Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a large public research university in Singapore, set up in 1981 as the Nanyang Technological Institute and made a university in 1991. It employs around 8,000 people and is led by president Ho Teck Hua. NTU's Institute for Media Innovation, chaired from 2009 to 2021 by Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, developed Nadine, a lifelike female humanoid social robot modelled on Magnenat Thalmann herself. Unveiled in December 2015, Nadine has 27 degrees of freedom for facial expressions and upper-body movement, recognises people she has met before, holds conversations in several languages and remembers what was said. Nadine has worked as a receptionist at NTU and was shown to more than 100,000 visitors at Singapore's ArtScience Museum in 2017. In 2018 she became a customer service agent at insurer AIA Singapore, and she later assisted residents at an eldercare home. Nadine is a research platform, not a commercial product.
💡Notable Achievement: NTU's Nadine social robot was unveiled in December 2015, became a customer service agent at AIA Singapore in 2018 and assisted elderly residents at an eldercare home in 2020.
What Does Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Do?
Nanyang Technological University is a Singapore research university whose Institute for Media Innovation developed Nadine, a lifelike humanoid social robot modelled on Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann.
“A university-built social humanoid that has worked in real customer and care settings.”
Nadine
27 degrees of freedom for facial expression and upper-body movement, six languages and a memory of people she has met.
Real Deployments
Receptionist at NTU, customer service at AIA Singapore and eldercare trials.
Research Institute
Developed at NTU's Institute for Media Innovation.
What Can Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Social interaction, conversation and memory.
Conversation
Speaks six languages and holds flowing conversation.
Memory
Recognises people she has met and recalls earlier talks.
Care Assistance
Assisted elderly residents including dementia patients.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Robots
Showing 1 Humanoid Robots of 1 total model
Nadine
Manufactured by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Nadine is a hyper-realistic humanoid social robot modeled after her creator, featuring 27 degrees of freedom for expressive facial and upper-body gestures. She combines multi-lingual conversational AI, memory recall, and emotion simulation to serve as an intuitive receptionist, companion, and research tool in human-robot interaction studies. Nadine operates continuously on AC power and integrates advanced perception systems, enabling real-time personality adaptation and natural interaction.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Nanyang Technological Institute established
Singapore establishes the Nanyang Technological Institute, which becomes NTU in 1991.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Nadine social robot unveiled
NTU engineers unveil Nadine, an emotionally intelligent humanoid social robot modelled on Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann.
Source: upi.com
Nadine at ArtScience Museum exhibition
Nadine meets more than 100,000 visitors during a five-month exhibition at Singapore's ArtScience Museum.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Nadine works as customer service agent at AIA
Nadine becomes a customer service agent at AIA Singapore, the first humanoid robot deployed globally in that role.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Nadine assists elderly residents
Nadine spends six months assisting elderly residents at Bright Hill Evergreen Home, including in studies with dementia patients.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
Hanson Robotics
→Model: Sophia
Focus: Celebrity expressive humanoid android
Engineered Arts
→Model: Ameca
Focus: Hyper-expressive animatronic humanoid face
Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories
Industry PeerModel: Erica
Focus: Autonomous conversational android research
What Makes Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Real-world deployments in service and care.
- ✓Backed by a major research university.
Core Strategic Focus
Social robotics research.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Nadine is a research platform, not a product.
- •Robot body was built by a partner, Kokoro.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Visual Realism
- Nadine (NTU)
- Human-Lookalike Silicone
- Sophia (Hanson)
- Stylized Frubber Skin
- Ameca (Engineered Arts)
- High-Tech Grey Mesh Face
- Erica (Osaka Univ)
- Ultra-Realistic Silicone
Memory Architecture
- Nadine (NTU)
- Episodic Long-Term Memory
- Sophia (Hanson)
- Rule-Based & LLM
- Ameca (Engineered Arts)
- Cloud Multimodal LLM
- Erica (Osaka Univ)
- Neural Conversational Core
Mobility
- Nadine (NTU)
- Seated Torso Platform
- Sophia (Hanson)
- Wheeled Skirt Base
- Ameca (Engineered Arts)
- Upper Torso (Biped in Dev)
- Erica (Osaka Univ)
- Seated Android
Primary Role
- Nadine (NTU)
- Social HRI & Eldercare
- Sophia (Hanson)
- Keynote & Media Brand
- Ameca (Engineered Arts)
- Exhibition & AI Research
- Erica (Osaka Univ)
- Autonomous Conversation
| Strategic Dimension | Nadine (NTU) | Sophia (Hanson) | Ameca (Engineered Arts) | Erica (Osaka Univ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Realism | Human-Lookalike Silicone | Stylized Frubber Skin | High-Tech Grey Mesh Face | Ultra-Realistic Silicone |
| Memory Architecture | Episodic Long-Term Memory | Rule-Based & LLM | Cloud Multimodal LLM | Neural Conversational Core |
| Mobility | Seated Torso Platform | Wheeled Skirt Base | Upper Torso (Biped in Dev) | Seated Android |
| Primary Role | Social HRI & Eldercare | Keynote & Media Brand | Exhibition & AI Research | Autonomous Conversation |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Headquarters
HQSingapore
Articles & Industry News
Showing 2 recent articles and news updates about Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
What is Nadine the social robot?
Nadine is a lifelike female humanoid social robot developed at NTU Singapore's Institute for Media Innovation and modelled on Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann. She talks, shows emotion and remembers people she has met.
Who created Nadine?
Nadine's software platform was developed at NTU's Institute for Media Innovation, led by Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, and the robot body was built by Japanese company Kokoro.
What can Nadine do?
Nadine has 27 degrees of freedom for facial expression and upper-body movement, recognises people she has seen, converses in six languages and can help with video calls, email and storytelling.
Where has Nadine been deployed?
Nadine has worked as a receptionist at NTU, appeared at Singapore's ArtScience Museum in 2017, served customers at AIA Singapore in 2018 and assisted elderly residents at Bright Hill Evergreen Home.
Can you buy Nadine?
Nadine is a research platform from NTU and not a commercial product on sale. Organisations interested in social robots for reception or care generally work with NTU researchers.
When was NTU founded?
NTU was set up in 1981 as the Nanyang Technological Institute and was inaugurated as Nanyang Technological University on 1 July 1991, on a 200-hectare campus in western Singapore.
Who leads NTU?
NTU's president is Ho Teck Hua. The university employs about 8,000 staff and enrolled more than 37,000 students in 2024 across colleges and schools including engineering and computing.
Who is Nadia Magnenat Thalmann?
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann is a computer graphics scientist and roboticist who chaired NTU's Institute for Media Innovation from 2009 to 2021 and created Nadine, and founded MIRALab at the University of Geneva.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.