SINGAPORE: Singapore is being developed into a centre for research in environmental sustainability, according to Dr Tony Tan, Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Dr Tan and a high-level delegation are now visiting several leading water research organisations in the Netherlands and Germany.

Dr Tan said Singapore needs to develop long-term solutions for the supply of water and clean energy.

Like the Netherlands, both countries are at the forefront of water technologies and are collaborating actively to overcome challenges in security of water.

Discussions with experts there showed that Singapore has a good potential to be a leader in water technologies in Asia. And this can attract European firms to set up test-bedding and manufacturing facilities in Singapore.

On energy conservation, the NRF is in talks with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich to establish a significant research presence in Singapore.

NRF said insights gained from the trip would guide Singapore's efforts to become a global hydrohub by 2015.

By then, 11,000 jobs are expected to be created, adding a value of S$1.7 billion.


- CNA/so