Innovation Catalyst (Logic)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore seeks an Innovation Catalyst to identify and advance high-potential breakthroughs from NUS across AI, computing and digital tech. You will build trusted relationships with researchers, translate ideas into early-stage opportunities, and steer projects toward real-world impact within a global venture-building ecosystem.

You will collaborate with venture builders, IP strategists, operators and industry partners to surface signals early, draft compelling narratives,

Qualifications

• 7+ years of operating experience in a start-up, translational/academic tech transfer, or new product development context.
• A systems mindset oriented to end-to-end outcomes and real-world impact.
• Curiosity, emotional intelligence, and disciplined follow-through to build trust.
• A love of bold early-stage ideas with comfort in experimentation and uncertainty.
• Excellent communication and storytelling to make research accessible.
• Technical fluency across AI, computing, software systems, and related tech.
• Strong relationship-building to drive alignment across faculties, operators and partners.
• Comfort operating through influence in complex ecosystems with diverse incentives.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted partnerships with faculty and local innovation teams turning ideas into impact.
• Partner with embedded enablers to translate research to practical applications.
• Scout and surface promising early-stage ideas across the university.
• Share insights and needs to accelerate projects with clarity and conviction.
• Craft compelling narratives from abstract scientific data and technical results.
• Maintain an ecosystem view to flag and champion the most promising projects.
• Connect researchers with market-facing teams, IP strategists, and partners.
• Facilitate multi-disciplinary translation across labs, departments and institutes.

Skills

7+ years operating experience

Systems mindset

Communication & storytelling

Curiosity & initiative

Technical fluency in AI & software

Relationship-building

Influence in complex ecosystems

Education

Advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA)

Job description

NUSX is where NUS talent, research and ideas meet the people, pathways and resources that can take them further. That includes founder development, research translation, venture creation, industry partnerships and access to capital and global networks. The parts of NUSX do different things, but we share a common ambition: help more NUS talent, research and ideas find a path to use and scale. NUSX was known as NUS Enterprise until September 2026.

We're hiring Innovation Catalysts for our Logic track, a team focused on identifying and advancing promising breakthroughs emerging from NUS in AI, computing, software systems, control systems, and related digital and computational technologies.

Innovation Catalysts work in close partnership with embedded innovation enablers across NUS, strengthening local commercialisation capabilities and helping researchers navigate the journey from discovery to impact. As part of an integrated, globally connected venture-building ecosystem, the team collaborates closely with venture builders, market discovery specialists, IP strategists, operators, investors, and industry partners to help bring world-class research into the real world.

The Role

Great ideas often begin in the lab — but they rarely reach the world on their own.

As an Innovation Catalyst, you'll help researchers take the first steps from discovery toward real-world impact. You'll build trusted relationships across the research community, identify promising opportunities early, and help researchers navigate the path toward commercialisation.

Working closely with colleagues across NUSX and our global network of operators, investors, and industry partners, you'll bring market, venture, and translational perspectives into the research environment. Through your judgment, curiosity, and ability to connect people and ideas, you'll help shape which opportunities move forward and how.

Think of it as a baton relay. You’re the first leg — spotting signals early, earning trust fast, and preparing ideas for acceleration.

What You’ll Do

• Build trusted partnerships. Become a go-to partner for faculty and local innovation teams curious about turning ideas into real-world impact.
• Partner with embedded innovation enablers. Align priorities, share insights, build fluency, and reinforce best practices in early-stage translation and commercialisation.
• Scout and surface early-stage innovation. Work with researchers and embedded innovation enablers to identify promising ideas emerging across the university.
• Enable momentum. Share early insights, risks, and needs to enable projects and teams move with speed, clarity, and conviction.
• Build compelling narratives. Collaborate with inventors to craft compelling lay narratives from abstract, complex scientific discoveries, and technical data.
• Track and guide. Maintain a live, ecosystem-level view of emerging projects; help flag, guide, and champion the most promising ones.
• Link and leverage internal expertise and capabilities. Surface synergies across labs, departments, and institutes by connecting and facilitating multi-disciplinary translation efforts.
• Act as a system-level connector. Link researchers, market-facing teams, IP strategists, regulatory insight, and external partners to reduce friction and accelerate progress.

Please be informed that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Requirements

What You Bring

• 7+ years of relevant operating experience in a start-up venture, institutional/corporate tech transfer, translational/applied research, or new product development context.
• A systems mindset — you design and drive work based on end-to-end outcomes and real-world impact.
• A mix of curiosity, emotional intelligence, and disciplined follow-through — you build trust quickly and deliver reliably.
• A love of bold, early-stage ideas and comfort with experimentation, uncertainty, and failure.
• Deep respect for science paired with a sense of urgency and bias toward action.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills — you make research legible and accessible to the world.
• Technical domain fluency across AI, computing, software systems, control systems, and related digital and computational technologies — you understand the language of the labs and the direction of the fields.
• Strong relationship-builder who drives alignment and execution through influence, clarity, and trust across faculty, operators, clinicians, and partners.
• Comfort operating through influence in complex ecosystems, including working with peers who have their own mandates, incentives, and leadership structure.

Bonus Points For

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA).
• Track record of turning ideas into action, whether as a founder, scout, operator, or connector.
• Cross-disciplinary experience applying digital and computational technologies, including AI, in non-traditional industry settings, or working at the intersection of computing and biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, energy, materials, infrastructure, mobility, communications, or other deep-tech sectors.
• Relevant teaching, mentoring, or coaching experience.

Why Join NUSX

This is a rare chance to shape the future of innovation in Asia — from Singapore, with global reach. You’ll sit at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and capital, with the freedom to take big swings and the platform to land them.