Assoc Prof Benjamin Tee is dedicated to driving innovation and nurturing startups, while forging new paths in materials science.
Recently, Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the National University of Singapore has been named to the 2025 "Gen.T (Generation T)" list by Tatler, being recognized as one of the visionaries shaping Asia’s future. As a Principal Investigator (PI) at the NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII), Prof. Tee joins this prestigious list that honors young visionaries driving future advancements across various fields in Asia.
Associate Professor Benjamin Tee: A Paragon of Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
— Ecosystem Builder, Entrepreneurial Pioneer, and Materials Scientist
Assoc Prof Benjamin Tee: Blazing trails as an ecosystem builder, entrepreneur and materials scientist
Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS is recognised for his entrepreneurial impact and contributions in nurturing startups.
In his role as Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at NUS Enterprise, Assoc Prof Tee drives innovation platforms and programmes such as the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), BLOCK71 Global Network, and the NUS Overseas Colleges programme. These platforms give tech and deeptech founders the boost they need to turn their early ideas into reality.
Balancing his role in shaping vibrant startup ecosystem in NUS, Singapore and beyond, Assoc Prof Tee has also made his mark as a successful serial entrepreneur. In 2019, he co-founded TwoPlus Fertility with a partner, combining his expertise in medical technology and passion for entrepreneurship. The company aims to assist over a million couples through at-home fertility aids, from supplements to test kits, in their journey towards parenthood.
Assoc Prof Tee has also co-founded three other start-ups: Privi Medical (acquired), Hannah Life Technologies and Tacniq.AI.
In the lab, Assoc Prof Tee is charting new frontiers in electronic skin and intelligent sensor technologies. He leads the Sensors.AI Labs, where his research bridges materials science, electronics, and advanced technologies to build devices inspired by human skin—capable of sensing, healing, and adapting.
His innovations include the development of world’s fastest sensing electronic skins, brightest stretchable and self-healing lighting device, and high-performance sensors for applications in human-robot interactions.
Assoc Prof Tee’s achievements in scientific research have earned him prestigious international recognitions, including the World Economic Forum’s Singapore Young Scientist of the year in 2019, the National Research Foundation Fellowship in 2017, and the MIT Technology Review’s TR35 Innovator (Global) in 2015. In 2021, his team’s work on healthcare sensors emerged as the International Winner of the James Dyson Foundation Prize — marking Singapore’s first global win in the award’s 17-year history.
“It is an incredible honour to be named among Tatler Gen.T’s Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 list. This recognition reflects my collaborative spirit to drive research, innovation, and enterprise from Singapore to the world. I am excited to continue advancing solutions that pushes the frontiers of technology and deliver meaningful impact on society,” said Assoc Prof Tee.
Exploring the Frontiers of Innovation
Drawing upon the world-class research strengths and resources of the National University of Singapore, NUS GRTII has appointed dozens of NUS professors and experts as Principal Investigators (PIs) across seven key areas: Smart City, Information and Communications, Electronic Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence Applications, Biomedical Sciences, and FinTech. It has established five cutting-edge laboratories – the Humanoid Robotics Lab, Smart Healthcare Lab, Smart Transportation and Low-Altitude Systems Lab, Artificial Intelligence Application Lab, and 3D Printing Lab – to support diverse interdisciplinary and cross-domain research.
The PIs spearhead the operations of NUS GRTII’s laboratories, overseeing a wide range of research projects, mentoring PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and building teams of R&D engineers. They actively collaborate with enterprises and research institutions in Singapore, the Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou City, and Guangzhou’s Huangpu District, focusing on tackling technical challenges, accelerating the translation of research outcomes, and promoting scientific innovation and practical applications between Singapore and China. We will continue to feature our PI team and their representative research on this platform. Stay tuned and join us in exploring collaboration opportunities!
