International experts here to help develop research roadmap for optimal use of land

An international panel of experts is meeting here to help draw up Singapore's roadmap for research and development in creating space and optimising land use.

The three-day meeting, which began on Wednesday, is the inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Panel for the Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC).

The 19-member advisory panel will discuss R&D challenges and opportunities in areas such as creating space cost-effectively, optimising the use of land and creating "highly-liveable" housing towns. While here, they will also visit Punggol Eco-town and the Urban Redevelopment Authority's City Gallery, and take part in discussions with government agencies.

The panel will also provide guidance on a R&D roadmap in these areas, and identify promising R&D areas for Singapore's strategic needs. Consultations with local and foreign experts on a draft map began in March 2013.

More details on the map will be shared with the research community in the second half of 2014, the Ministry of National Development and the National Research Foundation said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The L2 NIC programme was launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November 2012 to find new ways of creating and optimising space. It aims to foster research collaborations among local and foreign institutions, industry and the Government.

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