The power of the vouch: Hatch ambassadors championing public safety tech

Summary:

• These three ambassadors for Hatch, the innovation center of Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency, highlight that close collaboration between startups and public agencies is crucial for rapidly validating and implementing innovative solutions for public safety challenges.
• They also have a strong drive to translate emerging technologies into actual deployments, resulting in measurable improvements to operations and inspiring further innovation within public safety agencies.
• Hatch ambassadors support startups by providing access, resources, and credibility, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where new technologies can be scaled to meet real-world security needs for lasting mutual benefit.
• Curious to see how their work ultimately impacts citizens’ lives? Visit the center’s website.

Having someone vouch for you can be invaluable in many aspects of life. This is especially so in critical, sensitive areas like public safety which require large amounts of discretion – that person can help you build the trust needed, or link you up with a partner to amplify the impact of your solution.

Hatch, the innovation center of Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX), launched in collaboration with Knovel Engineering and open innovation company Sosa, is dedicated to accelerating dual-use technologies applicable to both civilian and public safety domains.

It’s bridging the gap between government agencies and the startup ecosystem, allowing it to play a key role in strengthening Singapore’s safety infrastructure.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

The heart of this effort is a group of ambassadors; leaders from the public and private sectors who champion collaborative innovation, bring startups closer to end-users, and help emerging technologies have greater impact, alongside the team at Hatch.

“The ambassadors are essentially extensions of our team, working to ensure that the best innovations reach those who need them most,” says Mok Shao Hong, Hatch’s center director.

He adds that the ambassadors’ involvement amplifies collaboration between public safety agencies and the innovation ecosystem – a crucial bridge to validate the potential of startups. This enables startups to successfully complete proofs-of-concept and foster “a faster, more agile, and more effective response to evolving safety challenges.”

Here’s a closer look at Hatch’s three ambassadors and their contributions to this vital mission:

1. Chin Chin Lim, assistant chief executive (sciences) and director, Forensics Centre of Expertise at HTX

As an early adopter of Hatch’s open innovation framework, Lim embodies proactive collaboration.

When Hatch was formed, she decided to embrace fresh possibilities and work with the fledgling centre to explore startups’ cutting-edge technologies as they bring “fresh perspectives, agility, and groundbreaking technologies” to the intricate field of forensic science, she notes. Today, her team is involved with both Dimension X, Hatch’s open innovation challenge, and Hatch & Match, the innovation center’s tech scouting program.

After issuing a challenge statement to the first cohort of Dimension X, Lim’s team has been involved in issuing challenge statements for nearly every batch, because she believes that driving collaboration between public safety agencies and startups ensures their effectiveness in the long run.

“Crimes evolve, and so do the tactics of criminals,” Lim points out. “Being part of this ecosystem means we’re not just solving today’s challenges. We’re also pioneering and shaping the future of homeland security.”

Chin Chin Lim, assistant chief executive (sciences) and director, Forensics Centre of Expertise at HTX / Photo credit: Hatch

For instance, she notes that synthetic drugs can now mimic natural substances, allowing them to bypass traditional legal frameworks. As such, in her role in HTX, she works with Hatch and those in academia to create solutions that help HTX anticipate these changes and adapt proactively.

She adds that Hatch has amplified HTX’s capabilities to explore technologies for high-impact scenarios where traditional methods fall short. One example is the Drobot, an innovation by Dimension X startup alumnus Flyz Robotics. The Drobot is a drone that has “revolutionized forensic operations,” she says.

In this context, users can attach the Drobot to different surfaces within a crime scene, generating live video streams from multiple perspectives. The device gives real-time insights into the area so that users can recognize and collect evidence faster.

“By adopting it early, we were able to guide its evolution, making it autonomous and practical for field deployment,” Lim explains. “This not only improved our own operations but also set a precedent for how other Home Team agencies could adopt similar technologies.”

Uncover how these ambassadors are revolutionizing the intersection between startups and public safety.

Beyond its use in the field, she notes that this collaboration has sparked further creativity in her colleagues, inspiring them to reimagine technology for broader applications. With more startups working with the right end-users, she believes that “it can only be a win-win outcome,” and hopes that other units also innovate with global start-ups through Hatch’s programs.

2. Tuan Tong Foo, co-founder of GaitMetrics

Born and raised in Singapore, Foo doesn’t just talk about the power of Hatch’s platform – he lived it by taking part in the second cohort of the program’s open innovation challenge, Dimension X. In this program, public safety end-users offer challenge statements based on specific operational problems faced on the ground. This means that startup participants, hailing from any vertical, can use their tech to solve real-world issues faced by actual end-users.

“Hatch gave us the opportunity to work directly with a government end user for a meaningful purpose,” says Foo, whose company specializes in healthcare monitoring tech. Startups like his work alongside HTX scientists, engineers, and Home Team end-users on specific use cases. By the end of the program, they would have created a proof-of-concept to test and validate a startup’s tech for each use case.

In Foo’s case, his company worked with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) to develop a life signs monitoring system that allows prison officers to track inmates’ vital signs remotely, enabling them to respond more quickly to incidents such as falls or abnormal heart rates. Even though GaitMetric’s system was originally developed for the healthcare space, working with the SPS opened up a whole new world of possibilities based on the same functions.

Tuan Tong Foo, co-founder of GaitMetrics / Photo credit: Hatch

Without the programs offered by Hatch, it would have been “very hard [as a startup] to reach” a public safety agency to develop solutions with them. Having direct access through Dimension X helped his team better understand SPS’ needs, facilitating more productive discussions – this eventually culminated in an effective proof-of-concept for the agency.

Following the successful proof-of-concept in Dimension X and showcase during the program’s Demo Day, SPS decided to move forward with a more comprehensive operational trial with GaitMetrics to further develop the remote monitoring and fall detection system in single-man prison cells.

THE NEXT ERA OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS HERE

GaitMetrics also gained credibility through the Hatch program and the partnership with SPS.

“When we mention working with HTX and SPS, many organizations take us more seriously, which is a great help for a startup like us.”

Foo became an ambassador not just because he understood the importance of Hatch’s mission, but also because he also wanted to serve as an example of how startups can effectively bring new technologies into the public safety space.

3. Allan Loi, chief information officer of the Singapore Police Force (SPF); director of Policing Programme Management Centre (PPMC) at HTX

Loi’s dual role allows him to understand why technological advancement must be balanced with frontline policing. He actively encourages technological innovation to transform law enforcement operations, enabling public safety officers to overcome modern challenges.

He firmly believes that “technology can be dual-use,” and that Hatch unlocks access to a wider spectrum of solutions. This matters because public safety agencies are often faced with evolving threat actors, requiring constant adaptation.

Allan Loi, chief information officer of the Singapore Police Force (SPF); director of Policing Programme Management Centre (PPMC) at HTX / Photo credit: Hatch

“We don’t hold a monopoly of ideas,” Loi says, emphasizing the importance of tapping into avenues beyond the traditional public safety domain – i.e., the startup ecosystem, where ideas can come from all types of companies and verticals.

He champions Hatch as a vital bridge to “global startups across different tech domains,” allowing SPF and the rest of the Home Team to bring in new, innovative, dual-use tech to improve their operations and capabilities. This benefits officers on the ground, keeping Singapore safe and secure.

As Hatch continues to support big strides in Singapore’s public safety landscape, Loi is a strong proponent of his team’s support for Hatch’s programs, as he believes in its mission and purpose that align closely to his vision of an innovation centre for public safety and security. As such, becoming a voice and ambassador for Hatch felt like a natural step forward.

Loi also backs his teams’ participation in Hatch’s programs, accelerating the journey with innovative startup tech. Once the startup’s solution has been validated by Hatch, his team acts as an enabler to bridge the gap between concept and eventual operational deployment.

He underscores that the push for innovation, while challenging, requires the ability to learn and adapt effectively.

“We aren’t overly worried about failing. We’re continuously looking at what are the best practices and tech that we can learn from, and how we can better make use of relevant tech and knowledge to enable officers to respond faster and more effectively.”

Hatch is an innovation center driven by the mission to curate and accelerate dual-use technologies from deeptech startups globally to enhance public safety. Uncover how these ambassadors are revolutionizing the intersection between startups and public safety.

THE NEXT ERA OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS HERE

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.