Singapore ministers at the opening of Singapore International Water Week 2008

With the global spotlight focused on how to efficiently manage rapid urbanisation and climate change, the need for more eco-friendly products and solutions is set to accelerate. Countries and cities alike are also actively seeking solutions for their water and environmental management needs. With experts predicting that water will soon be one of the world's greatest business opportunities, and the 21st century's answer to oil, Singapore has also identified the water sector to be one of the key growth sectors for the economy. The government has also formulated plans for Singapore to become a Global Hydrohub through R&D, engineering and manufacturing, with the aim of serving three per cent of the global water market by 2015.

Leading The Way With Innovation

Singapore has greatly advanced from its early days following independence when water challenges such as water shortages, pollution and flooding were common. Over the past 40 years, the city-state has successfully turned this vulnerability into its strength by investing in research and technology to develop water management and treatment capabilities.

Despite the challenges posed by its small land area and lack of natural deep aquifers, PUB, Singapore's national water agency, has achieved environmentally sound water management and development practices. The development of NEWater for instance, which is now a reliable source of water for the industry, has shown how sustainability in water supply can be achieved. For its success in water management, the national water agency was conferred the prestigious 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award, one of the highest accolades in the international water sector.

The Republic offers companies many opportunities to forge strong R&D collaborations with local research and educational institutions. Several research centres of excellence have been established, including the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) at the Nanyang Technological University. NEWRI serves as a one-stop centre for industry and research partners to access NTU's capabilities. Its eco-system includes the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC) which is headed by renowned membranes expert, Professor Anthony Fane, and the DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre and Education Hub, set up by DHI Water & Environment, a Denmark-based international consultancy and research organisation and NTU.

In addition, the multi-disciplinary Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) has been set up as a collaborative effort between the National University of Singapore (NUS), PUB, and Delft Hydraulics, a Netherlands-based international research and specialist consultancy firm. The SDWA conducts research into aquatic systems, smart sensing and engineering and technologies relating to the urban water cycle, and also offers postgraduate training in hydraulic engineering and water management.

Beyond opportunities for R&D collaborations, Singapore's attractive location in the heart of Asia allows major global water and environment players to use the city-state as a test-bedding and piloting base for new environment and water technologies, and as a launch-pad to expand into the region. The Republic is already home to over 50 water companies, and major international players including GE Water, Siemens Water Technologies, Nitto Denko, and Black & Veatch. Homegrown firms such as Hyflux, Keppel and SembCorp have also set up water treatment plants in many overseas markets including China and the Middle East.

Singapore's attractive location in the heart of Asia allows major global water and environment players to use the city-state as a test-bedding and piloting base for new environment and water technologies, and as a launch-pad to expand into the region

Singapore International Water Week

Riding on the wave of this new economy, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and PUB Singapore organised the Singapore International Water Week from 23 to 27 June 2008 at Suntec Singapore. The inaugural event met with resounding success and helped establish the Water Week as a global platform for water solutions.

Singapore International Water Week 2008 drew policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. More than 8,500 delegates and trade visitors from 79 countries gathered at the inaugural event, with foreign participants making up 70 per cent of the total attendance. Various deals amounting to S$406 million (US$270 million) were sealed during the week, along with international initiatives to boost water research and investments.

The event unveiled a major distinction for Singapore with the introduction of the Institute of Water Policy (IWP). IWP conducts research on water policy and watermanagement issues, and runs consultancy projects with governments and institutions like the World Bank. The Institute is viewed as a platform to enable leaders and decision makers to network and create opportunities to replicate regional success stories.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (where the Institute is housed), explains its significance, "IWP aims to increase the profile of water issues in national policy agendas across Asia. We have to now move from aspiration to action in resolving Asia's water crisis. The institute holds great potential to address the challenges that the continent faces on clean water management through providing cutting edge research that can be used to implement effective water policies in countries across Asia."

Following the success of Singapore International Water Week 2008, the second Water Week will take place from 22 to 26 June 2009 at Suntec Singapore. Bearing the theme "Sustainable Cities - Infrastructure and Technologies for Water", policymakers and experts will gather at this prestigious event to gain a firsthand perspective into various technologies and a multitude of business opportunities. The event will feature five flagship programmes, including the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize - all of which will provide diverse networking opportunities.

(L-R) Chuck Gordon, President and CEO, Siemens Water Technologies and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, at the inaugural Singapore International Water Week

Singapore's Water Industry Gains Global Market Share

With the growing global emphasis on water and the environment, in 2006, the Singapore government committed S$330 million (US$219 million) over five years to promote R&D to sustain the Republic's competitive edge in the global market, and to position Singapore as an R&D base for environment and water solutions. In addition, the government established the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) under the aegis of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) to spearhead the growth of the environment and water industry in Singapore.

EWI aims to increase value-added contribution from the water sector from S$0.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) (0.3% of GDP) in 2003 to S$ 1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) (0.6% of GDP) by 2015. This sector is also expected to generate about 11,000 jobs in 2015, with a large part of the growth in professional and skilled categories.

Furthermore, EWI aims to attract major international water companies to anchor their R&D engineering, manufacturing and HQ operations in Singapore. It will groom local companies to be players in the regional and global water markets, and encourage more companies and research institutes to develop cutting-edge water technology. EWI will also further export Singapore's capabilities to growing markets, especially in the Middle East and China.

These efforts combined with the efficient use of its limited resources, the adoption of the latest technologies enhancing storage capacities and practising sound conservation measures, ensure that Singapore has achieved a level of holistic water management that will be instrumental in transforming the city-state into a Global Hydrohub.