Singapore Invests $6 Million For Water Research
EWI awards first request-for-proposals on industry-led research to develop new product and process innovations applicable to the water industry.
Six water companies will receive about S$1 million worth of research funds each to carry out R&D to improve their product offerings to the global water industry.
This was announced by the Environment & Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) today following the launch of their first ever Request-for-Proposals (RFP) on Industry-Led Research in November last year.
Of the six companies, two are Singapore-based companies while the rest are strongly represented by offices in Singapore.
The Singapore water industry cluster has grown considerably in the recent years. This growth was spurred by the establishment of EWI in 2006 to grow Singapore into a global hub for water solutions. Much progress has been made since then, and the city is now home to more than 70 water companies, including GE Water, Siemens Water, Black & Veatch, Deltares, Nitto Denko, Hyflux, Keppel and Sembcorp.
EWI’s RFP on Industry-Led Research is timely as it is tailored to help these companies who have set up offices in Singapore to develop new and relevant technological solutions through R&D. By 2015, the Environment and Water sector is expected to contribute $1.7 billion to Singapore’s gross domestic product and employ 11,000, with a majority in professional and skilled categories.
Companies will define the requirements for R&D for a new technological capability to meet their business needs, and form and lead an R&D team to carry out the research work. Under this RFP, EWI also encourages companies to forge collaborations with the local academic community to incorporate the most cutting-edge technologies into their innovations.
Mr Goh Chee Kiong, EWI’s Director for Cluster Development and Director, Cleantech, Economic Development Board (EDB), said, “The water industry ecosystem in Singapore has attained a critical mass in the number and diversity of private and public sector players. However, in the fast-growing water and environment sector, our companies must continuously innovate to create new value for the global water market. The strong participation by leading companies in this RFP will help strengthen Singapore’s position as a global hydrohub across the entire research, innovation and commercialisation value chain.”
The six awarded proposals came from the following companies: Siemens Pte Ltd, Ultra-Flo Pte Ltd, Natflow Pte Ltd, OptoTech (S) Pte Ltd and DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd (which was awarded funding for two proposals). Technology giant Siemens and home-grown company Ultra-Flo aim to improve their range of membrane products by developing novel membrane types and new membrane processes for applications like brackish and seawater desalting.
DHI Water & Environment and OptoTech both plan to leverage on their existing capabilities to produce the next generation of sensors for microorganisms and other water parameters. These sensors will interface with advanced software, so as to enable water agencies worldwide to monitor their waters easily and effectively. Natflow intends to develop a combined heating, cooling and desalination system by integrating these three technologies, which are currently used in isolation. Such an innovation can contribute to both energy and water efficiency, and is especially relevant in today’s context of environmental sustainability.
The RFP on Industry-Led Research attracted the interest of many Singapore-based companies offering water and water-related products and services. Seventeen proposals were received when the RFP closed in February this year. The proposals were rigorously evaluated by international peer reviewers, followed by EWI’s Project Evaluation Panel (PEP). The PEP, which comprises experts from the local and international water scene, eventually recommended the 6 proposals for award (see Annex A for the full listing of PEP members).
Prof. Lui Pao Chuen, Chairman of EWI’s PEP, said, “We are pleased that the RFP on Industry-Led Research has generated great interest among the water and environment industry. The large number of good quality ideas we received is testament that Singapore-based water and environment companies have made remarkable progress towards becoming world-class players. We believe that these proposals will deliver product and process innovations to solve practical problems, and bring about greater efficiency in supplying water to consumers around the world.”
The RFP on Industry-Led Research marks the ninth RFP called by EWI since 2006. Earlier this year, EWI also awarded 10 proposals under its first Research Programme Call open to universities, research institutions and the private sector. These proposals are mostly led by the academics from National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, and cover research in areas like brine management, biogas purification, membrane fouling control, and water quality analytics.
The next Request-For-Proposal (RFP) was also launched this morning together. For more information on the RFP, please log onto https://rita.nrf.gov.sg/ewi/default.aspx
About the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office
The Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) was set up in May 2006 to spearhead the development of the environment and water industry in Singapore and position Singapore as a global hydrohub.
EWI’s strategy for industry development is anchored on technology development and R&D to help grow the local water industry cluster and to create a competitive edge for Singapore-based companies in the global market.
EWI targets to increase the value-added (VA) contribution from the water sector to $1.7 billion by 2015. Jobs for this sector are expected to double to about 11,000 by 2015.
About PUB
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the national water agency, managing Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way. PUB won the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award and was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006.
About PUB’s tagline: Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy
PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water).
To provide water for all, PUB calls on all Singaporeans to play our part to conserve water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with water so we can enjoy our water resources. We can then have enough water for all uses – for industry, for living, for life.
Topics: 2010, business, catchments, conservation, desalinated water, economic development, economic growth, Economy, environment, Governance, government, imported water, lakes, littering, Marina Barrage, moniter, monitor, national taps, National Water Agency, NEWater, news, open sea, pub, reservoir, rivers, Second World Cities Summit, Singapore, Singapore International Water Week 2010, Singapore Water Story, skyline, society, sustainablity, Teo Chee Hean, urban growth, water
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