Key points
- Partnering with Southeast Asia on science collaboration is critical for a stable and prosperous future.
- Singapore is soaring as a global innovation leader; collaboration between our two countries can boost economic growth and reduce environmental impacts.
- CSIRO's international innovation programs are responding to challenges such as food security, emissions reduction and plastic pollution.
In turbulent times of global change, one of the best ways Australia can build its resilience is through investing in innovation and science collaboration with our Southeast Asian neighbours.
Science and innovation exchange is critical for Australia's future economy, society and environment.
According to the 2024 Global Innovation Index, Singapore is recognised as a “trailblazer” with the greatest number of GII (Global Innovation Index) indicators, ranking first in the world for the first time, while Australia “excels in the quality of its universities (3rd), the impact of its scientific publications (6th) and its Knowledge-intensive employment (9th)”.
CSIRO’s International Innovation Programs are tapping into key markets and strategic countries like Singapore to harness science collaboration for good across the region.
Safeguarding food security through innovation exchange
Climate change poses a real threat to Australia’s agricultural industry. In the case of Singapore, limitations on land mean it’s heavily dependent on imports.
Food security is a global issue, as shown in the World Bank’s 2025 Food Security Update with recent data on the impact of growing inflation.
That’s why ‘future protein’ is the subject of CSIRO research – the world needs to sustainably produce more protein, from more sources, into the future.
The CSIRO-A*STAR Innovation in Food for Sustainability Program (IF4S Program) is a bilateral research collaboration program between CSIRO and Singapore public research institutes such as A*STAR.
The Venture Exchange Program (VEP) is bilateral agrifood tech startup exchange program. Recently as part of the program, the Singapore-Australia Future Foods cohort pitched their innovations to global audiences in Singapore at the Food & Hotel Asia trade show.
Among the innovations were Rainstick, an indigenous Australian biotech startup mimicking thunder patterns to accelerate plant growth from seeds with the potential to revolutionise agricultural production.
Through the VEP Program, Rainstick hopes to showcase indigenous Australian knowledge and expand into untapped regional markets.
Building on the success this work in future proteins, CSIRO recently launched IF4S Program in Thailand with support from the Australian Government’s Southeast Asia and Australia Government-to-Government Partnerships program (SEAG2G).
Sailing towards low emissions in the maritime sector
In 2018, shipping accounted for almost 11 per cent of all transport-related CO2 emissions in the world.
With shipping regulations increasingly stringent, countries like Australia and Singapore that rely heavily on maritime must advance bold new solutions.
That’s why in March 2025, the Australia-Singapore Initiative on Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) for maritime and port operations, jointly delivered by CSIRO and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), selected eight projects for funding to help accelerate maritime decarbonisation.
The projects awarded funding include an electric ferry project, a pre-feasibility study that will inform the uptake of e-methanol in short-sea vessels, and a digital environmental and safety analysis tool to support uptake of low emission fuels in the Australia-Singapore shipping corridor.
The work of ASLET in supporting projects like these is key to greater decarbonisation in maritime trade between Australia and Singapore.
Finding new solutions to tackle plastic pollution
Global plastic production is projected to increase by 36 per cent or more over the next five years, potentially doubling by 2030.
The Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) supports innovators from across the Indo-Pacific to turn plastic problems into sustainable solutions.
This year IPPIN’s Incubator Program – an innovation program for early-stage startups - has welcomed a team from Singapore that wants to understand and eventually grow into the Indonesian market.
This startup known as .bungkus is a fashion brand upcycling single-use plastics into stylish and functional accessories like pouches and tote bags.
Social inclusion is at the heart of their circular venture, often partnering with refugee communities for production.
.bungkus is one example of the kind of work IPPIN Innovators are supported to develop. In fact, since 2022, the program has supported 132 teams from across 15 countries to scale-up sustainable products, innovations and technologies.
We all benefit from regional science solutions
Australia’s success in responding to complex challenges like food security, emissions reduction or plastic pollution is directly tied to the strength and breadth of partnerships with our Singaporean counterparts and Southeast Asian neighbours.
Working in partnership with Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region can help Australia:
- Boost its ranking in the global innovation index
- Drive sustainable future food industry development
- Ensure cleaner, safer and more efficient maritime trade routes
- Accelerate innovation to reduce plastic pollution across borders.
Tapping into science and innovation partnerships with Southeast Asia is not only about seizing opportunity – it’s economic, social and environmental imperative for a stable and prosperous future.
Amelia Fyfield is CSIRO's Director Southeast Asia