Aster fuels the dreams of NTU’s engineering talent
The energy and chemicals firm will fund a new perpetual NTU bursary to nurture promising engineering students, prioritising those who demonstrate both academic merit and financial need.
Text: Sadia Roohi
Singapore is known for its strong engineering industry, with NTU’s engineering graduates playing a key role in this sector, which is critical to the nation’s long-term development.
To strengthen support for students pursuing engineering education, NTU Singapore has received a gift of S$500,000 from Aster, a leading energy and chemicals company in Southeast Asia, to establish the new Aster Chemicals and Energy Bursary. The bursary is aimed at assisting financially under-resourced students from NTU’s Schools of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
These disciplines underpin Singapore’s priorities in chemicals, energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, ensuring that talented students are not held back by financial constraints.
Prof Warren Chan, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering, said: “We are grateful to Aster for this generous gift, which will make an immediate and lasting difference for our students. The Aster Chemicals and Energy Bursary will enable deserving students from less-advantaged backgrounds to pursue engineering education without the weight of financial worry. With this support, our students can focus on their studies and become the innovative engineers that Singapore needs for a sustainable and resilient future.”
Mr Thomas Wong, Aster’s Manufacturing Director (fourth from left), and Prof Warren Chan, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering (fifth from left), at the gift signing ceremony.
At the gift signing ceremony held at NTU on 11 February 2026, Mr Thomas Wong, Aster’s Manufacturing Director, said that the organisation was glad to be able to contribute to the growth of the engineering community in Singapore.
“Aster seeks to contribute to the strength of the engineering industry in Singapore. We believe manufacturing remains vital to our nation’s core, and it requires the collective commitment of the private sector and continued governmental support to invest in our industry’s future, ensuring its lasting contribution to Singapore’s success and prosperity,” he added.
Representatives from Aster toured the labs at NTU’s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology after the gift signing ceremony on 11 February.
The initiative is part of Aster’s broader S$1.5 million philanthropic commitment to support engineering and design students across Singapore’s autonomous universities, including the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Group CEO of Aster, Erwin Ciputra, highlighted the company’s commitment to Singapore’s human capital as a cornerstone for continued innovation and prosperity. He noted that Singapore is home to some of the region’s brightest talent and serves as a vital strategic hub for Aster. The bursaries go beyond financial support, representing an investment in the talented individuals who will drive the country’s technological advancement and economic growth, while also strengthening Aster’s long-term partnership with Singapore’s future.
The inaugural bursary will be awarded to selected NTU students in the 2026 academic year.
