• Addressing Global Needs
• Global Hydrohub by 2015
• Committed to Growing Industry
• Exporting Environmental Expertise
• Critical Mass of Global and Homegrown Players
• Growing Research Pipeline
• Singapore International Water Week

A lack of clean water and the destruction of the environment are acute problems in Asia – a region home to almost three billion people, many of whom live in crowded urban spaces. This presents vast opportunities for the environment and water industries.

Singapore has come a long way since its water rationing days in the 1960s. We have successfully turned our vulnerability into our strength by investing in research and technology to develop water management and treatment capabilities. Over the last four decades, we have built a sizeable and innovative environmental industry. We have also established a diversified and sustainable water supply from four different sources known as the Four National Taps - water from local catchment areas, imported water, reclaimed water (NEWater) and desalinated water. 

 

With a growing global emphasis on water and the environment, Singapore is well positioned to take the lead in this industry as an R&D base and provider of water solutions. Over the next decade, Singapore aims to supply technology and products to three per cent of the global water market.

Singapore has well-established science and engineering capabilities - skills that are essential to the environmental sector. Drawing on this, Singapore plans to transform itself into a ‘Global Hydrohub’. The water sector alone should see its value-added contribution to the GDP rise from $0.5 billion in 2003 to $1.7 billion in 2015. Jobs for this sector are expected to double to about 11,000, and will largely comprise of professional and skilled positions. Besides water, Singapore is also building critical mass in the areas of waste management and recycling. With only one land-fill site at Pulau Semakau, there is an increased need to look at innovative waste recycling and treatment solutions to reduce our reliance on the landfill.

The Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) was set up under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) to spearhead the growth of the environment and water industry in Singapore. Its launch came after the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC), chaired by the Prime Minister, announced that Singapore has identified the Environment and Water industry as a key growth area. In July 2006, the government said it would commit S$330 million over the next five years. The funds will go to R&D and manpower development, which will boost the local environment and water industry.

EWI, led by the PUB (Singapore’s national water agency) and the EDB, aims to attract more companies to locate their operations in Singapore. Additionally, it will help grow local environmental companies, encourage more companies and research institutes to develop cutting-edge environment and water technology, and further export Singapore's capabilities to growing markets especially in the Middle East and China.

Singapore has been at the forefront of environmental innovation. The country was an early adopter of solutions such as NEWater (waste water reclamation) and the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. Today, water and waste treatment technology developed in Singapore is increasingly being applied in markets overseas. Leading global players such as Black & Veatch and CH2M Hill of the US are employing expertise gained in Singapore to their other projects around the world, including the US. Meanwhile, local firm Hyflux will be building the world’s largest seawater desalination plant in Algeria.

Singapore is an ideal springboard for environmental and water companies looking to tap into the region. We have attracted big names such as

• General Electric of the US
• Nitto Denko of Japan
• Siemens of Germany and
• Veolia of France.

We have also seen local companies become regional leaders. Homegrown companies include Hyflux, which operates one of the world’s largest membrane-based seawater desalination plants in Singapore, and SembCorp Environmental Management, the largest waste management company in Southeast Asia.

The pollution control industry has also gained in prominence, particularly in the filtration technology field, with heavyweights such as Pall and Donaldson based here.

The National University of Singapore has set up the NUS Environment Research Institute (NERI) to bring together environment and water technology expertise from across the university. A major centre under NERI is the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA). Delft Hydraulics is a Netherlands-based international research and specialist consultancy firm. The SDWA will carry out research on aquatic systems, smart sensing, and engineering and technologies relating to the urban water cycle. It will also offer Masters and PhD programmes in areas such as Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Besides this, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has formed the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI). The NEWRI eco-system includes:

• Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (headed by renowned membranes expert Professor Anthony Fane.
• DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre & Education Hub (set up by Denmark-based consultancy and research organisation DHI Water & Environment, and NTU)

As an R&D base and a source of proprietary solutions, Singapore is also well equipped to be a global nexus for the sector’s intellectual capital. One such event is the Singapore International Water Week. The inaugural meet took place in June 2008 and brought together 7000 to 8000 policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, and discover opportunities. The event will subsequently be held annually in Singapore.