The Singapore Administration College (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) introduced the winners of the twelfth Lee Kuan Yew International Enterprise Plan Competitors (LKYGBPC), with deeptech startups ChemT Biotechnology and Zhejiang Polar Code Expertise taking the highest honours.
ChemT Biotechnology, a biotech startup representing Singapore and the US, was awarded the Chancellor’s Cup for Beta Innovation. Zhejiang Polar Code Expertise, an vitality tech startup representing China and the US, clinched the Chancellor’s Cup for Infinity Influence.
Additionally Learn: “Don’t construct for Demo Day”: Zhang Fan on the enduring truths of entrepreneurship within the AI period
LKYGBPC, one among Asia’s largest university-led deeptech startup competitions, ran from 29 September to 2 October 2025, setting new information for world participation. In response to Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the Nationwide Analysis Basis (NRF), it reinforces Singapore’s standing as a worldwide innovation and entrepreneurial hub and a world gateway to Asia’s ecosystems.
Historic win and vital funding
ChemT Biotechnology’s victory within the Beta class (for pre-revenue startups) marks the primary time within the competitors’s 23-year historical past {that a} Singapore-US startup has secured the highest prize in both class. ChemT’s founders are the Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS) and Harvard College graduates.
The Beta winner acquired SGD237,500 price of prize worth, whereas Zhejiang Polar Code Expertise, the Infinity winner (for revenue-generating early-stage startups as much as Sequence A), secured SGD287,500 in prize worth. Each figures embody SGD100,000 in money and the rest in in-kind prizes. Each groups additionally earned unique entry to mentorship from notable enterprise capitalists (VCs) and C-suite Executives.
Winners give attention to scaling and world growth
ChemT Biotechnology focuses on reworking bio-manufacturing with AI-designed small molecules that modulate cell behaviour, thereby boosting biologics manufacturing yields and optimising cell efficiency.
Solar Jie, co-founder of ChemT Biotechnology, said that the corporate’s quick focus is scaling the enterprise, which incorporates upgrading their present product, launching new merchandise for antibody manufacturing, and increasing their digital cell AI platform to extra prospects.
Zhejiang Polar Code Expertise, whose founders graduated from Tianjin College and Toledo College, delivers good micro-grids powered by AI to optimise efficiency in renewable-rich energy networks.
Co-founder Wang Zhu revealed quick plans to deepen the startup’s reference to the area beginning with transferring its headquarters to Singapore.
Ecosystem help and new initiatives
The LKYGBPC attracted 1,500 functions from over 1,200 universities throughout 91 international locations. Chief Decide and Chairperson of the twelfth LKYGBPC Advisory Committee, Shirley Wong, described the competitors as “a vibrant celebration of daring concepts and fearless founders shaping a greater future,” noting that the distinctive innovation, spanning from local weather tech to sustainable supplies, displays the grit and imaginative and prescient of entrepreneurs tackling humanity’s most urgent challenges.
SMU’s position as a “crucible of innovation” was recommended by Mr. Heng Swee Keat, who highlighted the launch of the City SustaInnovator (USI) deeptech accelerator programme simply days earlier than the competitors’s finals. Supported by personal and public companions, the USI goals to nurture high-potential deep-tech startups with a ‘Singapore Inc. Advisory Board’. All contributors of LKYGBPC will obtain an unique alternative to use for the USI programme.
The competitors additionally noticed the introduction of the DueAI Problem, a novel initiative developed by SMU IIE’s Sze Tiam Lin, which makes use of synthetic intelligence to reinforce the effectivity and objectivity of startup screening. This AI-driven platform streamlines information assortment and permits data-driven funding selections, aligning with world developments in enterprise capital. PufferAI, primarily based in Singapore, took first place within the DueAI Problem.
Sustainability and AI awards
The competitors additionally recognised a number of different ventures, significantly these targeted on sustainability and AI.
MicroMelt (College of Oxford, UK) and SynMetabio (ShanghaiTech College, China) received the Indorama Ventures Way forward for Sustainable Supplies Awards, which carries money prizes of S$50,000 and S$75,000 respectively, rewarding breakthroughs in sustainable supplies.
Additionally Learn: 60 world startups to compete for US$2M prize at LKYGBPC grand finals
Qarbotech, which develops patented photosynthesis-enhancing options to spice up crop yields sustainably, secured the Wavemaker Sustainability Funding Prize (US$100,000 funding) and the YIT International Exploration Prize. Founder Amiru Merican famous that the funding represents “a step up in credibility” and gives “nice potential for us to broaden additional past our markets that we’re in now”.
The Zhang Fan International AI Initiative Award noticed PhotonCore (China) take first place (US$50,000), Dunia Improvements (Scotland) take second (US$40,000), and Luxtelligence (Switzerland) take third (US$35,000).
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