Principal Research Engineer II, Technology-Business Development Office, IAIC

A*STAR Research Entities (A*STAR); Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Frontier AI opportunities

Vibrant innovation ecosystem

Collaborative environment with top-scI

Impact on Singapore's economy

Job summary

A*STAR Research Entities (A*STAR) invites a dynamic Deputy Director, Venture Creation and Sector Development to lead the identification, incubation, and formation of new ventures from I²R’s DAC portfolio. The role strengthens sector partnerships and accelerates commercialization outcomes across Singapore's innovation landscape.

You will operate at the intersection of research, commercialization, venture building, and industry development, translating advanced technologies into venture-ready

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of relevant experience in venture creation, startup incubation, or venture building.
• Deep tech commercialization or technology transfer experience.
• Track record of working across technical, business, and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Strong venture opportunity assessment and market validation capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate venture opportunities from DAC technologies and IP.
• Develop venture theses including customer problem definition and market opportunity.
• Lead front-end venture creation activities such as market validation and business model design.
• Drive venture formation processes, spin-off readiness, and commercialization pathways.
• Build sector partnerships and manage ecosystem engagement to inform venture creation.

Skills

Venture assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Communication & presentation

Market validation

Education

Advanced degree in CS/AI/Data Science/Engineering/IS

MBA or equivalent experience

Job description

About A*STAR

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) drives mission-oriented research that advances scientific discovery and technological innovation. Through its research institutes, A*STAR develops deep tech capabilities and translates them into economic and societal impact for Singapore. The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) is a leading ICT research institute focused on Artificial Intelligence, Data, Communications, and digital technologies.

Under the Data, AI & Compute (DAC) Sector, I²R drives cutting-edge R&D and its translation into industry adoption, startups, and national capabilities.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to take on the role of Deputy Director, Venture Creation and Sector Development. This role will drive the identification, incubation, and formation of new ventures from I²R's DAC research portfolio, while strengthening sector-level partnerships and ecosystem engagement to accelerate commercialization outcomes. The candidate will work at the intersection of research, commercialization, venture building, and industry development, translating advanced technologies into venture-ready opportunities and enabling stronger market pathways for impact.

Key Responsibilities

Venture Creation

• Identify and evaluate venture opportunities from I²R's DAC technologies and intellectual property.
• Develop compelling venture theses, including customer problem definition, value proposition, market opportunity, and competitive positioning.
• Lead front-end venture creation activities such as market validation, customer discovery, and business model design.
• Drive venture formation processes, including spin-off readiness, team formation, and commercialization pathway development.
• Prepare and present venture cases for internal review and approval.

Sector Development & Ecosystem Engagement

• Develop and execute strategies to strengthen I²R's positioning within the Data-AI-Compute sector.
• Build and manage relationships with corporates, ecosystem partners, government agencies, and innovation platforms. Identify sector trends, market needs, and whitespace opportunities to inform venture creation and research translation.
• Facilitate co-innovation, partnership development, and pathways for market adoption of DAC technologies.

Market & Opportunity Development

• Conduct market sensing, industry engagement, and opportunity mapping across priority DAC domains.
• Translate market insights into actionable venture opportunities and commercialization strategies.
• Support prioritization of opportunities based on market attractiveness, strategic alignment, and impact potential.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with research teams, commercialization units, and IP/legal teams to align venture creation with sector priorities.
• Bridge internal stakeholders to ensure effective translation of research into market-ready opportunities.
• Support the development of structured processes for venture evaluation, incubation, and sector engagement.

Performance & Reporting

• Build and manage a pipeline of venture opportunities and sector initiatives.
• Track and report key metrics, including: Venture opportunities identified and developed
• Venture cases validated and prepared for spin-off Sector partnerships established
• Commercial and strategic outcomes achieved
• Prepare management updates, strategy papers, and decision materials.

Requirements

Education

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• MBA or equivalent experience in business, strategy, or commercialization is an advantage.

Experience

• At least 10-15 years of relevant experience

  in areas such as: Venture creation, startup incubation, or venture building

  Deep tech commercialization or technology transfer

  Industry or sector development

  Innovation strategy or corporate innovation

• Demonstrated experience in translating technology or research into commercial opportunities.
• Track record of working across technical, business, and ecosystem stakeholders.

Technical & Domain Knowledge

• Strong understanding of one or more of the following:Artificial Intelligence / Machine LearningGenerative AI and data platformsCloud, edge, or distributed computingEnterprise software and digital infrastructure
• Ability to engage effectively with both technical and business stakeholders.

Competencies

• Strong venture opportunity assessment and commercialization skills
• Experience in market validation, customer discovery, and business model development
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building capabilities
• Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Preferred Attributes

• Experience in a venture studio, accelerator, tech transfer office, or innovation agency
• Strong network within the startup, investor, and industry ecosystem
• Familiarity with Singapore's research and innovation ecosystem
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic and evolving environment

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape and build ventures from frontier AI, data, and compute technologies
• Exposure to a vibrant innovation ecosystem spanning research, industry, and startups
• A collaborative environment with leading scientists, engineers, and industry partners
• The chance to contribute to Singapore's deep tech and digital economy growth