Landmark Collaboration Signals New Era in Singapore's Higher Education Research

Singapore's leading universities are uniting to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: regional resilience in an era of geopolitical shifts and global uncertainties. A multidisciplinary team led by the National University of Singapore (NUS), in partnership with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU), has secured a prestigious grant from the Ministry of Education (MOE) via the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). This five-year initiative, titled Rethinking Regional Resilience in a Changing World, promises to redefine how Southeast Asia, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), navigates complex transboundary challenges.

The project underscores Singapore's strategic position as a hub for higher education excellence, where institutions like NUS, NTU, and SMU frequently collaborate on national priorities. With 12 researchers drawn from these top-tier universities, the effort highlights the growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches in Singapore's academic landscape. As global tensions rise—exemplified by U.S.-China rivalry and supply chain disruptions—such research positions local universities at the forefront of policy-relevant scholarship.

Project Origins and Funding Context

The grant falls under the SSRC's 2025 Special Programmatic Grant, part of MOE's expanded S$556 million commitment over FY2026-2030 to bolster social sciences and humanities (SSH) research. This represents a 21% increase from the previous five-year allocation of S$457 million, reflecting Singapore's recognition of SSH's role in addressing societal challenges.

Announced recently, the project builds on Singapore's robust research ecosystem, where universities receive substantial government support to foster innovation. NUS, consistently ranked among Asia's top universities, leads the charge, leveraging its Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) as the nerve center. NTU and SMU contribute expertise in technology, business, and social sciences, creating a synergy that mirrors Singapore's 'Smart Nation' vision.

This funding aligns with broader trends: MOE's push for SSH to inform policy on emerging risks like artificial intelligence (AI) governance and demographic shifts. For higher education in Singapore, it means more opportunities for faculty and students to engage in high-impact, collaborative work.

Leadership: Professor Khong Yuen Foong at the Helm

Heading the project is Professor Khong Yuen Foong, the Li Ka Shing Professor in Political Science and Co-Director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at NUS LKYSPP. A renowned scholar in international relations, Prof Khong's work on Southeast Asia's strategic positioning amid great power dynamics makes him ideally suited. His previous research, including analyses of post-Cold War security in East Asia, provides a strong foundation for reimagining resilience.

Prof Khong emphasizes a holistic view: "Regional resilience is the capability to deal with challenges that are nationally significant but cut across boundaries—transboundary, existential, and planetary." This perspective shifts focus from individual state recovery to collective regional strength, a novel framework for ASEAN studies.

Supporting him are key team members like Associate Professor Tan Hsien-Li from NUS Faculty of Law, specializing in international law and political economy; Associate Professor Huang Chin-Hao, also from LKYSPP, focusing on Asian security; and Dr Miguel Alberto Gomez, a senior research fellow exploring AI geopolitics. While full team details are emerging, the involvement of NTU and SMU experts ensures diverse inputs from engineering, management, and social sciences.

Core Objectives: Redefining Regional Resilience

At its heart, the study seeks to define "net regional resilience"—not merely the aggregate of national efforts, but a region's ability to withstand shocks, recover, and adapt. Traditional definitions fall short for interconnected threats like pandemics or cyber attacks, where one nation's vulnerability affects all.

Objectives include:

• Developing metrics to measure resilience across economic, institutional, technological, and human domains.
• Creating frameworks for investment in collective capabilities.
• Providing actionable roadmaps for ASEAN to bridge intra-regional gaps.

The project challenges the 'fortress mentality,' advocating shared infrastructure and norms. As Assoc Prof Huang notes, ASEAN's economic ties to China and security reliance on the U.S. create a "quagmire," necessitating nuanced strategies.

Photo by Denis Sebastian Tamas on Unsplash

The Six Critical Challenges Under Scrutiny

The research targets six pivotal areas, each with profound implications for Southeast Asia:

1. Power Transition and Emerging Regional Order: Navigating U.S.-China rivalry, with ASEAN caught in between. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea exemplify risks.
2. Economic Decoupling and Deglobalisation: Supply chain disruptions post-COVID highlighted vulnerabilities; ASEAN's trade (over 25% of GDP intra-regional) demands resilient networks.
3. Institutional and Normative Resilience: Strengthening ASEAN's relevance amid eroding multilateralism.
4. Technological Security in the AI Age: Dr Gomez stresses governance over tech acquisition, addressing trust gaps in data sharing.
5. Health Threats: Lessons from COVID-19 underscore needs for regional vaccine equity and surveillance.
6. Demographic Transitions: Aging populations in Singapore contrast youth bulges elsewhere, straining labor and care systems.

These challenges are interlinked; for instance, AI could enhance health security but exacerbate economic divides if not governed regionally.

Launch Event: Sparking Dialogue at Ideas Festival 2026

On March 6, 2026, the team hosted "Reimagining Regional Resilience in an Age of Great Power Rivalry" at NUS LKYSPP, part of the annual Ideas Festival. Panels featured academics, policymakers, and industry leaders discussing preliminary findings. Attendance included government reps, signaling policy interest.

Assoc Prof Tan highlighted smaller powers' historical use of norms: "We've just never really been heard." The event previewed frameworks, fostering early collaborations ahead of the July 2026 kickoff.

Singapore's Universities: Pillars of Collaborative Research

This project exemplifies inter-university synergy in Singapore. NUS provides policy expertise, NTU technological insights (e.g., AI for security), and SMU economic modeling. Past collaborations, like the SPACE project on infectious diseases (NTU-led with NUS/SMU), set precedents.

MOE's funding ecosystem—Tier 1/2 grants, SSRC initiatives—enables such partnerships. In 2025, SSRC awarded multiple SSH projects, with this programmatic grant standing out for its scale. For students, it opens PhD/postdoc roles; for faculty, tenure-track boosts via high-impact outputs.

Implications for ASEAN and Singapore Policy

ASEAN faces acute risks: 40% trade with China, U.S. security pacts, and intra-regional disparities. The study could inform ASEAN Summit agendas, proposing 'resilience indices' akin to World Bank's logistics performance metrics.

For Singapore, outcomes may shape foreign policy, enhancing its 'hub' status. Universities benefit via elevated global rankings—NUS/NTU top QS Asia—through policy citations and spin-offs.

Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash

Career Opportunities in Resilience Research

This project highlights booming demand for SSH experts. Roles in policy analysis, AI ethics, and regional studies abound at Singapore unis. With MOE's GRF fellowships, early-career researchers gain funding; collaborations offer networks.

Graduates eye think tanks like ISEAS, government (MFA/MTI), or multinationals. Skills in data analytics, international law, and foresight modeling are prized, aligning with Singapore's talent strategy.

Future Outlook: A Roadmap for Regional Strength

Launching mid-2026, expect interim reports by 2028, culminating in frameworks by 2030. Potential impacts: ASEAN Resilience Forum, investment guides, or AI governance protocols. Amid uncertainties—U.S. elections, trade wars—this work positions Singapore higher ed as a beacon.

As Prof Khong envisions, regions must "emerge stronger as a whole," turning challenges into collective agency. For Singapore's universities, it's a testament to research driving national resilience.