NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS), announced Tuesday two major co-investment partnerships and an international education initiative to strengthen Singapore’s role as a global innovation hub for deep tech.
NUS Enterprise said in a statement that it has launched a new co-investment framework with SG Growth Capital, the strategic investment platform of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), to channel greater capital into deep tech start-ups and selected venture capital (VC) funds.
The investment amount into a VC fund would match NUS Enterprise’s investment depending on SG Growth Capital’s evaluation of the fund.
In a parallel move, NUS Enterprise signed a S$20 million (approximately $16 million) co-investment agreement with Lotus One Investment Pte Ltd, part of the Lotus Singapore Group, to jointly support both NUS spin-offs and VC funds.
Profits from these collaborations will be significantly reinvested to strengthen NUS Enterprise’s innovation and entrepreneurship programs, further amplifying impact.
Together, these initiatives will provide greater support for NUS-affiliated start-ups and broaden co-investments in VC funds, complementing the S$150 million ($116 million) NUS VC Program launched in July 2025.
The announcements were made at the opening of the revitalized i3 building, the new nucleus of NUS innovation.
“NUS is committed to creating stronger pathways for deep tech start-ups to succeed,
“These partnerships give our ventures greater access to capital, networks, and expertise, while reinforcing NUS’ role in advancing deep tech innovation and contributing to a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Singapore, the region, and globally,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President.
Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), said with the support of SG Growth Capital and Lotus One Investment, deep tech ventures in the NUS ecosystem gain access to global expertise, quality capital, and expansive networks.
“These partnerships strengthen our integrated ecosystem – uniting education, research, and venture creation – to attract outstanding talent and nurture start-ups that deliver innovation with lasting global impact,” he added.
Complementing these capital partnerships, NUS Enterprise announced a S$2 million ($1.5 million) pilot collaboration with Stanford University, made possible through a donation from the Khetan Foundation.
The NUS-Stanford Khetan Foundation Launch Pad will give students from the NUS College of Design and Engineering hands-on experience in international teams, co-creating and prototyping solutions to real-world industry challenges.
Guided by faculty from both universities, students will collaborate with partners such as Meta and Venture Corporation, gaining practical exposure while sharpening cross-border innovation skills.
Under Dr Tan’s leadership, NUS Enterprise has built a “flywheel” that unites education, research, venture creation, and capital.
By nurturing talent and accelerating start-ups, each success attracts investment, creates jobs, and delivers real-world impact – momentum that in turn draws fresh talent and resources to power the next wave of innovation.
At its core, NUS Enterprise supports the founders, innovators, and risk-takers who drive change through its integrated focus on education, ecosystem and research, and venture building and investing.
“i is the nexus on which the NUS Enterprise flywheel spins. It brings together all the pieces in the ecosystem, fueling the momentum to drive global impact and Singapore’s entrepreneurial success,” said Dr Tan.
“SG Growth Capital is proud to partner with NUS Enterprise to realize our shared mission to strengthen Singapore’s deep tech ecosystem,
“By leveraging SG Growth Capital’s global network of VCs, founders and venture builders, we support our partners to create high-potential start-ups and accelerate the launch and growth of these companies on the global stage from Singapore,” said Choo Heng Tong, Chief Executive Officer of SG Growth Capital.
Nirmal Singh, Chairman, Lotus One Investment, said the organization is driven by the belief that today’s tech start-ups are tomorrow’s changemakers.
“Our contribution stems from this belief and reflects our strong commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship,
“It is our commitment to nurture the Singapore ecosystem that will shape the future of technology, talent and sustainable growth,” he added.
NUS Enterprise commits $116M to boost deep tech start-ups growth in Singapore