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PUB Drives Innovations for Water Sustainability186https://www.pub.gov.sg/news/pressreleases/PUBDrivesInnovationsforWaterSustainabilityPUB Drives Innovations for Water Sustainability14/1/2018 4:00:00 PMS$30 million grant call to develop solutions in water and used water treatment, industrial water, and smart technologiesIssue DatePress releaseAbout PUB, Singapore’s National Water AgencyFind 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. </p><p>Like us at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PUBsg">www.facebook.com/PUBsg</a> <br>Follow us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/PUBsingapore">www.instagram.com/PUBsingapore</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/PUBsingapore">www.twitter.com/PUBsingapore</a> <br>Subscribe to our channel at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/sgPUB">www.youtube.com/sgPUB</a> <br>For our latest event photos, visit <a href="http://www.flickr.com/PUBsg">www.flickr.com/PUBsg</a> or <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/PUBsg">www.pinterest.com/PUBsg</a> <br>Download our mobile apps: MyWaters for <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/mywaters/id533051315?mt=8">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codigo.pub.mywaters&hl=en">Android</a> or <a href="http://www.windowsphone.com/en-sg/store/app/mywaters/1089ffe2-749f-4487-9193-675d356036ee">Windows Phone</a> <br>Visit our website at <a href="http://www.pub.gov.sg/">www.pub.gov.sg</a></p>

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