Singapore Launches MedTech Camp for Healthcare Startups

Over two billion people across Southeast Asia and India face healthcare challenges that imported technology wasn't designed to solve, but a new Singapore program aims to change that.

Murata Electronics Singapore and innovation platform Tribe just launched KUMIHIMO Tech Camp Singapore 2026, a program designed to help medical technology startups create healthcare solutions built specifically for the region. The program runs through November 2026 and invites startups to develop devices addressing three key areas: preventing chronic and infectious diseases, monitoring health risks from climate change and pollution, and expanding medical screening beyond major cities.

Selected startups will receive hands-on support from Murata's engineering teams and access to the company's advanced hardware components. The program includes technical training, one-on-one mentorship from medical technology experts, and guidance on turning promising ideas into products people can actually use.

The healthcare gaps are real and urgent. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are seeing aging populations and rising chronic disease rates. Meanwhile, India and the Philippines face challenges in maternal and child health care, particularly outside urban centers.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this program special is its focus on local context over off-the-shelf solutions. Startups must be at least Technology Readiness Level 3, meaning they have working prototypes, not just concepts. The program specifically seeks hardware and software combinations that use sensing technology, miniaturization, or communications innovations to reach underserved populations.

The winning team at Demo Day on November 26, 2026 will receive a $10,000 cash prize. But the real opportunity goes beyond the competition: high-potential teams can continue working with Murata on proof-of-concept projects and long-term partnerships.

Applications opened mid-June and close July 31, 2026, with the top 10 teams selected by mid-August. The development phase runs September through November, giving teams three months of intensive collaboration before they pitch to industry leaders and investors.

DM Venkatesan, who leads regional business development at Murata Singapore, emphasized that startups combining hardware innovation with deep understanding of local health systems are best positioned to create lasting change. Yi Ming Ng, co-founder of Tribe Accelerator, noted their role is connecting technical teams with strategists, subject experts, and investors who have successfully launched medical technology across the region.

The program represents a shift toward designing medical technology for the markets that need it most, rather than adapting Western solutions after the fact.