ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
ADDRESSING GLOBAL NEEDS
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 to address and serve these needs in Asia.
Singapore has come a long way since its water rationing days in the 1960s. Faced with the challenge of water scarcity, Singapore has been motivated to constantly innovate and develop new water management and treatment technologies such as water reclamation and desalination. Over the last four decades, Singapore has built a sizeable and innovative environmental industry and has 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.
Singapore has come a long way since its water rationing days in the 1960s. Faced with the challenge of water scarcity, Singapore has been motivated to constantly innovate and develop new water management and treatment technologies such as water reclamation and desalination. Over the last four decades, Singapore has built a sizeable and innovative environmental industry and has 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.
COMMITMENT TO GROW THE INDUSTRY
The environment and water industry was identified as a key growth area in the country, with the Environment and Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) set up in 2006 to spearhead the growth. In July 2006, the government committed S$330 million to fund R&D and manpower development in the water industry. In 2011, an additional S$140 million was allocated for water R&D, bringing the total amount committed to S$470 million. The water sector alone should see its value-added contribution to the GDP rise from S$0.5 billion in 2003 to S$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.
EWI, led by the PUB (Singapore’s national water agency) and the EDB, aims to attract more companies to locate their operations in Singapore. It will also help grow local water companies and research institutes and encourage them to develop cutting-edge technology and export capabilities to growing markets especially in the Middle East and China.
Today, Singapore is recognised as a ‘Global Hydrohub’ with more than 70 companies in a vibrant water industry ecosystem.
Beyond water, Singapore is also nurturing the environmental industry which includes waste management and pollution control. With a growing global emphasis on the environment and water industry, Singapore is well positioned to take the lead in this industry as an R&D base and provider of environment and water solutions.
EWI, led by the PUB (Singapore’s national water agency) and the EDB, aims to attract more companies to locate their operations in Singapore. It will also help grow local water companies and research institutes and encourage them to develop cutting-edge technology and export capabilities to growing markets especially in the Middle East and China.
Today, Singapore is recognised as a ‘Global Hydrohub’ with more than 70 companies in a vibrant water industry ecosystem.
Beyond water, Singapore is also nurturing the environmental industry which includes waste management and pollution control. With a growing global emphasis on the environment and water industry, Singapore is well positioned to take the lead in this industry as an R&D base and provider of environment and water solutions.
CRITICAL MASS OF GLOBAL AND HOMEGROWN PLAYERS
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, Black & Veatch, Marmon Water, Pall Corporation from the US
- Nitto Denko, Toray Industries from Japan
- Siemens from Germany and
- Veolia and Suez from France.
- Hyflux, a leading global water and environmental solutions provider,
- SembCorp Industries, a world leading water utility company and the largest waste management company in Southeast Asia, and
- Keppel Integrated Engineering, the environmental engineering and technology arm of Keppel Corporation.
GROWING RESEARCH PIPELINE
In its bid to develop future-oriented solutions in meeting urban environmental and water needs, Singapore has set up the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) at the Nanyang Technology University. NEWRI is gaining traction as the most comprehensive and integrated environment and water research institute in the world. The NEWRI ecosystem includes:
- Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC) – headed by renowned membrane expert Professor Anthony Fane,
- DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre & Education Hub - a collaboration between NTU and DHI Water & Environment, a Denmark-based international consultancy and research organisation,
- Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (IESE) – the commercialisation and translation arm of NEWRI,
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C) – specialising in environmental management and which aims to be a world-class urban waste management research hub for the Asia Pacific region, and
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre – a collaboration between University of New South Wales and NTU in environmental biotechnology.
- Singapore, Peking, Oxford Research Enterprise (SPORE) - a landmark tripartite collaboration between NUS, Peking University and Oxford University that will focus on new generation eco-efficient water treatment technologies;
- Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) - set up by NUS, PUB and Deltares Institute, a Netherlands-based international research and specialist consultancy firm, to 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.
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK
Leveraging Singapore’s position as a global hub and marketplace for greener solutions, the annual Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) brings together international policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities, and celebrate achievements. Themed “Sustainable Water Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment”, the fourth SIWW took place from 4 to 8 July 2011 and attracted over 13,000 delegates and trade visitors. In addition, total deals exceeding S$2.9 billion were sealed during the week.
The 2012 event will be held from 1 - 5 July 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands. For more details, please visit www.siww.com.sg.
The 2012 event will be held from 1 - 5 July 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands. For more details, please visit www.siww.com.sg.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Within four decades, Singapore has transformed its vulnerability in water into its strength with the development of major national water projects such as NEWater, the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System and the Marina Barrage.
- The city-state has also over the years 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 known as NEWater and desalinated water).
- PUB Singapore, the country’s national water agency, won the prestigious Stockholm Industry Water Award at the World Water Week in 2007. The Award recognises innovative corporate development of water and wastewater process technologies, contributions to environmental improvement through improved performance in production processes, new products and other significant contributions by businesses and industries that help to improve the world water situation.
- Recognising that the Environment and Water sector represents an opportunity that could be nurtured into an economic growth engine, the Government had, in 2006, set up the Environment & Water Industry Programme Office (EWI) to spearhead the development of the environment and water industry, with technology as a key pillar. A total of S$470 million (S$330 million in 2006, and an additional S$140 million in 2011) has been committed to develop Singapore as a R&D base for environment and water solutions. Our vision is to grow value-added (VA) contribution from the water sector from $0.5 billion in 2003 to $1.7 billion by 2015. Jobs for this sector are also expected to double to about 11,000 in 2015, which will largely comprise professional and skilled positions.
What is your main point? What are your feelings about this?
ReplyDeleteThe main points are the reasons, importance and measures taken to recycle water.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that there are a lot of efforts put in to recycle water and make people accept recycled water. So, we should appreciate all their efforts and accept recycled water by drinking and using them.
ReplyDelete