For decades, chemistry labs have looked almost exactly the same — manual, slow, and heavily dependent on human trial and error. While biology rapidly automated, chemistry quietly fell behind.

In this episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, we go inside one of the world’s first fully AI-powered chemistry labs with Sean Lin, Founder & CEO of ChemLex, a next-generation contract research organisation reimagining how molecules are discovered.

Joined by Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, we explore:

• Why chemistry lacked automation for decades
• How ChemLex’s robotic lab runs up to 800 reactions per day
• Why this matters for drug development, national resilience, and the future of scientific work

This is a story about rebuilding one of the most fundamental layers of science — with machines.

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What makes the world’s best airport tick? Beyond the architecture, shopping, and gardens lies a hidden engine — a living system of automation, robotics, and human ingenuity working in perfect sync.

In this episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, we go inside the future of Changi Airport with Li San Poh, Senior Vice President of Terminal 5 Planning at Changi Airport Group, and Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia.

From her unconventional journey as a helicopter pilot to leading one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Asia, Li San shares how search-and-rescue missions shaped her mindset for building resilient systems.

We explore:

• Why designing for uncertainty and contingency is critical at airport scale
• How carpets, chairs, and art installations reveal the hidden trade-offs in making airports feel like home
• The role of automation and robotics in tackling labor shortages and creating safer, more sustainable ground operations
• Why Changi works with both incumbents and startups—and what separates successful collaborations from failed ones
• Li San’s philosophy on leadership, innovation, and fearlessness in the face of uncertainty

From the quiet details (like carpet pile height) to massive industry-shaping bets (automation of apron operations), this conversation shows why Changi isn’t just an airport— it’s a national icon and a testbed for the future of human-machine collaboration.

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How do you automate one of the world’s busiest ports — without losing the human touch?

In this episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, host Rita Yang visits PSA International, a leading global port operator and trusted supply chain partner. She’s joined by Ong Kim Pong, Group CEO of PSA, and Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia and PSA board member, to reveal how PSA's flagship terminal in Singapore - including Tuas Port, the world’s largest fully automated terminal - is building a seamless ecosystem where machines, data, and people work in harmony. 

Handling over 100 million containers annually, PSA International is reshaping port operations worldwide by deploying automation where it matters most, driving efficiency while upskilling its 55,000-strong workforce for the AI era. Kim Pong also shares lessons from navigating a shifting global trade landscape, while Jixun offers an investor’s take on why the best companies are built for both innovation and trust.

 🎧 Listen to how the world’s most advanced port became a blueprint for the future of work and trade.

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Can a robot save lives — or learn from a spider?

In this episode of Building Blocks – Living Machines, host Rita Yang sits down with Prof. Mohan Rajesh Elara, Provost Chair Professor at SUTD and Co-founder of LionsBot, Singapore’s home-grown robotics company.

From a dragonfly robot that traps dengue-carrying mosquitoes to a spider-inspired machine that crawls, rolls, and climbs walls, Prof. Mohan shows how nature is quietly shaping the next generation of automation. Together, they discuss how bio-inspired design leads to smarter, more adaptive robots — and how the rise of AI-powered machines can still keep humans at the center.

They also explore his journey from researcher to entrepreneur, scaling thousands of robots globally, and why he believes the future of robotics is not about replacing people but creating new jobs, compassion, and creativity.

🎧 Listen to how living machines are learning from life itself.

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Shipping keeps the world moving — but it also contributes nearly 3% of global carbon emissions. The surprising culprit? Biofouling: the buildup on ship hulls that drives fuel use up by as much as 40%.

In this episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, host Rita Yang speaks with Elizabeth Chan, CEO of Neptune Robotics, and Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, about how robotics is rewriting the rules of maritime efficiency.

You’ll hear how Neptune:

• Built robots that clean entire Cape-size vessels in under 24 hours, above and below water.
• Aims to make diver-based hull cleaning obsolete by improving safety and scalability.
• Is scaling globally — from Asia’s busiest ports to Japan, Europe, and beyond.

Jixun also shares why Granite Asia backed this unconventional team, and how Neptune’s journey illustrates what it takes to push hard-tech innovation from prototype to global scale.

👉 Listen in to see how robots beneath the waves may hold the key to decarbonizing one of the world’s largest industries.

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Forget robots that vacuum your floor or fetch you coffee. What if the next big machine in your life was built just to love you?

In our very first episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, host Rita Yang sits down with Kaname Hayashi, the creator of LOVOT — a wide-eyed, huggable robot designed to melt hearts. Think warm body, expressive gaze, playful coos… and zero productivity.

Also joining is Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, who has spent two decades betting on the future of robotics — from flying cars to factory machines. Together, they dive into:

• Why a robot designed for affection, not efficiency, might be the boldest idea in tech
• The surprising science of how LOVOT learns, adapts, and builds emotional bonds
• How robots could transform mental health and elder care in aging societies
• Whether we’re headed for an “iPhone moment” in robotics — or something stranger
• Why the business model isn’t about selling hardware, but “emotion as a service”

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