PUB Drives Innovations for Water Sustainability | 186 | https://www.pub.gov.sg/news/pressreleases/PUBDrivesInnovationsforWaterSustainability | PUB Drives Innovations for Water Sustainability | 14/1/2018 4:00:00 PM | | S$30 million grant call to develop solutions in water and used water treatment, industrial water, and smart technologies | Issue Date | Press release | About PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency | Find out more about us | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Singapore’s water needs have spurred many innovative
solutions, and R&D has been the key to achieving a robust and sustainable
water supply. In continuing to cultivate R&D, Singapore’s National Water Agency
PUB, has launched three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to invite industry
technology providers and researchers to develop solutions that will improve the
effectiveness of water treatment processes and operations, and ensure water
sustainability.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Water demand is expected to double by 2060, with the non-domestic
sector making up 70% of demand then. More energy-intensive sources such as NEWater
and desalinated water will meet up to 85% of Singapore’s water needs then too.
It is important to maximise water efficiency and lower energy use in water and
used water treatment.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Mr Harry Seah, PUB’s Assistant Chief Executive (Future
Systems and Technology), said, “Investing in R&D is important for PUB to
develop innovative water solutions that can improve the efficiency of water
treatment and keep our water supply sustainable. Through continuous R&D
over the years, we have identified several promising technologies. We want to work with technology providers and
researchers to develop these technologies further and demonstrate their
commercial viability.”</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">The first RFP targets specific technologies in
enhancing energy efficiency of the water and used water treatment process. For
water treatment, it aims to reduce the energy consumption of desalination and
NEWater through biomimicry. This involves exploring water channels or
transporters that use very low energy, such as aquaporins derived from specific
species of microorganism, fish and mangrove plants, as well as synthetic
channels, for incorporation into biomimetic membranes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">For used water treatment, the RFP targets to achieve
energy self-sufficient water reclamation plants through Anaerobic Membrane
Bioreactors incorporating the Anammox process, and/or other innovative
nutrients removal/recovery process. This aims to minimise the energy needed to
treat used water and recover more energy from the process, such that used water
treatment uses only as much energy as it generates.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"></span>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">The second RFP aims to enhance water efficiency in industries
through water recycling or reducing water consumption. Proposals are to be
submitted by the industrial or commercial host, in collaboration with an
identified technology provider.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"></span>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">The third RFP looks at enhancing operational
efficiency by leveraging on smart technologies such as robotics, drones,
automation, data analytics and informatics, and video analytics, to minimise
manpower required in operations and maintenance.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">$30mil has been allocated for the 3 RFPs. The RFPs are
part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan under the
Competitive Research Programme (Water). In 2006, water was identified as a key
growth industry, and funding of S$670 million from the NRF has been committed
over 15 years (2006 – 2020) to foster leading-edge technologies and create a
thriving and vibrant research community in Singapore.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB">Companies that can bring the proposed
water technology to market can submit their proposals. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) or
Research Institutes (RIs) can also collaborate with an industrial partner that
could accelerate the commercialisation/translation of the project and submit a
joint proposal.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Companies interested in </span><span lang="EN-GB">the
RFPs can also find out more at an information session on 26 Jan 2018 at the </span>Matrix @
Biopolis Auditorium<span lang="EN-GB">. To register for the
session, please contact Ms Nur Azimah
Salleh at <span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space:nowrap;">+65 6731 3167<a title="Call: +65 6731 3167" href="#" style="margin:0px;border:currentcolor;left:0px;top:0px;width:16px;height:16px;right:0px;bottom:0px;overflow:hidden;vertical-align:middle;float:none;display:inline;white-space:nowrap;position:static !important;"><img title="Call: +65 6731 3167" alt="" style="margin:0px;border:currentcolor;left:0px;top:0px;width:16px;height:16px;right:0px;bottom:0px;overflow:hidden;vertical-align:middle;float:none;display:inline;white-space:nowrap;position:static !important;" /></a></span> or </span><a href="mailto:Nur_Azimah_SALLEH@pub.gov.sg"><span lang="EN-GB">Nur_Azimah_SALLEH@pub.gov.sg</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> Registration closes
on 25 Jan 2018, 5pm.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Interested
applicants can submit their application via <span lang="EN-GB">NRF’s Integrated Grants Management System (IGMS) at </span><a href="https://researchgrant.gov.sg/pages/index.aspx">https://researchgrant.gov.sg/pages/index.aspx</a>. <span lang="EN-GB">Submissions close on 13 March 2018, 4pm </span>(Singapore
time, GMT +08:00).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> | <p style="text-align:justify;">PUB
is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
It is the national water agency, and manages Singapore’s water supply, water
catchment and used water in an integrated way.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">PUB
has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with
the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater,
desalinated water).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">PUB
calls on everyone to play a part in conserving water, in keeping our waterways
clean, and in caring for Singapore’s precious water resources. If we all do our
little bit, there will be enough water for all our needs – for commerce and
industry, for living, for life.
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