Mobility Assist Makes History as First Singapore-Based Team Shortlisted for Accessibility

Mobility Assist, a Singapore-based accessibility innovation initiative, has been officially shortlisted in the Accessibility category at the Crystal Cabin Awards 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. This milestone marks the first time in the history of the awards that a Singapore-based team has been shortlisted in the Accessibility category, placing Singapore on the global stage for inclusive aviation innovation.

The Crystal Cabin Awards are among the world’s most prestigious recognitions for aircraft interior and passenger experience innovation, attracting leading global aerospace manufacturers, airlines, and research institutions.

Mobility Assist’s shortlisted solution, the AeroSlide™ Transfer System (patent applied), addresses one of the most physically demanding and sensitive aspects of air travel for passengers with reduced mobility — the transfer between aisle wheelchair and aircraft seat. By reducing manual lifting, the system enhances safety, preserves dignity, and improves operational efficiency for both passengers and cabin crew. The inventors are Edgar J. Danaraj, Joel Willam and Professor Teo Chung Piaw.

Grounded in Community Service

The origins of Mobility Assist are rooted in volunteering at the Singapore Red Cross Home for the Disabled, where the team gained first-hand understanding of the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities. These experiences shaped the project’s human-centred design philosophy and commitment to dignity-led accessibility.

The team expressed sincere appreciation to Benjamin William, CEO, and Secretary-General of the Singapore Red Cross and Adrian Lim, Director, Care Services at the Singapore Red Cross Home for the Disabled for their leadership and commitment to empowering persons with disabilities. They also thanked Vikram Suriamurthi, Assistant Head, Medical Chaperone & Transport Aid (MCT), for his practical insights and on-the-ground support.

The team was further inspired by their Ambassador, P. T. Lim, Chairman of the ASEAN Disability Forum and a wheelchair user who travels overseas weekly for conferences. His advocacy and regional leadership in advancing disability inclusion, along with his insights into the difficulties of air travel, highlighted the critical needs for passenger service and accessibility.

Academic and Entrepreneurial Collaboration

The innovation was developed through the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), jointly supported by NRF, NTU and NUS, where the team navigated the challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship, technical validation, and real-world application.

Mobility Assist acknowledged the guidance of Advisor – Provost’s Chair Professor Teo Chung Piaw (NUS), whose mentorship helped ground the work in academic rigour. The team also recognised Anuj Jain (Director, GRIP, NTU), Rahman Shaik (Manager, GRIP, NTU), Roger Cheong (Venture Architect, NUS), Steve O’Connor (Consultant, NUS), Varun Arora (Venture Builder), Patrick Ng (Mentor), Pedro Salgueiro (Consultant) and Daryl Lim (Commercial Champion) for their strategic and commercial leadership. The team further expressed its gratitude to Dr. Eyoh Chih Hong (NUS Enterprise), for his support in navigating technology development, commercialisation pathways, and intellectual property critical to advancing the innovation.

Industry, Sponsorship, and Public Sector Support

Mobility Assist acknowledged Robson Tan of NICAE Singapore Pte Ltd for his manufacturing expertise in translating the concept from prototype to production-ready development. NICAE is currently producing wheelchair lifters for HDB homes and automated wheelchair ramps for SMRT buses. The team also thanked Dr. Lim YW of Aetec Singapore Pte Ltd for his sponsorship on the early mock-up prototypes during its formative stages. The team expressed appreciation for the encouragement of Minister Dinesh Vasu Dash, whose support for inclusive innovation the 10th Singapore Humanitarian Conference 2025 has helped foster an environment where socially impactful ideas can grow.

A Personal Dedication

This milestone is dedicated to the memory of the late A.G.S. Danaraj, a pioneer town planner who authored “Planning for the Disabled”, a publication examining how transport systems and the built environment can better serve persons with disabilities.

“This work builds on the values my father stood for — that planning, transport, and design must always consider dignity, access, and inclusion,” said the Edgar, Founder of Mobility Assist.

Edgar added: “The surging passenger traffic has exposed a critical Manual Transfer Chokepoint. As the industry scales for the future, including Changi Terminal 5, adopting AeroSlide™ Transfer System is imperative: replacing hazardous manual lifts with a safe, telescopic glide ensures operational efficiency finally meets human dignity.”

Looking Ahead

The final winners of the Crystal Cabin Awards 2026 will be announced during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg on 14th Feb 2026. Regardless of the outcome, Mobility Assist’s historic shortlist recognition represents a significant milestone for Singapore-led accessibility innovation, demonstrating how community service, academic excellence, industry collaboration, and personal legacy can converge to create global impact.

About Mobility Assist

We are driven to create real-world impact through deep technology. Our goal is to address the daily challenges faced by persons with reduced mobility (PRM) 👨‍🦽‍➡️ and our ageing population, particularly in sectors like: ✈️ Air & Ground Transport 🛌 Healthcare 🏨 Hospitality.

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