The Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) is a multi-agency effort led by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore. Started in 2013, L2 NIC leverages research and development (R&D) to create and optimise Singapore's space capacity for future sustained growth, while supporting a highly-liveable environment for our people. The funding allocation for the first phase from 2013 to 2018 is S$135 million.
Vision
To support an economically vibrant, highly-liveable, and resilient city of the future with land capacity for sustained growth.
Challenge
To create new space cost-effectively, and optimise the use of space to sustain Singapore’s long-term growth and resilience.
Approach
In order to achieve the overall objectives of L2 NIC, where the challenges are complex and inter-dependent in nature, the L2 NIC Directorate works closely with partner agencies to look beyond their individual needs and engage in inter-agency research to address issues at the national strategic level. L2 NIC will take an integrated, holistic approach and ensure our research has the following elements:
- Addresses issues at a national strategic level;
- Includes inter-agency/Whole-of-Government features; and
- Integrates social and behavioural research upfront with technical research.
To facilitate research collaborations, the biennial Urban Sustainability R&D Congress, co-organised by MND and partner agencies, was inaugurated in 2011. It is a national platform for government agencies, research institutes and private sector companies to come together to discuss R&D solutions to address Singapore’s urban sustainability challenges.
To sustain Singapore’s success in the decades ahead and to do more for our future city, the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme (CoT), announced by Minister Lawrence Wong at the Urban Sustainability R&D Congress 2017, is a multi-agency effort led by MND that recognises the challenges that cities face and seeks to leverage R&D to address the challenges. The CoT R&D Programme will support R&D across the value chain from upstream research to downstream technology deployment and adoption, with emphasis on projects that have a high potential for practical implementation and commercialisation.
Governance
Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2020) plan announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Jan 2016, L2 NIC will, together with Energy and Water research programmes, form the Urban Solutions and Sustainability (USS) domain. The USS domain is led by Minister-in-charge Khaw Boon Wan, who is supported by an Executive Committee co-chaired by Permanent Secretary (National R&D)and Permanent Secretary (National Development).