In one of the labs, where another Smart group investigates environmental problems and is already on its second contract, Prof. Nicholas Patrikalakis of M.I.T. said he too found Singapore a better fit for his research. His team builds stingray-like robots that collect data to fight ocean algae; test beds are right off the coast. “This lab was specially built for us with totally new, state-of-the-art equipment,” he said. “That doesn’t happen in Boston.”