About A*STAR FEAT
A*STAR Future Energy Acceleration and Translation (FEAT) Centre, launched in January 2025, drives the development of next-generation technologies for critical components in extreme environments –accelerating solutions to today’s industrial challenges and enabling future energy systems.
As fusion energy gains momentum as a clean, safe, and reliable power source, it presents an opportunity for Singapore to contribute to this emerging sector. With supply chains still nascent, there is scope to leverage strengths in materials science, advanced manufacturing, plasma diagnostics and AI to build niche capabilities and enable early participation in the global fusion supply chain. The capabilities developed will also have spillover benefits across industries operating under similarly demanding environments, including aerospace and semiconductors.
FEAT brings together a multidisciplinary A*STAR team, with strengths in advanced materials, precision manufacturing and materials testing – capabilities that support the development of more robust, scalable, and deployable fusion systems, and connect frontier research to a rapidly evolving global fusion ecosystem.
Vision & Mission
Vision
To become a world-class R&D powerhouse and innovation leader, driving Singapore’s emergence as a key hub in the global supply chain ecosystem.
Mission
To pioneer next-generation technologies for critical components in extreme environments, thereby addressing today’s industrial challenges and accelerating the realisation of future energy solutions.
Accomplishing Our Scientific Mission
- Build capabilities
Develop materials for critical components that can withstand extreme conditions, with the stretch goal of enabling fusion technology - Develop solutions
Leverage our developed capabilities to create applications that solve immediate and short-term problems in existing industries - Translate & commercialise
Grow track record partnering with leading fusion companies and local industries to gain early access to future supply chains
Message from the Centre Director
Welcome to the Future Energy Acceleration and Translation (FEAT) Centre. As Centre Director, I am thrilled to introduce our mission to pioneer next-generation technologies that will redefine the global energy landscape.
Launched in January 2025, FEAT operates at the critical intersection of frontier scientific research and industrial application, driving the development of advanced components engineered to withstand some of the world's most extreme environments.
The demanding conditions inherent to fusion reactors, characterised by intense thermal loads, mechanical stresses, and material degradation, mirror challenges faced in other high-performance sectors. As a result, capabilities developed at FEAT are expected to generate significant spillover benefits across industries such as aerospace, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing, where similar extremes in performance, reliability, and durability are essential.
Innovation of this magnitude cannot occur in silo – to address this, FEAT brings together an elite, cross-disciplinary team from across A*STAR, to serve as an agile translation platform that links global commercial players with domestic research excellence.
Together with our industry partners, we engineer advanced components that will power tomorrow.
Dr Andrew Ngo Chun Yong
FEAT Centre Director
Our Team
- Dr Andrew Ngo
- FEAT Centre Director
- Dr Vivian Lin
- Tech Biz Director
- Dr Goh Xiao Ming
- Centre Manager
- Dr Muhd Zafir
- Ecosystem Lead
- Dr Freda Lim
- Thrust Lead for Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation
- Dr Chua Beng Wah
- Thrust Lead for Advanced Manufacturing Techniques & Processes
- Dr Wang Pei
- Thrust Lead for Advanced Materials Development & Testing
- Dr Valerian Hall-Chen
- Thrust Lead for Plasma Physics, Diagnostics & Interactions
- Dr Jerry Quek
- Sub-Thrust Lead for Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation
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- Sub-Thrust Lead for Advanced Manufacturing Techniques & Processes
- Dr Dennis Tan
- Sub-Thrust Lead for Advanced Materials Development & Testing
- Dr Eddie Chua
- Sub-Thrust Lead for Plasma Physics, Diagnostics & Interactions
Dr Andrew Ngo
FEAT Centre Director
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
Division Director, Composites & Structural Division (CSD), IMRE, A*STAR
Distinguished Professor, ST Engineering
www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-ngo-astar
Andrew is the Centre Director of the Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, and Division Director of the Composites and Structural Division (CSD) at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR. He holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and an MBA from Nanyang Business School (NBS), Singapore. Before joining A*STAR as a Research Scientist in 2010, he spent two years in the semiconductor industry.
As Centre Director of FEAT, Andrew leverages A*STAR's multi-disciplinary expertise to tackle technical challenges in future energy. His work spans materials development & testing, modelling & simulation, plasma diagnostics & control, and component design & manufacturing. As Division Director of CSD, he leads ~80 research scientists and engineers in additive manufacturing, advanced alloys & ceramics, composite materials & engineering, and next-generation structural inspection & evaluation.
Andrew is a Distinguished Professor of ST Engineering and an Associate Faculty of Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He is also a member of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Foundational Research Capabilities (FRC) study team for fusion energy, and his role includes reviewing the science & technology research capabilities in Singapore, and identifying future capabilities needed for Singapore to be an advanced nation in science & technology.
Dr Vivian Lin
Tech Biz Director
Tech-Biz Development, Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
Vivian is the Director of Tech-Biz Development at the Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR. She drives strategic partnerships, ecosystem development, and technology translation initiatives that position Singapore to participate in emerging future energy industries.
Working with global technology developers, research institutions, and industry partners, she focuses on identifying opportunities where Singapore's strengths in advanced manufacturing, materials development, testing, and precision engineering can create meaningful impact. Her work spans capability development, industry engagement, and the formation of collaborations that accelerate innovation and commercial opportunities across future energy sectors, including fusion, fission, and geothermal energy.
Vivian holds a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from Nanyang Technological University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).
Dr Goh Xiao Ming
Centre Manager
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiao-ming-goh-82a01a56/
Xiao Ming is the Centre Manager of A*STAR's Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR, where she oversees the Centre's operations, including research administration, programme management, budget and resource planning, and communications. She supports the implementation of FEAT's strategic initiatives and major funding programmes, working closely with researchers, grantors and stakeholders to ensure effective programme delivery and governance. Her experience spans scientific research, strategic planning and research management, supporting the development and translation of multidisciplinary research programmes. Trained as a physicist, she holds a PhD in Physics.
Dr Muhd Zafir
Ecosystem Lead
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR Senior Manager, Sustainability & Energy Cluster, Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC), A*STAR
https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-zafir-mohamad-nasir-69a3789b/
Zafir oversees strategic programmes and partnerships in emerging technology domains, with a particular focus on fusion energy, and future energy systems within A*STAR.
He plays a key role in the development and implementation of national R&D initiatives, including the Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre. His work involves stakeholder engagement across government agencies, research institutions, industry partners, and international organisations to strengthen Singapore's capabilities in deep-tech innovation and energy technologies.
Zafir has extensive experience in programme management, strategic planning, research translation, and international collaboration. He has led partnerships and engagements with leading global research institutes, technology companies, and public sector stakeholders to advance innovation ecosystems and create opportunities for scientific and economic impact.
Dr Freda Lim
Thrust Lead for Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation
Thrust Lead, Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation, Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
Research Director, Advanced Manufacturing Research Directorate (AMRD), Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing (IAIC), A*STAR
www.linkedin.com/in/fredalim
Freda is the Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation Thrust Lead at the Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, and Research Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Directorate (AMRD) at A*STAR’s Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing (IAIC). She holds a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the National University of Singapore (NUS). She joined A*STAR in 2007 as a Research Scientist and has worked across research, research leadership and strategic planning roles within A*STAR.
As Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation Thrust Lead for FEAT, Freda works with research teams across A*STAR to align modelling and simulation capabilities and priorities, provide technical input to programme scoping, and connect computational approaches with experimental and application needs. Her interests span physics-based and data-driven modelling, multi-scale simulation, and the emerging use of AI to accelerate scientific and engineering discovery.
As Research Director of AMRD, Freda leads research capabilities at the intersection of Data, AI, Compute and Advanced Manufacturing. Building on her background in computational materials science, molecular modelling and simulation, she works across disciplines to translate modelling, simulation and AI capabilities into solutions for industry and national research priorities. She is also Director of Special Projects at A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research Council and an Adjunct Associate Professor at NUS College.
Dr Chua Beng Wah
Thrust Lead for Advanced Manufacturing Techniques & Processes
Dr Wang Pei
Thrust Lead for Advanced Materials Development & Testing
Dr Valerian Hall-Chen
Thrust Lead for Plasma Physics, Diagnostics & Interactions
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University
https://valerian.hall-chen.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerianhallchen/
Dr Valerian Hall-Chen is Principal Investigator and Thrust Lead for the Plasma Physics and Diagnostics, at the Future Energy Acceleration and Translation Centre, A*STAR. Valerian is also an adjunct assistant professor at School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University. His team's research directions include microwave diagnostics, synthetic diagnostics, plasma exhaust, edge and sheath physics, and heating and current drive. Valerian holds a BA in Natural Sciences (Physics) from the University of Cambridge and a DPhil in Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford.
Dr Jerry Quek
Sub-Thrust Lead for Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
Senior Principal Scientist, Advanced Manufacturing Research Directorate (AMRD), Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing (IAIC), A*STAR
Jerry is the Materials & Manufacturing Modelling & Simulation Sub-Thrust Lead at the Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre and a Senior Principal Scientist in the Advanced Manufacturing Research Directorate (AMRD) at A*STAR’s Institute of Advanced Intelligence and Computing (IAIC). His work focuses on computational materials science and engineering, with particular expertise in physics-based modelling of material deformation, microstructure evolution and process–structure–property relationships.
As Sub-Thrust Lead for FEAT, Jerry works with research teams across A*STAR to develop and integrate modelling and simulation capabilities for energy materials and engineering applications. His current interests include nuclear and fusion materials, where he is developing multiscale approaches that connect irradiation environments and radiation damage to defect and microstructure evolution, material-property degradation and ultimately component performance and reliability.
Within AMRD, Jerry develops and applies computational approaches spanning dislocation mechanics, phase-field modelling, finite-element methods and microstructure-sensitive mechanical modelling. A key focus of his work is connecting models across length and time scales to build predictive frameworks for materials and manufacturing problems. He also works collaboratively with researchers in atomistic simulation, data-driven modelling and machine learning to incorporate these capabilities into broader multiscale modelling workflows. His research has been applied across structural alloys, additive manufacturing, welding, surface engineering and other advanced manufacturing processes.
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Sub-Thrust Lead for Advanced Manufacturing Techniques & Processes
Dr Dennis Tan
Sub-Thrust Lead for Advanced Materials Development & Testing
Dr Eddie Chua
Sub-Thrust Lead for Plasma Physics, Diagnostics & Interactions
Future Energy Acceleration & Translation (FEAT) Centre, A*STAR
www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-chua-astro
Eddie is a Principal Investigator and Sub-Thrust Lead of the Plasma Physics & Diagnostics Department at the FEAT Centre, A*STAR. He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Harvard University and a BS in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University. His work focuses on fusion energy, particularly at the interface between plasma physics and materials.
Eddie helps lead the development of FEAT’s capabilities across plasma modelling, plasma-material interactions and data-driven methods for diagnostics. His research connects plasma edge and divertor conditions with material erosion, impurity transport and their consequences for fusion performance. Alongside physics-based modelling, he also develops artificial intelligence approaches for plasma analysis and prediction. Through collaborations with international fusion laboratories and industry partners, he works to translate these capabilities into predictive tools and technologies for the design and operation of future fusion devices.