DNV has opened its Clean Technology Centre to meet the growing demand for clean technology innovation and incubation in Singapore and South East Asia.
DNV is leveraging the rising demand for clean technology innovation and incubation services in Singapore and South East Asia by establishing its new Clean Technology Centre.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, DNV CEO Dr Henrik O. Madsen said that a growth rate of 30% a year in South East Asia is sustainable and the centre in Singapore will be at the heart of this growth.
“In the area of sustainability, we see Asia as a region that will develop a lot as the population and wealth increase along with higher energy needs and the corresponding strains on resources here,” said Dr Madsen.
The Clean Technology Centre, part of DNV’s existing Technology Centre in the Science Park in Singapore, will focus on six core areas of green shipping and offshore solutions, green port solutions, renewable energy, clean conventional energy solutions, urban solutions and carbon market services.
Strong belief in Singapore
“Our decision to establish the Clean Technology Centre in Singapore shows our strong belief in the continued importance of Singapore in the Asian context,” said Dr Madsen.
Officiating at the opening of the Clean Technology Centre, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Mr Lee Yi Shyan said the Clean Technology Centre will play an important role in helping Singapore achieve its goal of having the clean tech industry contribute 3.4 billion dollars to the economy and employ 18,000 people by 2015.
Dr Beh Swan Gin, Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board, added, “DNV’s decision to establish its Clean Technology Centre in our city-state is an endorsement of Singapore’s growing importance in clean tech innovation. Through its partnerships with companies, R&D organisations and government agencies, DNV’s Clean Technology Centre will catalyse the development of unique, cross-sectorial competencies that are in demand globally.”
Considerable growth plans
The Clean Technology Centre currently has a staff of 25 research engineers and advisors and Managing Director Bjørn Tore Markussen expects this number to quadruple to 100 by 2014.
“Singapore’s water and solar sectors are two examples of clean tech clusters that have grown very rapidly in recent times. This development, along with the growing interest from our regional clients, convinced us that the creation of the Clean Technology Centre here in Singapore is the best platform for DNV going forward.”
Collaborative business models
Recognising that clean technology innovation and commercialisation requires collaborative business models, DNV has signed agreements with the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The agreements involve joint research and development activities of mutual interest in various areas within clean technology.
“We are delighted to work with such well established research institutions. We firmly believe that our collaborative model will contribute to Singapore’s fast evolving clean tech industry,” said Dr Madsen. “Also, as an independent foundation with a strong technology base and risk management as our core area of expertise, we will fill a unique role in creating trust and confidence among players in the industry as new technologies and solutions evolve in the clean technology arena.”