# Built Environment Sector gets a $100m boost to drive next phase of Industry Transformation, complementing taskforce efforts to strengthen business sustainability and talent pipelines

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2025-03-05T08:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/built-environment-sector-gets-a--100m-boost-to-drive-next-phase-of-industry-transformation--complementing-taskforce-efforts-to-strengthen-business-sustainability-and-talent-pipelines
- **Topics:** New Launches, Government & Policy

## Featured rationale

The grant may accelerate technology, productivity and sustainability investments across developers and contractors, potentially improving project delivery and longer-term built-environment competitiveness.

## AI summary

The $100 million BETC grant will accept applications for five years from 1 April 2025, offering SMEs up to 70% funding support.

## Original article

Good progress made in key industry transformation areas such as digitalisation, productivity and sustainability.

The Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) grant will continue to support firms in their transformation efforts, with grant applications starting from 1 April 2025.

The Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants (“Taskforce”) has launched new initiatives to improve the sector’s business sustainability, transform Human Resource (HR) practices to attract and retain talents, and accelerate sector transformation.

Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, Mr Desmond Lee has unveiled a $100 million Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) grant to support the industry for the next phase of transformation in the Built Environment (BE) sector, with outcomes aligned with the Built Environment (BE) Industry Transformation Map (ITM). This will provide support to more ITM areas and emphasise longer-term capability building to advance transformation. The BETC grant will support BE firms in developing new capabilities in enterprise, technology and manpower, enhancing their competitiveness in an evolving industry landscape.

This comes against the backdrop of the BE sector making significant strides in key BE ITM transformation areas between 2023 and 2024 – Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) adoption in new developments rose from 58% to 67%, while Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) uptake increased from 61% to 68%. Good progress has also been made for the Singapore Green Building Masterplan “80-80-80” targets. As of December 2024, about 61% of buildings by Gross Floor Area (GFA) were greened; close to 26% of new developments were certified as Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings, and top-performing buildings showed 72% better energy efficiency compared to 2005 levels. For more details on BE ITM progress updates, please refer to Annex A.

Supporting longer-term capability building through the BETC grant

The BETC grant incentivises BE firms to embark on their next bound of transformation and capability building to achieve higher productivity, a higher-skilled workforce and stronger collaboration. Applicants will need to demonstrate how they plan to apply the new capabilities that they aim to develop, not just for a standalone project, but also for their subsequent projects. They will also need to outline how this would be aligned to their company’s longer-term goals. The capabilities and transformation outcomes should surpass relevant industry standards. This is to enable more impactful, and sustained transformation within the firms, and in turn, in the sector.

The BETC grant will be available for application on the Business Grants Portal (BGP)[1] from 1 April 2025, for a period of five years. BE firms, including developers, main builders, sub-contractors, consultants, prefabricators, and suppliers can apply. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) may receive up to 70% funding support, while non-SMEs may receive up to 50% funding support in the first two years. The funding support will be determined based on the expected transformation outcomes committed by the applicant. For more details, please refer to Annex B.

Strengthening the talent pipeline and business sustainability of the BE professions

Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development, Ms Indranee Rajah provided an update on the Taskforce’s initiatives during MND’s Committee of Supply (COS). Set up in September 2024, the Taskforce brings together industry and Government bodies to co-create solutions to common challenges. The Taskforce has also engaged close to 200 stakeholders to solicit feedback and suggestions. The stakeholders consulted include students, young professionals, and representatives from consultancy firms, service buyers, Trade Associations and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).

Improving Business Sustainability

The Taskforce recognises the industry’s concerns on how aggressive tender bidding behaviours and fee-diving could undermine firms’ ability to invest in human capital, technology and innovation.

As a major buyer of BE consultancy services, the Government has been progressively enhancing our procurement approach to deter fee-diving and strengthen quality-based procurement. Today, the majority of public sector tenders are awarded to bids with top quality scores.

To further promote fairer and more quality-based procurement and give the industry greater assurance to invest more in human capital and innovation, the Government will:

Expand the ‘Reduced Fee Score’ pilot, which was first introduced in March 2024, to more projects. The “Reduced Fee Score” formula disqualifies outlier bids that are substantially lower than other bids in the same tender. This will ensure that procurement decisions prioritise quality and business sustainability even more, rather than awarding projects to unsustainable low bids that may compromise the eventual outcomes.

Review contractual clauses to ensure fairer balance of risks between public sector service buyers and BE consultants. This includes reviewing the “Limitation of Liability” clause in the Public Sector Standard Consultancy Agreement, and the “Fit for Purpose” clauses in the Public Sector Standard Conditions of Contract for Design & Build (D&B) construction contracts. This will provide greater assurance to firms, and make the professions more sustainable.

The Taskforce is engaging the private developers to encourage adoption of similar procurement approaches. For more details on ‘Reduced Fee Score’ and Limitation of Liability, please refer to Annex C.

Investing in Talent Pipeline and Better HR Practices

To support the career development and experience of in-service talents, the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES) and the Institute of Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) will form a new partnership to roll out HR transformation support for member firms. The partnership will progressively support firms identify areas for improvement using the Human Capital Diagnostic Tool (HCDT), build a community of practice to share best practices and address common issues, and refer firms to resources to transform HR practices within firms.

To help strengthen the talent pipeline and make BE careers a career of choice, the Taskforce is working with industry stakeholders and IHLs to propagate more enriching internship experiences (e.g. the Integrated Work-Study Programme offered by Singapore Institute of Technology) and review the starting salaries for fresh graduates. The Taskforce is heartened that several progressive firms, such as Arup Singapore, Beca, DP Architects, and ID Architects have taken the lead in adopting these initiatives. The Taskforce will engage more firms to jointly improve the attractiveness of BE careers to Singaporeans keen to play a role in building a more sustainable, inclusive and endearing Singapore.

Support for Industry and Workforce Transformation

To help firms and professionals identify the transformation support that best meet their needs, BCA will launch a one-stop compilation of available support resources and programmes (including BETC) made available by Government agencies, the Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), Institutes of Higher Learning and other stakeholders. TACs, can then guide their member firms and professional associations accordingly.

The Taskforce is also looking at how the TACs can take on a leading role in catalysing transformation of member firms and uplifting the professions, such as in the areas of branding, outreach, HR practices and technology adoption.

Ms Indranee Rajah also updated on several other initiatives including the Code of Accessibility 2025. More details can be found in Annex D.

Issued by the Building and Construction Authority on 5 March 2025

[1] Please visit the Business Grants Portal (BGP) at https://www.apply.gov.sg/grants/business.

Annex A: Update on the Built Environment Industry Transformation Map (BE ITM) progress

Annex B: Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) Grant

Annex C: Initiatives Arising from the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants

Annex D: Update on Code on Accessibility 2025

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 建筑环境行业获1亿新元助力推动下一阶段行业转型，配合专责小组强化企业可持续性与人才管道

在数字化、生产力与可持续性等关键行业转型领域已取得良好进展。

建筑环境技术与能力（BETC）补助将继续支持企业推进转型，补助申请自2025年4月1日起开放。

建筑与工程顾问专责小组（“专责小组”）已推出新举措，以改善行业企业可持续性、变革人力资源（HR）做法以吸引并留住人才，以及加速行业转型。

国家发展部长兼社会服务统筹事务主管李智陞先生（Mr Desmond Lee）公布一项1亿新元的建筑环境技术与能力（BETC）补助，以支持建筑环境（BE）行业下一阶段转型，其成果与《建筑环境行业转型蓝图》（BE ITM）相一致。这将为更多ITM领域提供支持，并强调长期能力建设以推进转型。BETC补助将支持建筑环境企业发展企业、技术与人力方面的新能力，提升其在不断演变的行业格局中的竞争力。

此举正值建筑环境行业在2023年至2024年间于关键BE ITM转型领域取得显著进展之际——新发展项目中综合数字交付（IDD）采用率由58%升至67%，而设计制造与装配（DfMA）采用率由61%升至68%。新加坡绿色建筑总蓝图“80-80-80”目标亦取得良好进展。截至2024年12月，约61%的建筑（按总楼面面积GFA计）已实现绿化；接近26%的新发展项目获认证为超低能耗（SLE）建筑，表现最佳建筑的能源效率较2005年水平高出72%。有关BE ITM进展更新详情，请参阅附件A。

通过BETC补助支持长期能力建设

BETC补助鼓励建筑环境企业启动下一阶段转型与能力建设，以实现更高生产力、更高技能劳动力与更强协作。申请者需说明其计划如何应用拟发展的新能力——不仅用于单一项目，亦用于后续项目。他们还需概述这如何与公司的长期目标相一致。相关能力与转型成果应超越相关行业标准。此举旨在使企业内、进而使整个行业实现更具影响力且可持续的转型。

BETC补助将自2025年4月1日起在商业补助门户（BGP）[1]开放申请，为期五年。建筑环境企业，包括发展商、主承包商、分包商、顾问、预制厂商及供应商均可申请。中小型企业（SMEs）在首两年最高可获70%资助，非中小企业最高可获50%资助。资助水平将根据申请者承诺的预期转型成果厘定。更多详情请参阅附件B。

强化建筑环境专业人才管道与企业可持续性

第二财政部长兼第二国家发展部长英兰妮女士（Ms Indranee Rajah）在国家发展部供应委员会（COS）辩论期间汇报了专责小组的举措。专责小组于2024年9月成立，汇集业界与政府机构，共同为共同挑战制定解决方案。专责小组亦接触近200名利益相关者，征求反馈与建议。受咨询的利益相关者包括学生、年轻专业人士，以及顾问公司、服务采购方、行业协会与高等院校（IHLs）的代表。

改善企业可持续性

专责小组认识到业界对激进投标行为与压价竞标可能削弱企业投资人力资本、技术与创新能力的关切。

作为建筑环境顾问服务的主要采购方，政府一直逐步完善采购方式，以遏制压价竞标并强化以质量为本的采购。目前，大部分公共部门招标均授予质量评分最高的标书。

为进一步推动更公平、更以质量为本的采购，并让业界更有信心加大人力资本与创新投资，政府将：

扩大于2024年3月首次推出的“降低费用评分”（Reduced Fee Score）试点，应用于更多项目。“降低费用评分”公式会取消显著低于同一招标中其他标书的异常低价标。这将确保采购决策更加优先考虑质量与企业可持续性，而非将项目授予可能损害最终成果的不可持续低价标。

检讨合约条款，以确保公共部门服务采购方与建筑环境顾问之间风险分配更为公平。这包括检讨《公共部门标准顾问协议》中的“责任限制”条款，以及《公共部门设计与建造（D&B）施工合约标准条件》中的“适用目的”（Fit for Purpose）条款。这将为企业提供更大保障，并使相关专业更具可持续性。

专责小组正与私人发展商接洽，鼓励采用类似采购方式。有关“降低费用评分”与责任限制的更多详情，请参阅附件C。

投资人才管道与更佳人力资源做法

为支持在职人才的职业发展与体验，新加坡建筑师学会（SIA）、新加坡咨询工程师协会（ACES）与人力资源专业人员学会（IHRP）将建立新的合作伙伴关系，为会员企业推出人力资源转型支持。该合作将逐步支持企业利用人力资本诊断工具（HCDT）识别改进领域、建立实践社群以分享最佳实践并处理共同问题，以及将企业转介至可推动企业内部人力资源做法转型的资源。

为强化人才管道并使建筑环境职业成为首选职业，专责小组正与业界利益相关者及高等院校合作，推广更具 enrichment 的实习体验（例如新加坡理工大学提供的综合工读计划），并检讨应届毕业生起薪。专责小组欣见多家先进企业，如奥雅纳新加坡（Arup Singapore）、Beca、DP Architects及ID Architects，已带头采用这些举措。专责小组将接触更多企业，共同提升建筑环境职业对希望参与建设更可持续、更具包容性与更亲切新加坡的国人的吸引力。

支持行业与劳动力转型

为帮助企业与专业人士识别最符合其需求的转型支持，建筑与建设局将推出一站式可用支持资源与计划汇编（包括BETC），由政府部门、行业协会与商会（TACs）、高等院校及其他利益相关者提供。行业协会与商会可据此引导其会员企业与专业协会。

专责小组亦在研究行业协会与商会如何在催化会员企业转型、提升专业方面发挥主导作用，例如在品牌建设、外展、人力资源做法与技术采用等领域。

英兰妮女士亦汇报了包括《无障碍通行守则2025》在内的若干其他举措。更多详情载于附件D。

由建筑与建设局于2025年3月5日发布

[1] 请访问商业补助门户（BGP）：https://www.apply.gov.sg/grants/business。

附件A：建筑环境行业转型蓝图（BE ITM）进展更新

附件B：建筑环境技术与能力（BETC）补助

附件C：建筑与工程顾问专责小组相关举措

附件D：《无障碍通行守则2025》更新