Get Started with ARTC Supply Chain 4.o

SC4.0 is a 2-year programme funded under RIE2025 to look at developing digital and automation technologies, together with industry partners who can contribute their knowledge and data to any of the 7 Work Packages that they want to participate in. This will in turn benefit companies who contributed as the development is based on their data/solutions, reducing customization required if they intend to adopt/deploy the technologies.

i) If any of the 7 Work Packages in SC4.0 are of value and interest to companies, ARTC will arrange regular updates and discussions with them. It is preferable to appoint a Point-of-Contact to work with A*STAR. Companies do not need to commit financially to be involved in SC4.0.
ii) They can also contribute by giving in-kind contributions to the research themes they wish to participate in, whether software or hardware, so that A*STAR development can be built on top of their solutions and data. 
iii) If they wish to take our development further by customizing to their company’s business processes and operations, ARTC can scope it as a project, then develop & deploy it for the company. This will require financial commitment as the Engineers/Scientists will need to be reimbursed for their time to develop the solutions.

There is no deadline set, and companies are free to participate throughout the whole duration of the SC4.0 programme (2 years, starting from Nov 2021).

As this programme is funded by public monies in Singapore, A*STAR owns the IP developed in the 7 Projects under the Innovation Themes. 

There are various options to explore:
i) Licensing option
Companies who intend to commercialize/sell the solution developed in the Work Packages can work with A*STAR on securing the licensing rights (exclusive/non-exclusive). 
ii) Companies owning the Foreground IP (FIP)
Companies may want to adopt certain Work Packages for further development with A*STAR, customized to their requirements and processes. 
In that case, the IP developed from the Work Packages will be considered as Background IP (BIP), owned by A*STAR and documented in the Project Agreement. New development/process derived as the outcome of this project with the companies will be considered Foreground IP (FIP). Companies can work with A*STAR to negotiate the terms to own the FIP, further highlighted in Question 6.

For the Foreground IP (FIP), the default IP position in A*STAR project agreements using RCA is either “Jointly-Developed, Jointly Owned” or “Sole-Developed, Solely-Owned”, which either allows the IP to be co-owned with A*STAR or fully owned by A*STAR. For companies who would like to own the FIP, an escalation process is to be made subject to approval by our Deputy Chief Executive (DCE, A*STAR).
Alternatively, if companies join as an ARTC member (consortium membership model), we have 3 types of Project Agreements. 1 of which allows companies to own the FIP, namely:
i)   Schedule 4 - MEMBER OWNED FOREGROUND IP AND FOREGROUND KNOW-HOW
ii)  Schedule 5 - ARTC OWNED FOREGROUND IP AND FOREGROUND KNOW-HOW
iii) Schedule 6 - JOINTLY OWNED FOREGROUND IP AND FOREGROUND KNOW-HOW

The main development for each Project will be led by A*STAR Engineers/Scientist to achieve the deliverables highlighted under each Project. The team will be working with companies in the development to ensure relevance to industry needs and opportunity to proliferate the technologies back to the industry.
This is an open platform. It is both an invitation for companies to work with us in this programme, and for companies to be able to network and collaborate.

i) Are the problem statements fixed?
The Work Packages are meant to solve problem statements gathered from extensive industry feedback. We also understand that each company has its own challenges and is at different technological maturity/stage. Hence, we are open to exploring and discussing with the companies on how we can work on their problem statements as a one-to-one project.
It can be both ways. Example: A company works with us on 1 of the 7 Work Packages but is also engaging us in parallel on a project that is looking at utilising AGV for their warehouse/production.

ii) For the work deliverables of each Project, are those existing solutions that ARTC has, which ARTC would like to test out with companies?
No, they are not existing solutions. They are what we plan to develop in 2 years. But companies do not have to wait 2 years for us to develop before they get to test it out. There are multiple Minimal Viable Products (MVP) milestones set up for each Work Package that companies can take and test out. We are able to share more with the companies.

Training courses have been developed and are currently in the process of seeking WSG subsidies.