The Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) has unveiled its Youth Chapter, a new initiative aimed at empowering students and young adults through innovation. Announced at the Sustainable Innovation Asia 2025 (SIA2025) event, this initiative is part of SDTA’s efforts to foster an inclusive and future-focused innovation economy. The launch coincides with the SG60 celebrations and is supported by SWITCH, Go Green SG, and the SG Youth Plan by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).
At the heart of the Youth Chapter is “BINNY,” a bunny-shaped recycling machine developed by five students from ITE College Central. Despite having no prior tech training, the team, known as Materials For Life (MFL), created BINNY in just one week. The machine encourages young children to recycle by offering snacks as rewards, and it was showcased to over 200 stakeholders from both public and private sectors. BINNY earned the People’s Choice Award at SIA2025, exemplifying what Clara Chen, SDTA’s Founding Partner, describes as “grassroots innovation with public impact.”
The Youth Chapter is open to students from ITEs, polytechnics, and universities, offering free lifetime membership. It provides mentorship, workshops, and potential venture support, aiming to include those traditionally excluded from the innovation conversation. This initiative marks a significant step in engaging Singapore’s youth in sustainable innovation, potentially shaping the country’s future economic landscape.
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