Republic Polytechnic has launched the new Sustainable Technology & Analytical Research Laboratory (STAR Lab), the first cloud-based laboratory in an Institute of Higher Learning in Singapore. The lab was launched in collaboration with Japanese precision instruments and medical equipment manufacturer Shimadzu (Asia Pacific). The 3,000 square-foot RP-Shimadzu STAR Lab is equipped with Laboratory 4.0 features and 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. It 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.
Paired with the knowledge and expertise gained from industry collaborations, the STAR Lab serves as a learning platform for staff and students in areas such as laboratory techniques, analytical instrumentation, laboratory automation, data management and instrument connectivity. The facility will play an instrumental role in developing new analytical methods in areas such as nutrients profiling of agri-food products, specialty chemicals and materials analysis with a sustainable focus.
(Source: Republic Polytechnic)
