Republic Polytechnic unveils cloud-based laboratory in partnership with Japanese manufacturer Shimadzu

Republic Polytechnic (RP) launched the new Sustainable Technology & Analytical Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) during its Open House 2023 on Friday (Jan 6).

Launched in collaboration with Japanese precision instruments and medical equipment manufacturer Shimadzu (Asia Pacific), the 3,000 sqf RP-Shimadzu STAR Lab is equipped with Laboratory 4.0 features. These will support RP’s focus in the study of agri-food, nutraceuticals, sustainable materials and specialty chemicals.

The STAR Lab is the first facility in an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore to have its analytical instruments connected to a cloud-based system, where staff and students can remotely monitor experiments, collecting and analysing data in real-time.

A total of 400 Pre-Employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) students per year from the School of Applied Science diploma programmes will benefit from this new facility. 

According to RP, the laboratory will facilitate the training of students from the Diploma in Biotechnology, the Diploma in Applied Chemistry and the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science in the areas of analytical chemistry to prepare them for careers in quality assurance and quality control across various sectors.

RP and Shimadzu also renewed its partnership today through a memorandum of understanding for a further three years. 

As part of this renewed partnership, Shimadzu will continue to provide training opportunities that encompass collaboration on research projects for RP staff and students, while also providing sponsorships for student scholarships, book prizes and bursaries.

The two organisations have also jointly developed new CET workshops and short courses. Participants of these courses will have access to facilities in the laboratory for their coursework. 

Learners can apply for programmes in the areas of digitalising laboratory procedure using augmented reality, sample extraction and cloud-based analysis of urban farming produce and functional food. Trainers from both RP and Shimadzu will facilitate the programmes.

Internship opportunities for students will be made available at Shimadzu for students to participate in projects including gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. 

According to RP, these opportunities are designed to help develop and broaden the students’ capabilities in food science, agritech and chemical laboratory technology.