The Khetan Foundation’s gifts to NUS will support education, healthcare and innovation. Standing (from left to right): CEO of Khetan Foundation Dr Jonathan Chang and NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye. Seated (from left to right): NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise) Dr Tan Sian Wee; Chairman of Khetan Foundation Mr Nirmal Singh; and Dean of NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Prof Chong Yap Seng.

To realise maximum impact, there must be a bigger picture in mind when giving. That is the Khetan Foundation’s philanthropic philosophy: beyond standalone acts of charity, philanthropy is a long-term investment in individuals and communities.

This conviction was reaffirmed on 12 September 2025, when the Foundation formalised three significant agreements with NUS.

Together, these contributions will open doors and create opportunities for generations to come.

“Today’s gifts are not just acts of generosity; they are investments in the future,” said Mr Nirmal Singh, Chairman of the Khetan Foundation. “These commitments are our way of planting seeds that may not bear fruit just yet, but will surely blossom tomorrow.”

Advancing the future of healthcare

Firstly, a gift of S$2 million was made by the Foundation to establish the Khetan Medical Scholarship at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine). Through the Scholarship, 10 medical undergraduates will benefit from comprehensive support that covers both tuition and living expenses over a five-year study period.

In 2017, the Khetan Foundation opened new doors for medical students through its first gift to set up the Lotus-NUS Medical Bursary. The new Khetan Medical Scholarship funded by the latest gift will provide financial support for more students at NUS Medicine.

Professor Chong Yap Seng (NUS Medicine ’88), Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean of NUS Medicine, noted, “When you invest in medical bursaries or scholarships, you’re investing in someone who will serve society for the next 50 years with care, compassion and comfort for people who need it,” he said. “This is an extremely good investment.”

Investing in innovation

Secondly, the Foundation has made a gift of US$1.5 million to NUS Enterprise, affirming its commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the next five years, this gift will fund a launchpad collaboration between NUS and Stanford University, enabling two teams of outstanding students and scholars to participate in Stanford’s acclaimed ME310 | Global Engineering Design Innovation (GEDI) course. The experience will provide them with mentorship, resources and networking opportunities that can translate into cutting-edge products and innovations that will create global impact.

“My hope is that this collaboration will continue to grow over time through the innovations we pursue together. I’m confident that this marks the beginning of a very meaningful relationship. I also see many opportunities for us to collaborate further, and I look forward to exploring them,” said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise).

Thirdly, an agreement was signed to enable Lotus One Investment Pte Ltd, part of Lotus Singapore Group and Khetan Foundation, to begin a co-investment collaboration with NUS Enterprise. This is a S$20 million commitment to back NUS start-ups and selected funds, with returns invested into innovation initiatives at the University.

Underscoring the Khetan Foundation’s vision of advancing the local innovation ecosystem, Mr Singh said, “Today’s start-ups are tomorrow’s changemakers. This is our commitment to nurturing the Singapore ecosystem that will shape the future of technology, talent and sustainable growth.”

By supporting education, healthcare and enterprise at NUS, the Khetan Foundation is sowing seeds of long-term impact—philanthropic investments that will nurture talent, spark innovation and build a better future for many generations to come.

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This story was first published on 25 September 2025 on NUS News. Click here for more NUS News.