6 cleantech SMEs get Singapore grant to test-bed projects

The CleanTech One building located within CleanTech Park, a 50-ha eco-business and technology park developed by JTC. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
The CleanTech One building located within CleanTech Park, a 50-ha eco-business and technology park developed by JTC. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE - Six small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the clean technology (cleantech) industry have received a total of $2.5 million in government grants to test-bed their new sustainable technologies and solutions.

They are the first recipients of JTC Corp and SPRING Singapore's Joint Grant Call for Test-bedding of Sustainable Solutions.

The grants will give them a headstart to carry out innovative test-bedding projects at JTC's developments and facilities, said a joint statement on Wednesday (Jan 28) by JTC and SPRING Singapore.

"Such test-bedding opportunities allow companies to validate their innovative solutions and build track record, so that they could go to market more quickly," the statement said.

The six projects were picked from 14 proposals submitted.

The projects selected included test-bedding of a hybrid solar photovoltaic system based on top-cooling technology, and a wastewater recycling system that treats grey, brown and black water for non-potable uses.

Another test-bedding project involves the use of thin, flexible organic solar films on building facades under tropical climate.

Four of the six projects will be test-bedded in CleanTech Park, a 50-ha eco-business and technology park developed by JTC.

CleanTech Park currently plays host to 16 innovative test-beds, of which 10 are initiated and undertaken by tenants within the park, the JTC-SPRING Singapore statement said.

Opening the second phase of CleanTech Park, called JTC CleanTech Two, Second Minister of Trade and Industry Mr S. Iswaran said: "Environmental sustainability is high on the global agenda."

"This worldwide focus on environmental sustainability, and the resulting quest for solutions, has led to the rapid growth of two sectors which present promising business opportunities for Singapore companies."

The two sectors highlighted by the Minister are cleantech and remanufacturing.

Cleantech refers to the creation of products and services that are energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

In Asia, the market potential for cleantech investments is between US$20 billion to US$50 billion each year, between 2014 and 2020, Mr Iswaran said.

The Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) will be the anchor tenant of CleanTech Two, which the minister said will be "a game-changer for the remanufacturing sector in Singapore".

Occupying almost half the floorspace, ARTC will be the platform for public sector research laboratories such as NTU, academia, and industry players such as Rolls-Royce, to collaborate on the development of remanufacturing technologies.

Remanufacturing focuses on ways to extend the life of products by restoring or improving upon their original components.

Within the United States, the remanufacturing industry is currently valued at US$50 billion, and is growing at a rate of 15 per cent each year.

In Asia, the Chinese remanufacturing market that was valued at US$0.40 billion in 2010 is projected to grow to US$8 billion in 2015, Mr Iswaran said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MICHELLE LEE

reme@sph.com.sg

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