Singapore’s NTU Unveils Revolutionary Semiconductor Fiber for Smart Wearables

Kazi Abul Monsur,Journalist#

At the beginning of 2024, a team of researchers from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) developed an ultra-thin semiconductor fiber. This innovation could pave the way for creating high-tech fabrics or clothing. These semiconductor fibers are capable of transmitting signals at frequencies of up to 350 kHz.

Moreover, compared to ordinary fibers, these advanced semiconductor fibers are approximately 30 times stronger. To test the technological capability and functionality of these fibers, researchers designed a smart cap. This cap can assist visually impaired individuals by enabling them to receive signals via a smartphone, allowing them to safely cross roads. Researchers also believe this technology can be applied to various other tasks.

The flexible semiconductor fiber used to make smart clothing is being regarded as an extraordinary innovation of the 21st century. It is a real-life example of how advanced education and research can lead to futuristic systems in a country like Singapore, a small yet highly developed nation in East Asia.

NTU currently has over 35,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Singapore and around the globe. The university’s main campus has also been ranked among the world’s topmost and most beautiful campuses. Recognized for its meticulously planned, innovative, and sustainable building projects, NTU has achieved 100% Green Mark Platinum certification. In addition to its main campus, NTU has a medical campus located in Singapore’s healthcare district, Novena.

In the latest QS World University Rankings 2025, NTU secured the 15th position among the top 100 universities worldwide. Similarly, in the Times Higher Education Rankings 2025, it ranked 30th. In stark contrast, no university from South Asia—home to over 2 billion people—has managed to secure a spot within the top 50 universities globally.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a public research university in Singapore, established on August 1, 1981. It is the country’s second-oldest autonomous university. Comprising multiple colleges and schools—including the College of Engineering, College of Science, Nanyang Business School, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Graduate College, National Institute of Education, and others—NTU stands as a beacon of excellence in education and innovation.

NTU’s research efforts extend beyond materials science into areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and environmental science. Their work often receives international recognition and fosters collaboration with leading global institutions and industries.##