# Stronger Support and Partnerships to Bring Urban Innovations to the Market

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2026-02-05T04:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/stronger-support-and-partnerships-to-bring-urban-innovations-to-the-market
- **Topics:** Commercial & Industrial, Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets

## Featured rationale

The initiatives could accelerate commercial adoption of productivity and decarbonisation technologies, potentially lowering operational constraints and improving the sustainability of buildings and construction.

## AI summary

MND and MSE announced a $40 million USS Translation Fund and a $30 million Built Environment AI Centre of Excellence on 5 February 2026.

## Original article

The theme for this year’s Urban Solutions and Sustainability (USS) Research & Innovation Congress, “Re-inventing Cities of Tomorrow”, reflects the importance of harnessing technology and innovation to reimagine and reshape the future of Singapore’s urban environment. The Congress brings together participants across government agencies, academia and industry to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions on urban sustainability.

In his opening speech, Minister for National Development Mr Chee Hong Tat highlighted the importance of research and innovation to maintain Singapore's competitive edge and ensure a high-quality living environment for Singaporeans. He announced the following key initiatives to accelerate the translation of research and innovation into meaningful, real-world outcomes:

a) USS Translation Fund

The USS Translation Fund is a new $40 million funding programme by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to support local companies develop, pilot and commercialise promising urban and sustainability solutions. Administered by the USS Innovation & Enterprise Office (USS IEO), a national platform hosted by A*STAR, the fund helps companies translate high-potential USS research into cost-effective market-ready products. By supporting the commercialisation of innovative solutions, the Fund creates potential business opportunities across key USS sectors including the built environment, water, environmental services, and agri-food industries. More details are in Annex A. 
 
b) Streamlined Procurement of Research Innovations & Technology (SPRINT)

MND will launch a new green lane procurement programme, SPRINT, to streamline procurement and expedite government adoption of innovative research products. SPRINT will be administered by HDB and BCA, and piloted by MND Family agencies. During the pilot phase, companies that meet SPRINT's requirements become qualified vendors, enabling direct procurement by MND Family agencies. This streamlined process is expected to halve procurement timelines. SPRINT will also help companies strengthen their credentials as part of the panel of qualified government suppliers, widen their market access, and build their industry track records. More details are in Annex B.

c) Built Environment AI Centre of Excellence

MND, in partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), is launching a new $30 million Built Environment AI Centre of Excellence (BE AI CoE). This centre will foster collaboration between Government agencies, academia and industry to develop AI-driven solutions that address key challenges in the BE sector, such as manpower shortages in the labour-intensive construction and facilities management sectors, and climate change impacts. The CoE aims to transform work processes to enhance productivity, sustainability, and liveability whilst nurturing 'AI bilinguals' – professionals with both technical AI expertise and practical understanding of BE sector challenges. More details are in Annex C.

Additionally, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will launch a decarbonisation technology roadmap at the Heat Resilience Breakout session on 6 February 2026:

d) Built Environment Decarbonisation Technology Roadmap

BCA and Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), with support from A*STAR, have jointly developed a roadmap which identifies close to 70 key technologies and strategies. This roadmap will guide research and innovation efforts towards achieving the Singapore Green Building Masterplan’s (SGBMP)’s “80-80-80” targets by 2030 and work towards our longer-term target for net-zero emissions by 2050. Market-ready strategies and solutions such as alternative cooling and ventilation technologies, AI-controlled energy optimisation systems and low carbon construction practices will help developers and building owners decarbonise their building portfolios, while identified emerging technology priorities will support Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan. More details are in Annex D.

Jointly issued by: Ministry of National Development (MND) and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE)

Date: 5 February 2026

Annex A: Urban Solutions & Sustainability (USS) Translation Fund

Annex B: Streamlined Procurement of Research Innovations & Technology (SPRINT)

Annex C: Establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence for the Built Environment

Annex D: Built Environment Decarbonisation Technology Roadmap

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 加强支持与伙伴关系，推动城市创新走向市场

本届城市解决方案与可持续发展（Urban Solutions and Sustainability，USS）研究与创新大会的主题为“重塑明日城市”（Re-inventing Cities of Tomorrow），体现了运用科技与创新重新构想并塑造新加坡城市环境未来的重要性。大会汇聚政府机构、学术界与业界参与者，交流想法并探索城市可持续发展的创新解决方案。

国家发展部部长徐芳达先生在开幕致辞中强调，研究与创新对维持新加坡竞争力、确保新加坡人享有优质生活环境至关重要。他宣布以下关键举措，以加快将研究与创新转化为有意义的现实成果：

a) USS转化基金

USS转化基金是国家发展部（MND）与永续发展与环境部（MSE）推出的新拨款计划，规模为4,000万元，支持本地企业开发、试点并商业化具前景的城市与可持续发展解决方案。该基金由国家平台USS创新与企业办公室（USS IEO，由A*STAR托管）管理，协助企业将高潜力的USS研究成果转化为具成本效益、可进入市场的产品。通过支持创新解决方案的商业化，该基金可为建筑环境、水务、环境服务及农业食品等关键USS领域创造潜在商机。更多详情见附件A。

b) 研究创新与科技精简采购计划（SPRINT）

国家发展部将推出新的绿色通道采购计划SPRINT，以精简采购流程并加快政府采用创新研究成果。SPRINT将由建屋发展局（HDB）与建设局（BCA）管理，并由国家发展部体系内机构试点。在试点阶段，符合SPRINT要求的企业将成为合格供应商，使国家发展部体系内机构可直接采购。预计这一精简流程可将采购时间缩短一半。SPRINT也将帮助企业巩固作为政府合格供应商名册成员的资质、扩大市场准入，并建立行业实绩。更多详情见附件B。

c) 建筑环境人工智能卓越中心

国家发展部与新加坡科技设计大学（SUTD）合作，推出耗资3,000万元的全新建筑环境人工智能卓越中心（BE AI CoE）。该中心将促进政府机构、学术界与业界协作，开发以人工智能驱动的解决方案，应对建筑环境领域的关键挑战，例如劳动力密集的建筑与设施管理行业人力短缺，以及气候变化影响。该卓越中心旨在改造工作流程以提升生产力、可持续性与宜居性，同时培育“人工智能双语人才”——兼具人工智能专业技术与对建筑环境领域实际挑战有务实理解的专业人士。更多详情见附件C。

此外，建设局（BCA）将于2026年2月6日在热力韧性分场会议发布脱碳技术路线图：

d) 建筑环境脱碳技术路线图

建设局与新加坡绿色建筑理事会（SGBC）在A*STAR支持下联合制定了路线图，识别近70项关键技术与策略。该路线图将指导研究与创新工作，以实现《新加坡绿色建筑总体规划》（SGBMP）到2030年的“80-80-80”目标，并朝向2050年净零排放的更长期目标迈进。替代制冷与通风技术、人工智能控制的能源优化系统，以及低碳建筑实践等市场成熟策略与解决方案，将协助发展商与建筑物业主为其建筑组合脱碳；同时，已识别的新兴技术优先事项将支持新加坡研究、创新与企业（RIE）2030计划。更多详情见附件D。

联合发布机构：国家发展部（MND）与永续发展与环境部（MSE）

日期：2026年2月5日

附件A：城市解决方案与可持续发展（USS）转化基金

附件B：研究创新与科技精简采购计划（SPRINT）

附件C：设立建筑环境人工智能卓越中心

附件D：建筑环境脱碳技术路线图