on 24 September 2026 at the inaugural A5X, Asia's first global innovation and venture summit, which brought together investors, founders, researchers and policymakers. Also hosting the inaugural Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon (SDTH), the event was held at the NUS i³ building from 24 to 27 September.

The next decade, all in one room

In his welcome remarks, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reflected on 25 years of NUS Enterprise - from nurturing entrepreneurial talent through NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), to building start-up communities such as B71 (formerly BLOCK71) and, more recently, a network of global outposts.

Looking ahead, he said, "We want NUS to be a place where students, faculty and researchers dare to dream and are willing to try. Where the path from discovery to impact is clear. Where founders can find the people, capital and markets they need."

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Referencing the event's theme, Guest-of-Honour Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, said that "the next decade is in this room", highlighting A5X's value in facilitating connections, which eventually translate to capability and impact. As AI makes intelligence more capable, accessible and abundant, Singapore's opportunity lies in being the bridge between intelligence and impact.

"We cannot compete with the largest economies on scale. Our opportunity is to become exceptionally good at connecting these strengths and turning new ideas into real-world impact," he said.

Universities have an important role in making these connections and shortening the journey from discovery to application, enterprise and global scale. "A great university should not only produce knowledge. It should help knowledge travel, from the lab into products, from products into enterprises, and from enterprises into society," he added.

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A new name for a bigger ambition

NUS Enterprise's rebrand as NUSX is part of its evolution into a global, integrated venture-building platform. Its work spans four innovation tracks: "Logic" (AI and software), "Pulse" (healthcare and biotech), "Matter" (physical sciences, materials and semiconductors) and "Resilience" (dual-use technologies).

Through 2035, NUSX aims to create at least one NUS venture; generate more than US$100 million (S$127.9 million) in annual revenue or create 1,000 jobs; US$1 billion in financial returns from NUS ventures; and build ventures that collectively improve the lives of one billion people.

"As the global race to commercialise deep tech accelerates, breakthrough research is only the starting point. The real challenge is translation," said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise).

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One initiative addressing that challenge is Nova, an AI-powered engine for research commercialisation jointly developed by NUSX and development partner Zima Labs.

Within minutes, Nova can analyse a granted patent, assess its licensing potential against live market evidence, rank potential licensees and draft tailored proposals, while flagging the patent's limitations. The platform draws on more than 20,000 NUS patents and invention disclosures, 9,000 research projects and 11,000 inventors.

By connecting these with external intelligence on companies, investors and industry needs, Nova can also surface licensing, co-development and partnership opportunities, as well as potential investors and team members.

Building bridges between Singapore and the world

Plans are in the works to expand NUSX's global outpost network beyond Silicon Valley - it has since established a second outpost in Munich, with a third planned for Shanghai in the fourth quarter of 2026.

At A5X, NUSX also announced a new partnership with start-up incubator UnternehmerTUM spanning reciprocal outposts, investment and talent development, focusing initially on biotech, AI and semiconductors.

NUS is also in advanced discussions with a Munich-based venture capital firm closely affiliated with UnternehmerTUM to join the S$150 million NUS Venture Capital (VC) Programme as its fifth partner. Under the programme, NUS students will gain new opportunities to intern with the firm's portfolio companies and join UnternehmerTUM's venture creation programmes - building on NOC Munich, which has connected nearly 120 NUS students and more than 90 TUM students since 2017.

"Deep tech ventures need more than one home market to grow - they need access to research, capital and industry partners across continents," said Professor Dr Helmut Schönenberger, Co-Founder and CEO of UnternehmerTUM and Vice President, Entrepreneurship, TUM.

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From research to real-world impact

Beyond the new initiatives, a common thread running through the A5X Conference was how technological breakthroughs can be translated into enduring impact.

At the opening keynote dialogue, moderated by Dr Tan, three panellists with experience across academia, industry and venture building discussed how research, talent and capital can come together to drive national innovation.

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The flagship event also honoured the researchers and ventures translating ideas into impact. The NUS Innovation and Venture Creation Awards recognised eight NUS faculty members and researchers, while Professor David Silver from Duke-NUS Medical School received the President's Venture Creation Chair Professor Award for research that could lead to new treatments for Type 2 diabetes.

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At the Innovation Showcase, more than 40 NUS-affiliated ventures and teams presented emerging technologies across NUSX's four innovation tracks. They included Lightsage, which is helping developer-tool companies improve how their products are discovered and used by AI coding agents, and Ecovolt, whose AI-native system helps organisations monitor and optimise energy use across buildings. Lightsage and Ecovolt have been both supported through NOC and B71.

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Strengthening defence innovation

The "Resilience" track took centre stage at the inaugural SDTH from 25 to 27 September, which brought together about 300 engineers, operators and founders to develop working solutions for real-world defence and security needs.

Co-organised by NUSX, the European Defense Tech Hub and TUM Venture Labs, the hackathon comprised two challenge tracks: a two-day main challenge on site and a three-month extended challenge prior to the event. These culminated in a Pitch & Demo Showcase on 27 September.

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Team NeuroMech topped the two-day main challenge, finishing first among 39 teams with a brain-computer interface designed to give operators a new way to control unmanned systems. Meanwhile, Team MAELSTROM finished first among 22 teams in the three-month extended challenge with a micro-missile system designed to intercept enemy drone swarms, coordinated through a networked command system.

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Both challenges also featured the "Lord of the Rings" Prize, which recognised teams that combined their technologies into a larger, integrated capability. The two-day prize went to Acoustics, DomeCommand and AEGIS, while the three-month prize went to SwarmBreakers and Sentinel.

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For some teams, the hackathon could mark the beginning of a longer venture journey. Up to three promising teams will be selected for NUS Defence Venture Lab's (DVL) six-month incubation programme, receiving cash and in-kind support worth S$100,000, technical and venture mentorship, and access to testbeds in Singapore and Europe.

"The prizes are only the start. Through the NUS Defence Venture Lab, we will help the most promising teams become companies," said Professor Gary Ang, Professor of Practice for Defence Innovation and Applications, NUS, and founder of DVL.

By NUSX