"It takes a village to raise a child and bring it to life. The same is true for innovation and science."

How Pauline Tay shaped Singapore’s biomedical and deep-tech ecosystem, turning research into impact through collaboration and trust.

Pauline Tay is a biomedical researcher, policymaker, and ecosystem builder. She has spent her career translating research into real-world impact, from shaping national programs to nurturing startups to championing innovation across public and private sectors. But more than any title, Pauline sees herself as part of a community: one that builds together, shares lessons, and keeps the dream going.

In this conversation, she reflects on her journey from early A*STAR days to her work today in healthcare innovation.

We asked Pauline to look back on the moments and milestones that defined her career. Here’s what she shared.

What’s your first memory of A*STAR?
Back then, it was still NSTB (National Science and Technology Board). I first heard about A*STAR when the name was still being brainstormed by the then-chairman, Philip Yeo. I was part of the transition. So I’m very honoured to be part of the pioneering batch that heard A*STAR for the first time as we transitioned it from NSTB.
What drew you to science?
I always had questions: how do things come to be, why do we exist, who makes those medicines that cure us? In those days, math and physics didn’t answer that for me. Biology did. Even though biomedical science wasn’t a popular path (almost non-existent) back then, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. My dad used to joke that with a biomedical degree, I might end up working in a zoo. I told him I’m a molecular biologist, not a zoologist – and I’ve never regretted that choice, especially seeing how far Singapore’s biomedical science has come today.
You began your career at A*STAR in research management. What was that like?
I was lucky. As a young officer, I got to create and manage multiple research institutes and programs. I also helped write the proposal that eventually became the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship. Being on the admin side gave me a big-picture view early on and to shape meaningful programmes at A*STAR.
What made you return to the lab for your PhD?
I always knew I wanted to understand how science really works and how you bring discoveries to reality. Not just the outcomes, but the process. Doing a PhD and a postdoc taught me how scientists think. It showed me what it means to lead a research team and translate ideas into impact.
Was your goal always commercialization?

Not really – but it was to bring science to real-world practicality and impact. And to do that, you need to go through a process of commercialisation, to make things tangible and usable.

I never wanted to stay in academia. I wanted to take research beyond the lab to turn it into products, services, and real-world change. But in those days, pathways weren’t clear. So, during my postdoc I did part-time attachments with ETPL (Exploit Technologies Private Limited), now A*STAR I&E (Innovation & Enterprise) to learn about intellectual property, tech transfer, commercialisation and investments from the ground up.

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Tell us about Innovation Partner for Impact (IPI).
IPI was a dream role that was supported by MTI and placed under A*STAR then. I got to set up the healthcare cluster from scratch. Our mission was to find biomedical technologies from around the world that could uplift local SMEs. It felt like the first time all my experiences (technical and strategic) came together with purpose.
Then came NRF. What shifted for you there?

I realized that helping companies one-on-one alone wasn’t enough, if the broader ecosystem wasn’t ready to continue supporting them. 

There needed to be a value chain of companies and supporting structures that sustains itself.  So, I moved to NRF (National Research Foundation) to work on deep tech innovation and enterprise policy – changing the landscape, building value chains, creating funding structures, and supporting innovation at a systems level. That experience made me realise the importance of systems thinking. It was planting seeds with no guarantee they’d grow. But we created a nurturing garden to spur their growth, and they did.

You eventually moved into the private sector. Why?
I needed to cut the cord with the government to fully understand how the private sector looks at innovation. I helped run a cell therapy startup, chaired the tech innovation council at the Singapore Business Federation, and helped a global bank set up a tech engagement unit. That three-year span gave me insights into how industry thinks and what it takes to scale innovation.
What’s your role today?
I’m at the National Health Innovation Centre. We support all local public healthcare institutions in turning innovations into deployable and impactful healthcare solutions – from medical devices, therapies and diagnostics to AI tools that could potentially shift healthcare from curative care to preventative care.
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What makes a good candidate for support at NHIC?
All clinical innovators with a primary appointment in Singapore’s public healthcare clusters are eligible. We’re tech-agnostic but mission-driven.  If it meets an unmet clinical need, can be commercialised, and has potential to scale sustainably, we’re interested. Ultimately, it’s about both healthcare and economic outcomes.
What advice would you give to early-career researchers or A*STAR scholars today?
Find your hood. You can’t do everything alone and you don’t have to. Look for people who complement your strengths, who can help you build together. That’s how real progress happens.
Who or what has shaped your thinking the most?

Mentors. Chairman Philip Yeo and many of my bosses at A*STAR and NRF taught me to keep moving even when the road wasn’t built yet. 

Others taught me about leadership, grooming future talent and succession planning. How to keep the dream alive and pass the torch on when you step aside. For our ecosystem to thrive for generations to come, we must keep building the future and passing the baton on for Singapore.

Xinhong Lim

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