TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann (left) and NTU President Prof. Ho Teck Hua agree on the flagship partnership in Singapore. Image: NTU Singapore
At the Dies Academicus 2024, Prof. Lam Khin Yong, Vice President (Industry) of NTU, receives the honorary senatorship from TUM President Thomas F. Hofmann. Image: Andreas Heddergott / TUM
In 2023, the Global Fellows Program took place for the first time at NTU in Singapore. Image: TUM-GS
In July 2024, TUM and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore forged a groundbreaking partnership. The collaboration includes expanded exchange programs for undergraduates and doctoral candidates, with plans underway for a joint degree program. Together, the institutions aim to leverage their research strengths in key fields such as quantum technologies, sustainable agriculture, medicine, additive manufacturing, materials science, and the application of AI in science.
The groundwork for this flagship partnership was laid back in 1997, when TUM and NTU signed their first cooperation agreement. Since then, both universities have been working closely together – in joint study programs with TUM Asia and numerous successful research projects with TUMCREATE. The new flagship partnership is intended to further strengthen and expand this successful cooperation.
As the first overseas campus of a German university, TUM Asia in Singapore broke new ground in 2005 by launching a joint Master’s degree in Integrated Circuit Design with NTU. In 2007, the collaboration expanded with the introduction of the M.Sc. in Microelectronics, which was restructured in 2015 to address evolving industry demands. The revised program, now the M.Sc. in Green Electronics, features an updated curriculum emphasizing sustainable integrated circuits and microelectronics.
To this day, TUM professors uphold the tradition of delivering lectures to students in Singapore. Graduates of the program are awarded a prestigious joint Master’s degree from TUM and NTU.
The collaboration with NTU has also flourished in research. In 2010, TUMCREATEwas founded to advance TUM's research initiatives in Singapore. As part of the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) funded by the National Research Foundation, TUMCREATE benefits from Singapore's research funding and collaborates closely with local and international institutions.
NTU plays a pivotal role for the joint research. Together with NTU, TUM and TUMCREATE developed multi-faceted research projects spanning topics from urban mobility, food science and technology to solutions for a carbon-neutral megacity.
Ongoing joint research projects between TUM and NTU:
- Proteins4Singapore: Combining the cultivation of alternative protein sources with innovative processing and extraction methods &reverse engineering for sustainable urban food production
- AquaCycle: Developing high nutritional and sensorial quality proteins from fishery and aquaculture by-products
- Singapore’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality: Forecasting Singapore’s future energy demand with the inclusion of new technologies and the analyses of renewable potential
- Geothermal-driven Technologies for Passive Enabling of Urban Sustainability Solutions
The Global Fellows Program, launched in 2017 by TUM Graduate School and Imperial College, offers 40-50 doctoral candidates from all disciplines the opportunity to develop their research and collaboration skills within an international context as part of a five-day summer school.
In 2021, NTU was welcomed as a new partner, expanding the bilateral program between Imperial College London and TUM into a trilateral initiative.
Previous topics and host locations:
- 2024: Data-driven innovations for zero pollution mobility (Imperial College London, South Kensington)
- 2023: Data for sustainability (NTU, Singapore)
- 2022: The role of robotics in well-being and the workplace (TUM Campus Garching)
- 2021: Health data and technology for society (Online)
Students and doctoral candidates
As part of the TUMexchange program, TUM students can study at NTU and NTU students can study at TUM. Doctoral candidates benefit from the TUM-NTU Joint Supervision Program, which enables them to spend at least 12 months conducting research at the partner university.
Funding initiatives for researchers
To support new projects with Nanyang Technological University, scientists of TUM can apply for funding from the TUM Global Incentive Fund. Within the framework of the TUM Global Visiting Professor Program, it is also possible to invite scientists from NTU to TUM for joint research.
Global Fellows Program
Through the Global Fellows Program, around 40 doctoral candidates from TUM, Imperial College, and NTU collaborate annually in a summer school. They strengthen their intercultural skills to effectively and creatively advance joint research ideas of the partners.