Singapore accelerates innovation in nature-based carbon solutions through two new initiatives

This press release was jointly issued by WWF-Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

• WWF launches Blue Carbon Support Programme (BCSP), supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), to boost development of high-integrity blue carbon projects 
• The Office for Science Technology & Industry’s (OSTIn) Biomass Grant Call aims to build a robust innovation pipeline by supporting early-stage research in nature-based carbon solutions

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore today announced the launch of the Blue Carbon Support Programme (BCSP), an initiative to catalyse science-based, technology-enabled solutions that strengthen the development of high-quality blue carbon¹ projects across Asia. The programme builds on Blue Catalyst, an open innovation challenge organised by WWF-Singapore and Hatch Blue² designed to unlock technological solutions to scale high-quality blue carbon ecosystems across Asia and beyond.

The announcement was made at the “Carbon x Tech: The Next Wave of Climate Innovation” event in Singapore. At this event, the Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn), Singapore’s national space office under EDB, also announced a biomass³ grant call to advance and develop upstream research, data solutions, and methodologies for nature-based carbon solutions to be developed in partnership with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs). The grant will support the application of space-enabled and digital technologies through digital measurement, reporting, and verification (dMRV), which harnesses remote sensing data and geospatial analytics.

Blue Carbon Support Programme (BCSP)

Through the BCSP, WWF-Singapore will partner selected technology startups, solution providers, research organisations and carbon project developers to address key MRV and implementation challenges that constrain the development of high-quality blue carbon credits in Asia. Specifically, WWF-Singapore’s collaboration with Singapore-based technology providers will be supported by EDB’s Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) scheme⁴.

BCSP will provide training and technical support to project developers to build market, technical and operational readiness for blue carbon projects. It will also support co-development, piloting and deployment of novel and existing field-ready solutions across priority areas including geospatial analysis, carbon and biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement. Further, technologies identified by the Blue Catalyst open innovation challenge will be piloted by WWF and its partners, as part of the BCSP.

BIOMASS dMRV Grant Call

OSTIn's biomass dMRV grant call focuses on upstream research and methodology development to complement these downstream deployment efforts. It will support the use of satellite, geospatial and digital technologies to improve how biomass is measured, monitored and verified across diverse ecosystems, including forests and coastal environments. By advancing and developing more accurate, transparent and scalable approaches to carbon measurement, the grant call aims to enhance the integrity of carbon credits while building capabilities and commercial solutions that can be applied across Southeast Asia and regions within the Equatorial belt.

Fostering partnerships to boost decarbonisation

The newly announced initiatives reflect Singapore’s efforts to foster deep cross-sectoral partnerships in carbon services and trading. OSTIn’s biomass grant call will primarily support local IHLs and RIs, while encouraging collaborations with industry partners and relevant stakeholders. BCSP will bring WWF’s global network of experts together with startups and solution providers to co-develop and scale practical technologies for use at carbon project sites.

By strengthening capabilities from early-stage research through to deployment, Singapore aims to build a robust innovation pipeline that supports regional decarbonisation efforts while anchoring high-value climate and nature activities here.

¹ Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses, peatlands and coastal wetlands, are among the planet’s most powerful natural climate solutions, storing carbon up to four times more efficiently than terrestrial forests.

² WWF and Hatch Blue announced the Open Innovation Challenge in September 2025. See here: https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/about-edb/media-releases-publications/wwf-hatch-blue-launch-blue-carbon-innovation-challenge.html

³ Biomass refers to organic materials from both green carbon (terrestrial: forests, agriculture) and blue carbon (coastal/marine: mangroves, seagrasses and seaweeds) ecosystems. These organic materials serve as carbon reservoirs, so accurate biomass measurement is essential for carbon stock calculations and carbon credits verification.

⁴ PACT refers to the Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) grant supports partnerships between multinational corporations/large local enterprises, and Singapore-based local SMEs. More details: https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/incentives-and-programmes/incentives-and-facilitation-programmes/partnerships-for-capability-transformation-pact-scheme.html