MedTech Catapult, a national initiative hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), officially inaugurated on 12 Feb at Biopolis. An initiative worth S$38 million aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of high-value medical devices and instruments in the life science sector. As a dedicated support program, it helps medtech innovators and product owners bring their products from concept to market as well as connect them with local contract manufacturing companies. The initiative was first announced during the debate on the Committee of Supply in March 2024.
The launch of MedTech Catapult was officiated by Guest-of-Honor Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
Accelerating Innovation in The Medtech Sector
Many medtech innovators and product owners face challenges in product engineering, regulatory approval, quality assurance and scalable manufacturing, limiting their ability to bring innovations to market. MedTech Catapult addresses these gaps to help fast-track the market readiness of medtech products. Through close collaboration with clinicians, regulators, and industry, MedTech Catapult empowers medtech innovators and product owners of life science instruments and medical devices to scale their innovations, ultimately bringing enhanced treatment options to patients worldwide. MedTech Catapult's design and development expertise also uplift local contract manufacturing organisations by strengthening their capabilities, enabling greater production of regulated medtech devices in Singapore.
In its first year, MedTech Catapult has supported projects such as Castomize’s Remouldable Orthopaedic Cast (4D-printed remouldable short arm cast for wrist fractures) and Dornier MedTech’s Smart System for Enhanced Laser Lithotripsy (kidney stone treatment). Both companies are leveraging MedTech Catapult’s expertise in medical device design and development, as well as manufacturing optimisation to scale their innovations. More details on these projects can be found in Annex A.
Official Launch of The Supplier and Contract Manufacturer Directory:
MedTech Catapult also unveiled a local supplier and contract manufacturer directory titled “Medtech Manufacturing in Singapore: A Commitment to Engineering Excellence.” Jointly supported by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), A*STAR, Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association (SPETA), this directory highlights the differentiated capabilities of local manufacturers. It serves as snapshot of local capabilities for medtech product owners to identify potential local partners for co-innovation opportunities and scaling production efficiently. It will also be continuously updated to connect medtech innovators to the right manufacturing partners, enabling meaningful collaborations.
The launch of MedTech Catapult reinforces Singapore’s commitment to drive the development of transformative healthcare solutions, solidifying its position as a global leader in medtech innovation.
