Urban sustainability gets S$400m funding

While electric cars went into high gear on 25 June for Singapore's electric vehicle testbed launch, urban sustainability also recently scored some funding to the tune of S$400 million. While this doesn't immediately translate to a Jetsons lifestyle of flying cars to ease congestion or a zero-waste nation, Singapore is at least looking to be on the forefront of changes that herald the urban city of tomorrow.

To give this Garden City the impetus to think smart and build differently, the fund will be committed towards spearheading R&D in urban sustainability. This was announced by Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, BG Tan Chuan-Jin, at the inaugural Urban Sustainability R&D Congress Monday.

Here's how the sum will be broken down:

• S$300 million to help develop cost-competitive energy solutions in the next 20 years. This is targeted at improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and increasing its energy options, and is the first National Innovation Challenge (NIC) on building "Energy Resilience for Sustainable Growth". The NICs are part of a S$1 billion fund announced last September.
• S$50 million to address urban sustainability challenges. This tops up MND's Research Fund to S$100 million towards supporting research in other aspects of urban sustainability that go beyond energy.
• S$50 million to develop food supply resilience and sustainability. This falls under NRF 's Competitive Research Programme (CRP) Call on "Meeting Future Food Demands for Singapore", and will complement MND's existing S$10 million Food Fund.