# Creating a Future-Ready Singapore: Smart, Sustainable and People-Centric - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2015-07-09T03:45:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/creating-a-future-ready-singapore-smart-sustainable-and-people-centric - **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets, Sustainability & PropTech ## Featured rationale The funding could lower future development and operating costs by advancing underground construction, energy-efficient buildings and planning technologies for more liveable housing estates. ## AI summary MND launched urban-sustainability funding initiatives, including up to S$10 million per project for research into underground development, liveability and environmental resilience. ## Original article The Urban Sustainability R&D Congress, organised by the Ministry of National Development (MND) with 13 other government agencies, will be held over two days from 9 July 2015 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Guest of Honour for the Opening Ceremony Minister of State (MOS) for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee announced several funding initiatives in support of R&D efforts at the Congress today. The initiatives include: a) Second Call for Proposals under the Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) - The second call for proposals under the L2 NIC will be open from 9 July to 20 August 2015 to seek innovative solutions to meet the challenge targets set in two key areas: (i) improving cost-effectiveness of underground developments, and (ii) improving human comfort and well-being; and enhancing environmental resilience. The call for proposals offers up to S$10 million of funding per project. Principal Investigators (PI) from all Singapore-based institutions of higher learning (IHLs), public sector agencies and not-for-profit research laboratories as well as companies and company affiliated research laboratories/institutions, are eligible to apply. More details on L2 NIC Second Call for Proposals are provided in Annex A( PDF 227.66KB). b) Inaugural Green Buildings Innovation Cluster (GBIC) R&D Grant Call - The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has launched the first smart building technology R&D grant call in Singapore that aims to develop solutions for Smart, Green and Healthy Buildings. It is under the Green Buildings Innovation Cluster (GBIC) programme that was launched in September 2014. c) 2nd Energy Innovation Research Programme (EIRP) Grant Call for Building Energy Efficiency (BREE) - BCA has also awarded four R&D projects amounting to $6 million under its 2nd EIRP-BREE grant call. These projects aim to achieve more efficient energy consumption, as well as monitor and enhance indoor environmental quality for buildings. More than 700 participants from government agencies, research institutes and private companies attended the two-day Congress. The theme “Creating a Future-Ready City: Smart, Sustainable, People-Centric” outlines the aim of the Congress to explore R&D solutions to address national urban sustainability challenges. Minister for National Development’s R&D Award 2015 MOS Desmond Lee also presented the Minister for National Development’s R&D Award to four outstanding projects that have contributed towards MND’s vision of making Singapore “an endearing home and a distinctive global city”. The winners for the Minister for National Development’s R&D Award are: a. Distinguished Award NUS’ project – “A Novel Nano-Woven Membrane Air Dehumidification to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency” was highlighted for its revolutionary membrane technology to remove moisture from air entering a building, resulting in a reduction in energy consumption for air-conditioning as less energy is needed to cool the air. This contributes towards having more energy efficient buildings and reduces carbon emission. b. Merit Award HDB’s project – “Development of Urban Environmental and System Modeling tool to drive Greater Sustainability and Liveability in HDB Towns” was commended for its significant impact on improving the planning of new HDB towns to ensure sustainability and liveability. Through simulating microclimatic conditions, the modeling tool enables planners to optimise urban designs, layouts and housing typologies, contributing to a more comfortable living environment. c. Merit Award HDB’s project – “Development of Solar PV Projects” was lauded for its new concept model, which significantly lower the set-up and maintenance costs of solar panels. This leads to a wider adoption of solar energy in Singapore and helps to develop industry capabilities. d. Special Mention NParks’ project – “Using Agent-Based Modeling to predict habitat and species connectivity within Singapore’s coastal waters” was commended for its contribution towards marine biodiversity conservation efforts. Tapping on modeling tool to predict movement of coral species and their characteristics, areas critical for their survival can be identified for effective and maximum conservation impact. This tool also contributes to the scientific proof leading to the decision to designate Sisters Islands as a marine conservation site. More details on the Minister’s R&D Award and winning projects are provided in Annex B (PDF 268.34KB) New Track on “Ageing-in-Place” Given the challenges of Singapore’s ageing population, an Ageing-in-Place track has been added to the Congress for the first time. The discussion will look at both hardware and software that will help ensure that senior citizens continue to stay active in an elderly-friendly environment. Participants will gain deeper understanding on how R&D is being applied in housing estates and community to support the needs of the elderly, through test bedding and studies carried out by government agencies, hospitals and institutes of higher learning (IHLs). Engaging our Youths This year, the Congress welcomes its first batch of about 50 student participants from different educational institutions. These students will be able to glean valuable insights from the researchers, industry experts and government officers and participate in discussions on solutions to address our urban challenges. For more information on the Urban Sustainability R&D Congress, please visit http://www.mnd.gov.sg/urbansustainability/index.html. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 打造面向未来的新加坡：智慧、可持续与以人为本 由国 家发展部（MND）与其他13个政府机构合办的城市可持续发展研发大会，将于2015年7月9日起在新加坡新达城会展中心举行为期两天的会议。国家发展部政务部长李智陞先生作为开幕典礼主宾，今日在大会上宣布了多项支持研发工作的资助计划。这些计划包括： a) 土地与宜居性国家创新挑战（L2 NIC）第二次提案征集—— L2 NIC第二次提案征集将于2015年7月9日至8月20日开放，以寻求创新方案，实现两大关键领域的挑战目标：（i）提高地下发展的成本效益，以及（ii）改善人体舒适度与福祉，并增强环境韧性。本次提案征集为每个项目提供最高1000万新元资助。来自所有新加坡高等学府（IHLs）、公共部门机构及非营利研究实验室，以及公司及公司附属研究实验室/机构的首席研究员（PI）均可申请。有关L2 NIC第二次提案征集的更多详情见附件A（PDF 227.66KB）。 b) 首届绿色建筑创新集群（GBIC）研发资助征集—— 建设局（BCA）已在新加坡推出首个智慧建筑技术研发资助征集，旨在为智慧、绿色与健康建筑开发解决方案。该计划隶属2014年9月推出的绿色建筑创新集群（GBIC）计划。 c) 第二轮能源创新研究计划（EIRP）建筑能效（BREE）资助征集—— 建设局亦在其第二轮EIRP-BREE资助征集下，批出四个共计600万元的研发项目。这些项目旨在实现更高效的能源消耗，以及监测并提升建筑室内环境质量。 来自政府机构、研究机构及私人公司的逾700名与会者参加了为期两天的大会。主题“打造面向未来的城市：智慧、可持续、以人为本”阐明了大会旨在探索研发方案，以应对国家城市可持续发展挑战。 国家发展部长研发奖2015 李智陞政务部长亦向四个杰出项目颁发国家发展部长研发奖，这些项目为国家发展部将新加坡打造为“温馨家园与独特全球城市”的愿景作出了贡献。国家发展部长研发奖得主为： a. 杰出奖 国大项目——“用于提升建筑能效的新型纳米编织膜空气除湿技术”因其革命性的膜技术而获肯定：可去除进入建筑空气中的水分，从而减少空调能耗，因为冷却空气所需能源更少。这有助于打造更节能的建筑并减少碳排放。 b. 优异奖 建屋发展局项目——“开发城市环境与系统建模工具以推动组屋市镇更高可持续性与宜居性”因其对改善新组屋市镇规划、确保可持续性与宜居性的显著影响而获嘉许。通过模拟微气候条件，该建模工具使规划者能够优化城市设计、布局与住宅类型，从而打造更舒适的居住环境。 c. 优异奖 建屋发展局项目——“太阳能光伏项目开发”因其全新概念模式而获赞扬，该模式显著降低了太阳能电池板的安装与维护成本。这有助于在新加坡更广泛采用太阳能，并帮助发展产业能力。 d. 特别表扬 国家公园局项目——“利用基于主体的建模预测新加坡沿岸水域的栖息地与物种连通性”因其对海洋生物多样性保护工作的贡献而获嘉许。借助建模工具预测珊瑚物种的迁移及其特征，可识别对其生存至关重要的区域，以实现有效且最大的保护影响。该工具亦为将姐妹岛指定为海洋保护区的决定提供了科学依据。 有关部长研发奖及得奖项目的更多详情见附件B（PDF 268.34KB） 新增“原居安老”专题 鉴于新加坡人口老化的挑战，大会首次增设“原居安老”专题。讨论将兼顾硬件与软件，以帮助确保年长者在适老环境中继续保持活跃。与会者将通过政府机构、医院及高等学府（IHLs）进行的试验与研究，更深入了解研发如何应用于住宅区与社区，以支持年长者的需要。 吸引青年参与 今年，大会迎来首批约50名来自不同教育机构的学生与会者。这些学生将能从研究人员、业界专家及政府官员那里获得宝贵见解，并参与应对城市挑战的解决方案讨论。 有关城市可持续发展研发大会的更多信息，请浏览 http://www.mnd.gov.sg/urbansustainability/index.html。