NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Their core work

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Asia's leading research university, contributing deep expertise across an unusually broad range of disciplines — from climate economics and energy systems to DNA diagnostics, quantum information, and governance studies. In H2020, NUS serves as a non-European knowledge partner, bringing Asian research perspectives and regional networks into European consortia. Their contributions span fundamental science (quantum theory, synthetic biology standards), applied technology (DNA-based molecular diagnostics, solar-driven CO2 conversion), and policy research (local governance, cultural diplomacy, green finance along the Belt and Road Initiative).

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NUS's early H2020 involvement (2015–2018) centred on broad policy and economics topics — climate economics, energy efficiency, cultural diplomacy, and smart manufacturing — reflecting a social sciences and macroeconomic orientation. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted notably toward hard sciences and emerging technologies: DNA-based diagnostics, quantum information theory, solar-driven chemistry, and geopolitical finance. This evolution suggests NUS has been deliberately expanding its EU collaboration footprint from policy advisory roles into deep technical and frontier science partnerships.

NUS is moving from policy-oriented EU collaborations toward quantum science, molecular diagnostics, and green technology — signalling readiness for technically demanding future consortia.

How they like to work

NUS has never coordinated an H2020 project, participating instead as a third-party partner (9 of 14 projects) or consortium participant (5 of 14). This is typical for non-European institutions in Horizon 2020, where coordination rights are generally reserved for EU-based entities. With 131 unique consortium partners across 35 countries, NUS operates as a high-connectivity hub — a gateway to Southeast Asian research networks for European consortia seeking global reach.

NUS has collaborated with 131 distinct partners across 35 countries, making it one of the most globally connected non-European participants in H2020. Their network spans the EU extensively while also bridging to Asia-Pacific research ecosystems — a valuable asset for projects requiring genuine international reach.

What sets them apart

NUS is one of very few top-ranked Asian universities with sustained H2020 participation across both hard sciences and social sciences. For European consortia, NUS offers something rare: a single institutional partner that can contribute to quantum physics, DNA technology, climate modelling, AND governance research — with direct access to Southeast Asian industry, policy, and academic networks. Their multi-disciplinary breadth combined with geographic positioning makes them an ideal partner for projects that need credible global scope beyond the EU bubble.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AnCon
  NUS's largest H2020-funded project (EUR 145,116), a comparative anthropology study spanning ethics, conscience, and human rights across cultures.
• DNASURF
  A seven-year research initiative (2017–2023) on molecular diagnostics through DNA modification — NUS's longest-running and most technically deep H2020 project.
• TITAN
  Positions NUS at the frontier of quantum information theory and quantum machine learning, signalling a strategic move into quantum technologies.