Additional $112 mil funding, latest Green Mark version to further transform Singapore’s built environment
The initiatives may accelerate greener construction and technology adoption while potentially raising compliance requirements for large projects and improving certified owners’ access to green financing.
Singapore announced $112 million in additional built-environment innovation funding, Green Mark Version 7, and mandatory licensed site supervision for projects exceeding $75 million from 2028.
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An additional $112 million in funding initiatives to drive research and innovation in the built environment, alongside a refreshed version of Singapore’s green building certification scheme, are among the latest initiatives aimed at transforming Singapore’s built environment and raising industry standards.
To support consistent, high-quality and technology-enabled site supervision, a new accreditation scheme for firms has also been introduced.
At this year’s International Built Environment Week (IBEW) on Sept 2, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat highlighted the importance of equipping built environment professionals with the skills and tools to fully harness technology and innovation.
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The conference brings together global industry leaders and practitioners to discuss emerging trends, opportunities and technologies in the built environment sector.
In his opening address at IBEW 2026, the minister announced three initiatives:
$112 million additional funding under the Research, Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) 2030 trancheBCA Green Mark Version 7Site Supervision Firm Accreditation Scheme
RIE2030: $112 million more for research and innovation
Under Research, Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) 2030, an additional $112 million in funding has been secured for the Cities of Tomorrow (CoT) R&D Programme and the Built Environment Technology Alliance Catalyst Programme.
“This reflects the government’s continued commitment to investing in innovation and to partnering the industry to translate good ideas into practical solutions that can be commercialised and deployed in Singapore, and over time, taken to markets overseas,” said Chee.
The funding will be deployed over the next five years to support the next phase of research and innovation across four key areas aligned with Singapore’s latest priorities.
These include safer and more productive demolition techniques to support urban rejuvenation, improved modelling of building lifespans and maintenance, reducing embodied carbon and improving energy efficiency towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the built environment by 2050, and translating research outcomes into industry adoption.
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“What matters is creating practical, deployable solutions that can help stakeholders to save time, costs, and manpower, while maintaining high standards of safety and sustainability,” said Chee.
The first grant call under the CoT R&D Programme is expected to be launched in October 2026.
BCA Green Mark Version 7
The refreshed BCA Green Mark Version 7 framework, by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), is intended to accelerate decarbonisation and foster a greener built environment while supporting Singapore’s broader climate commitments under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
The framework focuses on three areas: First, it introduces the BCA Energy Rating as an alternative certification pathway for building owners to demonstrate energy performance.
Second, it will recognise e industry frontrunners through the new SLE70 Green Mark tier for buildings achieving the highest levels of energy performance. Green Mark Version 7 will also recognise alternative cooling technologies, such as hybrid cooling, active chilled beams and passive displacement cooling.
Thirdly, the recertification process has been streamlined following industry feedback, with owners of buildings with similar typologies now able to bundle multiple buildings under a single application.
According to Chee, the latest Green Mark version will align more closely with globally recognised environmental, social and governance reporting frameworks and international sustainability standards.
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“This will make it easier for certified building owners to access green financing opportunities and strengthen their competitiveness in a global economy that is becoming more sustainability-conscious,” he said.
Green Mark Version 7 has been piloted in a range of projects, with the results showing that higher energy performance is achievable across different types of developments, Chee noted.
One pilot project is the new Comcentre, a large mixed-use redevelopment in the heart of Orchard and Somerset, and a joint venture between Singtel and Lendlease.
The Comcentre project achieved Green Mark Platinum with a Zero Energy Rating, which illustrates that high levels of energy performance can be achieved through thoughtful design and innovative engineering, even for a development of such scale and complexity.
Other projects in which the latest Green Mark version has been piloted include the existing SMU Administration Building, which underwent a comprehensive energy improvement retrofit; as well as Gardens By The Bay’s Bay South Garden and the upcoming Bay East Garden.
New accreditation scheme for site-supervision firms
From 2028, developers and builders will be required to appoint licensed firms to supervise building works for projects exceeding $75 million in value.
With these upcoming licensing requirements in mind, and to strengthen firms’ capabilities in site supervision, the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), in consultation with BCA, is launching the Site Supervision Firm Accreditation Scheme.
Firms must first be accredited under this new scheme before they can be licensed by BCA to provide the mandatory site-supervision services for large-scale structural works projects.
The accreditation scheme will assess whether firms have the necessary governance structures, systems and processes to ensure efficiency and quality control in site supervision, while effectively harnessing technology.
Accredited firms will also need to establish processes and procedures for effective remote site supervision, leveraging digital technologies while maintaining standardised operating procedures.
In addition, they must establish training programmes to develop their professionals and build their capabilities over time.
“Site supervision firms that are looking to take on larger projects should start preparing early and obtain accreditation ahead of the new licensing requirements in 2028,” noted Chee.