Merck, a global science and technology company, and Digital Trust Centre (DTC) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) are collaborating to pioneer a new digital trust technology designed to enable secure, automated, traceable and efficient digital processes.

A memorandum of understanding was signed to seal the partnership which aims to implement and deploy innovative trust technology solutions to drive the digital transformation of Singapore-based companies, particularly in key and highly regulated industries, Merck said in a statement on Thursday.

The partnership, which sees NTU’s efforts led by its Digital Trust Centre alongside Merck, will also accelerate the growth of digital-physical ecosystems that foster digital trust in value chains.

“As regulatory expectations rise, businesses must maintain trust and compliance, and evolve from traditional, human-dependent quality control to data-driven decision-making in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),

“Singapore has an exceptional digital business landscape and a strong commitment to digital transformation,” said James Kugler, Chief Digital Officer of Merck and Chief Executive Officer of EMD Digital.

“We are excited to introduce our digital-physical trust technology to Singapore, the first in Asia Pacific,

“With this collaboration with DTC, Merck brings another innovative digital business technology to Singapore, further expanding Merck’s digital business within less than one year,” he added.

Professor Lam Kwok Yan, NTU Singapore’s Associate Vice President (Strategy & Partnerships), and Executive Director, DTC, said at NTU’s DTC, they are dedicated to advancing the frontiers of digital trust through cutting-edge research and innovation.

“This partnership with Merck aligns with our mission to develop scalable solutions that enhance trust in digital- physical ecosystems,

“By leveraging NTU’s expertise in trust technologies and computer science, and Merck’s pioneering technology, we aim to drive impactful solutions for industries that require the highest levels of security and transparency,” he added.

According to the statement, this collaboration with NTU’s DTC will leverage Merck’s innovative multi-patented technology and the national research center’s expertise to implement solutions in key industries.

By reliably anchoring physical objects to digital identities, the platform enables stakeholders to securely access and manage critical data, fostering innovation, enhancing efficiency and building trust for today and the future.

The DTC at NTU Singapore is the national hub for research and development in trust technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) safety and cybersecurity.

By fostering talent and industry engagement, the DTC seeks to ensure that Singapore remains at the forefront of global digitalization efforts, building a foundation of trust for the digital economy.

Merck is a science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics.

In 2023, the firm generated sales of €21 billion ($22.16 billion) in 65 countries.

Merck Singapore is the firm’s regional headquarters in Asia Pacific.

It is also the regional training and application hub, offering technology transfer and optimization for the life science industry in the region.


#DigitalTrust #Cybersecurity #AIInnovation #TechCollaboration #SingaporeDigitalEconomy #Ifvex