Chinese, Singaporean professionals join hands to shape the future of intelligent health

Chinese and Singaporean professionals are working together to explore the advances in artificial intelligence, and shape the future of intelligent health.

A forum held in Singapore on July 10 brought together more than 500 policymakers, healthcare professionals, academic researchers, investors and industry leaders to discuss the issues.

The 2026 A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Healthcare AI Forum was held under the theme "Designing an Intelligent Health Future: Advancing Healthcare through AI, MedTech and Digital Systems".

At the forum, Sin-Iron Innovation Technology Pte Ltd for the first time set out systematically its strategic positioning of building Singapore into the company's global innovation center and an "Intellectual Property Hub".

It also announced the latest phase results of its research collaboration with the Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing, a research institute under A*STAR, and unveiled its Singapore development roadmap for 2026–2028.

The launch also introduced the capital–industry architecture behind Sin-Iron — Cedar Lifetech Ventures VCC, a Singapore-based Variable Capital Company fund, and its "NewCo" model, which helps mature global innovation-technology enterprises establish Singapore as their strategic headquarters and, under a "Singapore+1" pathway, radiate outwards into Southeast Asia.

Under the Ministry of Health's healthcare development plans toward 2030, Singapore's healthcare system is entering a sustained cycle of infrastructure expansion and service upgrading.

At the launch, Sin-Iron set out the core positioning of the "Singapore Intellectual Property Hub" — the algorithmic capabilities and outcomes generated through its research collaboration with IAIC; the intellectual property formed as core technologies are adapted to Singapore's clinical, linguistic and regulatory environment; and the innovation and upgrading of intelligent solutions deployable locally.

Under the strategic research program, the two parties will launch a Digital Twin initiative — using AI and real-time data to run simulations in the digital world, predicting risks and optimizing processes before applying the best solutions to the real world.

As founder of Cedar Lifetech Ventures VCC, Sin-Iron Chairman Zhao Jingwei has invested in and led the introduction of global innovation technologies into Singapore and the establishment of global innovation headquarters there.

Under the "Singapore+1" development framework, Zhao outlined a path of building homegrown Singapore innovation-technology brands and deepening exchange and cooperation among government, industry and academia.

The joint research currently underway between the two parties — spanning smart hospitals, intelligent logistics systems, and intelligent operations with hospital decision support — focuses in its first phase on applying AI analytics to raise operational efficiency and decision quality in key areas.

In the second phase, the Digital Twin program will bring AI innovation across hardware and software to maximize an Industry 4.0 intelligent-manufacturing model. The solutions are currently being validated and progressively advanced across Singapore's three public healthcare clusters — the National Healthcare Group, the National University Health System, and SingHealth.

Looking toward 2030, with development plans moving in step with the national healthcare blueprint, the two parties will carry forward Singapore's spirit of excellence in sustainable urban planning and integrated development, and will continue to advance urban renewal and a sustainable future for Singapore and other countries across the region.

Please contact the writer at hanjingyan@chinadaily.com.cn