Singapore's capabilities in Interactive Digital Media (IDM) research will be boosted with the setting up of the Fraunhofer IDM Centre@NTU by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Europe's largest institution for applied research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer). The centre will focus on the promotion of applied research as well as the commercialisation of IDM innovations.
Facilitated by the multi-agency Interactive Digital Media R&D Programme Office at Media Development Authority (MDA) and funded by the National Research Foundation, the center forms a part of the international network of IDM R&D institutions that Singapore is establishing. Other organisations in this network include the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, the China-Singapore Institute of Digital Media and Keio-NUS Connective Ubiquitous Technology for Embodiments (CUTE) Centre.
Fraunhofer@NTU will receive funding of S$14 million from MDA, NTU and Fraunhofer. Furthermore, the collaboration includes a license agreement with Fraunhofer which secures the use of the protected Fraunhofer brand and processes from inception, thus representing an estimated total investment of S$25 million.
The center's emphasis on applied research in interactive and digital media complements the current university focus on basic research. Experts at the Fraunhofer IDM@NTU will be working together with Fraunhofer's Institute for Computer Graphics Research (Fraunhofer IGD), a leading institute for applied research in Visual Computing. Visual Computing is image- and model-based information technology.
One of the key projects is to create a three-dimensional visualisation of proteins at an atomic level in immersive virtual environments. This will allow scientists to better study the mystery of protein folding and the interplay of protein structures. With this technology, the team hopes to provide insights and create inspirations for new biology and biomedical research, including the discovery of new drugs. The team also hopes that this technology will serve a valuable tool for teaching complicated biological systems.
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