NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Their core work

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a major Singapore-based research university that serves as a third-party host institution in European researcher mobility and training programs. Across its H2020 participation, NTU provides research infrastructure, supervision, and domain expertise in fields ranging from mathematical logic and quantum sensing to vehicular communications and thermal engineering. Their role is to receive visiting European researchers and doctoral candidates through MSCA staff exchange and training networks, offering access to Asia-Pacific research capabilities that complement European consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NTU's early H2020 involvement (2015-2019) centered on classical engineering and computer science topics — fluid dynamics modeling, 3D imaging, social network analysis, multimedia forensics, and mathematical logic. From 2021 onward, their participation shifted toward applied and hardware-oriented domains: secure vehicular networks with blockchain, thermally-driven cooling technologies, and quantum sensing at the nanoscale. This reflects a move from primarily theoretical and software-focused research toward physically grounded, application-oriented technologies with clearer industrial relevance.

NTU is moving toward hardware-intensive applied research in quantum technologies, secure communications, and sustainable energy — making them increasingly relevant for industry-facing consortia seeking Asia-Pacific partners.

How they like to work

NTU participates exclusively as a third-party institution — they do not coordinate or even serve as a direct partner in their H2020 projects. This is typical for non-European universities in MSCA programs: they host visiting researchers and contribute expertise without receiving direct EC funding. With 121 unique consortium partners across 33 countries, they are a well-connected node in the global MSCA exchange network, indicating broad institutional relationships rather than deep ties with a few repeated collaborators.

NTU has collaborated within consortia involving 121 distinct partners across 33 countries, reflecting exceptionally broad geographic reach for a third-party participant. Their network spans Europe comprehensively and positions them as a key Asia-Pacific bridge in MSCA mobility programs.

What sets them apart

NTU is one of Asia's top-ranked research universities and serves as a natural gateway for European projects seeking collaboration with Singapore's research ecosystem. Their remarkable topical breadth — from pure mathematics to quantum hardware to sustainable cooling — reflects the scale and diversity of a world-class institution. For consortium builders, NTU offers a credible, well-resourced non-European partner that strengthens the international dimension required by many MSCA calls.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CID
  Longest-running project (2017-2023) covering deep mathematical foundations — computability, topology, and category theory — with clear theoretical ambition.
• QSENS-NMR
  Most recent project (2022-2025) combining quantum sensing with nanophotonics for NMR applications, signaling NTU's move into quantum technologies.
• SEEDS
  Combines vehicular communications, cybersecurity, and blockchain in a single project — an unusual and industry-relevant topic mix.