TOYP Singapore 2017

Benjamin Tee

Honouree · Science & Technology

Year

2017

Biography

Professor Benjamin Tee (Tee Chee Keong) is a Singaporean scientist, serial entrepreneur and ecosystem builder — and one of Singapore’s most decorated young researchers. A Full Professor (promoted January 2026) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NUS and Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise) at NUS Enterprise, he is best known for pioneering electronic skin (e-skin) technology — flexible, self-healing, sensor-laden materials that give robots and prosthetic limbs a human-like sense of touch. He completed his BS (Summa Cum Laude) at University of Michigan and his PhD at Stanford University.

Achievements

JCI Singapore TOYP Honoree – Scientific and/or Technological Development (2017) — recognised by Junior Chamber International for his world-leading work in electronic skin technology.
MIT Technology Review TR35 Global Innovator (2015) — one of MIT’s 35 global Innovators Under 35; the only Singaporean on the 2015 list, selected for his work on e-skin that could make prosthetic limbs as sensitive as human ones.
World Economic Forum Young Scientist of the Year (2019) — selected for his contributions to skin-like sensor systems that help the brain interact with prosthetic limbs and give robots a sense of touch.
Singapore Young Scientist Award (2016) — one of Singapore’s most prestigious national awards for outstanding young researchers.
International Winner, James Dyson Award (2021) — his team’s wearable eye pressure sensor became the first Singapore team to win the international prize in the award’s 17-year history.
NUS University Young Researcher Award (2021) — honoured for critical contributions to soft materials and sensors for robotics and healthcare.
Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 — named among Asia’s young changemakers shaping the future.
Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2021) and ranked among the World’s Top 2% Scientists (2022, 2023) by Stanford University.
Serial entrepreneur — co-founded four companies: Privi Medical (acquired 2021), Hannah Life Technologies, TwoPlus Fertility, and Tacniq.AI; leads NUS Enterprise’s BLOCK71 global network and National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP).
Featured by CNN International (Tomorrow’s Heroes series), CNA (ASEAN’s Next Generation Leaders), BBC World Service Radio and National Geographic TV.

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