SEVENTEEN research projects have been given grants totalling $12.2 million by the A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).

The grants were awarded to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to enable them to pursue 'long-term scientific goals and technological innovation' in the areas of media and entertainment, medical technologies, education, water, infocomm, chemicals, energy and electronics.

Professor Chong Tow Chong, Executive Director of SERC, said that this year saw a record 115 grant applicants. He added that the 17 teams that ultimately secured the research grants were the 'creme de la creme' and believed that they have potential to break new ground and deliver impactful outcomes.

The projects include advancements in digital media which can enhance learning, as well as developments in medical technology that could potentially aid surgeons in complex microsurgery.

Another project also aims to develop a new membrane-based technology that would provide rural communities cheaper and better means of obtaining water that is free from harmful substances.

By filtering out toxins such as arsenic, people in these communities, especially in the Southeast Asia region, can prevent effects of arsenic poisoning such as painful skin lesions, liver failure, kidney and lung diseases, cardio-vascular diseases and even multiple cancers.

The SERC Public Sector Funding (PSF) programme seeks to cultivate research capabilities of Singapore's public sector institutions by supporting research across a wide range of disciplines.

Since its implementation in 2001, a total of 184 research projects were given grants, of which more than half have now been completed. The findings of these completed projects have been published in more than 1330 research journals and a total of 90 primary patents have also been filed.

The call for applications for the next round of PSF programme grants will be announced in October.