Singapore’s focus on urban solutions has made it a globally recognised model of sustainable development in areas like energy and waste management, water consumption, air quality, and green environment. Indeed, Singapore consistently ranks as the most liveable city in Asia, according to Mercer’s Quality of Living Survey1.
Our strategic location and comprehensive ecosystem make us well-placed to serve as the region’s infrastructure hub. By 2020, half of all Asians will be urban dwellers2. The growing urban population across Asia will put intense pressure on finite resources and existing city infrastructures. This has driven countries and their governments to seek cutting-edge urban solutions for smart and sustainable living.
Asia is projected to require US$1.7 trillion (S$2.3 trillion) of infrastructure investments annually from 2016 to 20303, which is more than double the level in 2009. This presents you with unparalleled opportunities – whether you are a multinational corporation, or small and medium-sized enterprise.
You can tap the deep and broad expertise available in Singapore to structure your regional infrastructure projects. Our ecosystem of players ranges from advisory services in engineering, financial and legal fields to project development developers.
If your business is in the urban solutions space, you play a vital and unique role in coming up with new innovations and pushing the boundaries of technology and solutions. You can also partner global players such as General Electric, Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), Siemens, and Veolia to enter new markets.
Ready to explore the opportunities in the urban solutions industry? We have round up the trends and growth areas in these four sub-sectors: energy and sustainability; water and environment; waste and environmental services; and technology for agriculture, building solutions and urban mobility.
1: “Mercer’s 20th Quality of Living survey”, Mercer, 2018 2: United Nations, 2014 3: Asian Development Bank, 2017
Singapore’s limited natural resources means we are constantly exploring new ways to reduce energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels.
Under the National Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan, about S$1 billion will be dedicated to energy research, with a focus on energy storage, green buildings, smart grids, and solar energy. Singapore is home to several research institutes dedicated to clean energy. These include the CleanTech Park at Jalan Bahar, the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) and the Energy Research Institute@NTU (ERI@N).
In Asia, half a billion people still lack access to modern energy services, and the transition to clean energy is essential to help conserve the earth’s natural resources.
If you are in the clean energy business, you can build capabilities, commercialise your products, and export them to the rest of the world. Take advantage of Singapore’s position as a hub for clean energy in the region, and leverage the vibrant ecosystem of companies – from developers and financiers to system integrators.
Limited water resources have driven Singapore to be at the forefront of water innovation, resulting in technological advances in the areas of water reclamation and seawater desalination. Since 2016, the water industry has contributed S$300 million in annual value add to the economy4.
Singapore has over 200 water companies, making us home to the densest concentration of water companies in the world. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has also conducted over 150 pilot projects with companies since 2006, developing water solutions and bringing them abroad.
With growing urbanisation and global warming, water scarcity has become a long-term global trend. The global water market is expected to be on a growth path, growing at an average annual rate of 3.8% until 20205, with Southeast Asia being one of the fastest growing water markets in the world.
Your company can seize the growth opportunities in the global water sector and bring your expertise in water production, storage, distribution, or management overseas. You can also use Singapore as a test bed for new technologies before reaching out to other countries.
4: “Singapore’s vibrant water industry on track to meet Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Targets”, Public Utilities Board, 2018 5: “Global Water Market 2017”, Global Water Intelligence, 2017
There are more than 600 Singapore-based companies in the waste sector. They operate across the entire waste management and recycling value chain – from collection and recycling, to waste management, energy recovery and landfill management.
Cities are increasingly aware of the effects of rapid urbanisation and its effects on environmental sustainability. This has resulted in the trend towards reducing energy consumption and waste generation.
You can take advantage of the anticipated growth in interest for waste management and treatment solutions across the world. Singapore’s experience in advanced waste management technologies and strategies are highly relevant to both government and private-sector players in overseas markets.
Your business can capture more market opportunities overseas, by taking advantage of the boost offered by the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map. This national programme will help drive innovation and technology adoption, upskill the workforce to take on better jobs, and improve productivity through better procurement practices.
Disruptive technologies are redefining urban solutions. Governments and companies are harnessing technology to transform the way we live in the urban city of today and of the future.
Singapore-based companies have developed innovative urban solutions in areas that range from green buildings, to transportation and agricultural solutions.
If your area of expertise is in green buildings, you can ride on the strong demand for green buildings to export your solution in areas like light-emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions, energy-efficient cooling devices, optimisation systems that streamline energy use, and building coatings that save energy.
If your focus is on urban mobility, you can bank on Singapore’s reputation for world-class land and air transportation solutions to help in your overseas expansion.