Shaping a sustainable future at SMU’s global competition for technopreneurs
From AI-driven biotech breakthroughs to smarter renewable energy systems, the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) shone a spotlight on deep-tech founders tackling the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. Organised by the SMU Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), the biennial event has evolved into Asia's premier university startup challenge, drawing a record 1,500 applications from over 1,200 universities across 91 countries.
Championing innovation on a global stage
This year’s Grand Finals saw two exceptional startups rise to the top: ChemT Biotechnology, representing Singapore and the United States, and Zhejiang Polar Code Technology, representing China and the United States.
ChemT Biotechnology, founded by alumni of the National University of Singapore and Harvard University, won the Chancellor’s Cup for Beta Innovation, the category for pre-revenue startups. The biotech company applies artificial intelligence to design small molecules that boost biologics production and improve cell performance.
Zhejiang Polar Code Technology, whose founders graduated from Tianjin University and the University of Toledo, claimed the Chancellor’s Cup for Infinity Impact, which recognises early-stage, revenue-generating startups. Its AI-powered microgrids help renewable-heavy power systems run more efficiently.
Each winning team received over S$200,000 in prize value and access to mentorship from venture capitalists and industry leaders.
A platform for vision and collaboration
“The LKYGBPC is more than a competition. It’s a celebration of fearless founders shaping a better future,” said Ms Shirley Wong, Chief Judge and Chairperson of the LKYGBPC Advisory Committee.
Other notable awardees included MicroMelt Ltd and SynMetabio, winners of the Indorama Ventures Future of Sustainable Materials Award, and Photoncore, Dunia Innovations, and Luxtelligence, recognised under the Zhang Fan Global AI Initiative.
A new feature this year was the DueAI™ Challenge. Created and led by Dr Sze Tiam Lin of SMU IIE, the initiative aimed to augment startup evaluation with the integration of artificial intelligence into the process. The objective was to leverage the insights to help manage human biases and blind spots when evaluating startups and investment decisions, with the potential to empower greater responsibility and ethics across a wider array of AI use cases in Singapore.
In his closing remarks, Mr Heng Swee Keat, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation, highlighted how the competition reinforces Singapore’s position as a global innovation hub. SMU President Professor Lily Kong also commended the more than 100 SMU students who co-organised the event, describing it as “a platform that connects global startups with student talent and career opportunities”.
As the competition concluded, its impact extended well beyond the awards. With opportunities such as SMU’s new Urban SustaInnovator (USI) accelerator — launched by Minister for National Development Mr Chee Hong Tat — participants will continue to develop and commercialise cutting-edge ideas that advance global sustainability. By nurturing visionaries at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship and social good, SMU reaffirms its role as a catalyst for innovation with real-world impact.
