Sembcorp partners EDB to launch Singapore's first industrial living lab

SEMBCORP Industries has tied up with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to be the country's first industrial "living laboratory".

This means Sembcorp will grant technology providers access to its proprietary wastewater treatment and waste-to-energy facilities on Jurong Island for late-stage test-bedding and co-innovation of water and environmental technologies.

The initiative will also see Sembcorp and EDB jointly investing up to a total of S$8 million to support the commercialisation of R&D projects from the pilot-testing stage to market-ready levels. Under the partnership, proposals from technology providers will be jointly evaluated by Sembcorp and EDB for their scalability, technological merits and economic impact on Singapore.

Sembcorp's researchers and engineers will then work with successful applicants to test bed their new technologies in actual industrial settings. If the technologies are proven successful, they have the potential to be deployed in Sembcorp's global operations.

Said Tang Kin Fei, group president & CEO of Sembcorp Industries: "As a global water and energy company with a rich history of being technology and innovation driven, we hope that we will be able to contribute towards raising the profile of Singapore as a hub for applied R&D, and at the same time, support the long-term growth of the water and energy sectors."