Opening remarks by MOS Tan Kiat How at the SWITCH Conference Panel Discussion on “Tech Innovation In Asia’s Sustainability Journey”
Nov 8, 2021
Good afternoon, and it is my pleasure to kickstart the panel discussion on “Tech Innovation in Asia’s Sustainability Journey”.
While Singapore faces unique challenges in sustainable development because of our land and resource constraints, we have always seen these challenges as opportunities. This year, the Government launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to advance our national agenda on sustainable development. The Green Plan charts ambitious and concrete targets for Singapore over the next 10 years, positioning us to achieve net-zero emissions as soon as viable.
Technology and innovation are instrumental in the implementation of the Green Plan as we change the way we utilise and consume precious resources. The Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plan will further catalyse the translation, deployment, and commercialisation of cutting-edge sustainable technologies.
Under the RIE plan, we will continue to support our sustainability efforts for the Built Environment sector through key programmes such as Cities of Tomorrow R&D and Green Building Innovation Cluster. These programmes help to drive efforts to build a sustainable and comfortable living environment that is adaptive to climate change, as well as push the development and adoption of energy efficient technologies and solutions.
In addition, our public sector has taken the lead in driving demand for sustainability solutions through open innovation challenges. We select industry partners to collaborate through crowdsourcing, and support them from solution development to commercialisation. These efforts have helped to accelerate bringing these solutions to market as innovators tap on domain expertise of the agencies and validate their solutions through pilots.
One such example is the innovation challenge organised by JTC Corporation, Enterprise Singapore, and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency. As part of the challenge, water management company Ecosoftt was selected to develop an on-site wastewater treatment system which was eventually deployed at JTC Cleantech One, Singapore’s first water-smart blue building. Beyond this successful pilot in Singapore, Ecosoftt also managed to secure overseas commercial contracts to provide waste management solutions.
To further enable firms to trial new, innovative technologies, we also launched the Built Environment Living Lab Framework last year to facilitate the test-bedding of such technologies at designated urban spaces such as Punggol Town and Jurong Lake Gardens. This helps to strengthen the translation of innovative technologies to deployment as we continue to develop our city for tomorrow.
As part of replicating our success in public and private partnerships, we have worked hand in hand with corporates who are adopting the open innovation approach to address their innovation needs. Some sustainability themed challenges include the Water Innovation Call organised by Enterprise Singapore and the Environmental & Water Technology Centre of Innovation, the CapitaLand Sustainability X Challenge, and the Jurong Island Innovation Challenge. Through these challenges, participating corporates such as Shell Jurong Island, Croda Singapore and Chevron Oronite can potentially pilot solutions in Singapore and scale it across the regions.
Through the Water Innovation Call, local company SG Enviro successfully developed a novel technology for industrial wastewater treatment. Building on their capabilities, SG Enviro subsequently secured projects, including a design and build contract for a wastewater treatment plant with Wah & Hua, and a commercial project in Batam for used oil recycling.
Another example of private public partnership is the Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge (SOIC). Since 2019, we have worked alongside 21 private and public organisations that have provided platforms for participants to develop innovative solutions. This was done through 29 industry challenges surrounding themes such as resource conservation and green materials.
With these successes, we are ready to do more with our partners from Singapore and beyond. I am happy to launch the second cycle of the Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge 2021. It is my pleasure to welcome on board our industry partners, including DNATA, Grab, JBM Group, Largardere, LHN Group, L’Oreal, P&G, Volkswagen, Wee Hur Construction, and Sentosa Development Corporation, that will provide 18 challenge statements under the themes of low carbon and circular economy.
We look forward to welcoming innovators from around the world to participate and work with us to create new technology solutions that will make a lasting impact to solve these sustainability challenges.
With this, I wish all of you a fruitful panel discussion, and a successful conference. Thank you.