NTUpreneur at SWITCH 2025: Powering Innovation, Creating Our Future
From 29 to 31 October 2025, The Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2025 once again transformed Singapore into Asia’s most dynamic innovation festival for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. SWITCH 2025 marked its 10th edition, coinciding with Singapore’s 60th birthday. The event celebrated a nation that continues to power the region's innovation engine.
This year, NTU actively participated through NTUitive and its vibrant start-up ecosystem, joining the region’s best minds to explore how research and entrepreneurship can shape the future. For many of us, events like SWITCH are a timely reminder of how essential it is for entrepreneurs to gain perspective in an era shaped by rapid technological change, environmental urgency, and shifting geopolitical realities.
Across the exhibition floor, artificial intelligence was a prominent theme, from agentic systems capable of autonomous action to embodied AI that combines intelligence with physical interaction. However, it was not the only story. On the main stages, discussions pointed towards the quantum horizon, where breakthroughs in deep technology are advancing Singapore’s ambitions in advanced computing, healthcare, and energy. There was also widespread agreement on unlocking the potential of Southeast Asia’s emerging start-up ecosystem, which is poised to become the region’s next growth frontier.
SWITCH 2025 brought together global innovators, researchers, and founders to explore the future of technology and entrepreneurship. |
NTUitive showcase at SWITCH 2025
NTUitive’s presence reflected the convergence of research and entrepreneurship to solve real-world challenges. From AI-driven consumer apps to frontier scientific ventures, the NTU booths showcased a wide range of innovations emerging from campus-driven venture building.
Among the featured start-ups were Roboss, rotutiA, Frass, Carbon Copies AI, reCOGnAIze, SystemEarth, Hi Baby.AI, Alfred, NatureRisk, SOPets, and iqoid; each one representing the technical depth and creativity of NTU innovators in turning ideas and research into real-world impact.
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NTUitive start-ups demonstrating solutions spanning AI, deep tech, sustainability, and applied research.
A standout this year was AQSolotl, one of the Top 60 finalists of the global SLINGSHOT 2025 competition, which was founded by NTU Associate Professor Rainer Dumke together with CEO Patrick Bore, Head of Quantum Algorithms Paul Tan, and CTO Dr Yap Yung Szen. AQSolotl unveiled its flagship product Chronos-Q: a hybrid platform that bridges classical and quantum computing. The system promises unprecedented speed and efficiency for complex computational challenges, signaling a significant leap toward a practical quantum future.
SLINGSHOT 2025 recognised groundbreaking innovations in digital technology, showcasing the future of advanced computation. |
Adding to NTU’s presence, Mr Kelvin Kok, CEO and co-founder of Kookree AI, and an NTUpreneur TIP alumnus and adjunct lecturer, took the stage to speak on “Vertical AI in Action: Video Intelligence, Finance AI & Memory-Centric Systems.” His talk showcased how computer vision and generative AI are converging to make industries smarter, safer, and more efficient. He highlighted new breakthroughs such as Multilayer Perception (MLP) for learning complex patterns, Visual-Language Models (VLM) that connect imagery with natural-language understanding, and Test-Time Learning that enables AI to adapt dynamically on the fly, all with transformative potential for sectors heavily reliant on video input, from public security to manufacturing.
NTUpreneur TIP alumnus Kelvin Kok sharing insights on Video Intelligence and next-generation AI frameworks. |
Lessons and Reflections from MSc TIP
For me and my peers from the NTU Master of Science in Technopreneurship and Innovation Programme (MSc TIP), SWITCH 2025 showed how what we learn in class translates into practice —not just theory, but real frameworks and playbooks that shape how innovation can be built and scaled.
- Lessons in Venture Building: Through SLINGSHOT 2025, we witnessed some of the best start-ups pitch live to investors in a masterclass in clarity, confidence, and value articulation. Focusing on four key verticals —Transformative Digital Technology; Health & Biomedical; Environment, Energy & Green Tech; and Manufacturing, Trade & Connectivity — the event offered a panoramic view of where the next major innovation breakthroughs and investments are headed.
- Exposure to Thought Leadership: SWITCH provided exposure and access to a wide spectrum of ideas, industry leaders and startups from across Asia, many already demonstrating strong growth and real-world impact. A key eye-opener for me was the Beyond Stage sessions, which explored how advances in computing are poised to power innovation across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Access to Global Ecosystems: The Global Innovation Pavilions, from Japan and Taiwan to Qatar and Hong Kong, provide access to the diverse ways different regions approach problem-solving and venture building. While each ecosystem had its own unique approach, all shared the same passion for tackling humanity’s biggest challenges. For aspiring founders like us, this was a powerful reminder of the vast opportunities emerging worldwide and of how a global mindset can propel our future ventures forward.
Global Innovation Pavilions highlighting diverse venture ecosystems across Asia and beyond. |
Final Takeaway
Attending SWITCH 2025, surrounded by visionaries, researchers, and builders, gave me a first-hand appreciation of what it truly means to build a venture in the age of intelligent technologies: to innovate, connect, and collaborate meaningfully.
Behind every booth and panel discussion was the shared drive to create impact — an energy that defines Asia’s growing edge in global innovation. I felt inspired and excited to imagine where the journeys of the next generation of NTU entrepreneurs might lead next.
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A meaningful SWITCH 2025 experience for MSc TIP students, filled with insights, connections, and inspiration for future ventures.
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