Call for Research Proposals

SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Lab - Call for Research Proposals

The SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory invites submission of proposals for new projects and research themes.

SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory (Corp Lab) is a S$45 million research facility jointly set up by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), supported by National Research Foundation (NRF). Situated at the Innovation 4.0 Building at NUS Kent Ridge campus, this is the 7^th corporate laboratory established at the University, and also the 19^th in Singapore.

Objectives

The objectives of the Corp Lab are to drive traveller-centric digital services, ensure security and safety in air travel, and enhance organisational effectiveness and workplace productivity for SIA and Singapore’s aviation sector.

Featuring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, such as a cabin simulator and a cockpit simulator with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, the Corp Lab embarks on research activities in the following areas:

Revenue Management and Dynamic Pricing: Developing better techniques by using data-driven methods in demand-modelling, fare pricing and seat allocation to enhance operational efficiencies.

Transforming Competency and Skill Development: Developing intelligent and quantified pilot and cabin crew training methods, leveraging eye tracking, AR and VR, as well as post-flight feedback technologies to encourage employees to embrace continuous learning through training.

Employee Wellness: Developing intelligent fatigue and alertness models using wearables to improve and enhance safety, performance, and productivity.

Passenger Comfort, Sleep and Cabin Service: Developing real environment cabin simulators to enhance customers’ comfort, sleep qualities, as well as developing specifications of new product and service protocols for enhanced and unparalleled customer service.

The objective of this call for proposal is to expand on our current research programme and collaboration with SIA and to encourage greater use of the equipment and facilities in the Corp Lab at Innovation 4.0 Building #05-03.

Project Scope and Topics

This grant call encourages diverse and innovative proposals for new digital aviation projects. Grant applicants are encouraged to study these or other relevant challenges including but not limited to:

- Sustainability in the Aviation Industry

To explore sustainability in the cabin and customer service areas to achieve the broad aims of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. To achieve carbon neutrality based on scientific approach in validating carbon emissions. The focus will be on non-aircraft structural items such as toiletries, cabin amenities (e.g., blankets, pillows, etc.), cabin ambience (e.g., lighting, cabin temperature, etc.), inflight meals (e.g., material/type of packaging used, cutlery, trays, waste management, etc.).

- Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Research into Aviation

To explore digital aviation ideas related to AR/VR technologies, tapping also into the existing AR/VR equipment available in the Corp Lab.

- Improvements to Passenger on-board Experiences such as Comfort, Sleep and Cabin Service:

To explore digital aviation ideas related to improving passenger experiences using the mocked-up cabin environment in the Corp Lab.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirement:

The Principal Investigator (PI) must have a full-time academic appointment at a NUS Faculty/School (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor) or Senior Research Fellow or above in Research Institutes/Centres.

Award Information

Maximum grant amount is $250,000 for a project period up to 2 years. Project grants are funded by the SIA-NUS Corp Lab and subjected to the funding terms and conditions set by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Submission Information

Each application should be submitted with the below documents as an individual document (only in pdf format), with the Email Subject Title “SIA-NUS Corp Lab – Application for Research Grant – (Name of Applicant, Faculty/Dept)” to the email address siacorplab@nus.edu.sg:

SIA-NUS – Application Form
Curriculum Vitae¹ of the PI and key team members
Research Publication Lists² of the PI and key team member

Submission Information	Documents For Submission by PI
Research Proposal Executive Summary A Brief Literature / Background Review on State of the Art A Short Project Description Scientific Significance of Project Practical Relevance/Benefits to Industry and Region	Application Form CVs and Research Publication Lists of PI and key team members

¹ A CV of not more than 5 pages

² A full list of research outputs (publication list, with classifications by type of publications, which is accurately updated and generated from the University’s Research Publication System (Elements), a list of patents, if any, etc.

Review Process

Applicants may be invited for an interview with our selection committee to give a presentation of their research proposal and answer questions about their applications. Applicants whose applications are shortlisted will be invited to submit their full proposals with budget phasing details for the second round of selection.

Call for Grant Proposal
Closing date for application	15 May 2022
Invitation for Shortlisted Applications on Submission of Detailed Proposal	June 2022
Announcement of Grant Awards	August/September 2022

For any clarification on the above, please email or call Ms Lee Tang Khee (email: tklee@nus.edu.sg, tel: 6516 2838).