Speech by NTU President Professor Subra Suresh at the launch of the Surbana Jurong-NTU Corporate Lab

Speech By

Professor Subra Suresh

President, Nanyang Technological University

Tuesday, 31 July 2018, 14:00 hours

Auditorium, Nanyang Executive Centre

60 Nanyang View, Singapore 639673

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance,

Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO, Surbana Jurong Group,

Dr Cheong Wei Yang, Deputy CEO, National Research Foundation,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good afternoon. We are here today to launch what would become the sixth corporate lab at NTU. 

Our daily lives today are being increasingly shaped by technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data and the Internet of Things. These advances have generated new growth sectors for many economies. But as the competition for resources increases and as societies continue to grow, even countries without the geographical constraints of Singapore will find it difficult not to develop in a sustainable manner. However, technology and sustainability are intrinsically linked – they can be harnessed and combined to promote clean and sustainable urban development. 

That is why we are here today to witness the launch of the Surbana Jurong-NTU Corporate Lab - that is why we are here today to witness the launch of the Surbana Jurong – NTU Corporate Lab: a culmination of the many years of successful collaboration between the two organisations. Supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF), the joint lab is an example of a ‘Triple-Helix’ collaboration model involving a tripartite partnership between academic institutions, government agencies and leading industry partners.

Researchers at the lab will work on 11 projects that are aimed at helping societies optimise land usage, future-proof buildings and infrastructure, and transform the way buildings are designed and constructed. It will translate research outcomes into practical and viable solutions that are focused around three core themes: Digitalisation; Sustainable Urban Solutions; and the Future of Industry. 

For example, under the first theme of Digitalisation, the lab will develop building information models that involve scanning a building’s infrastructure and elements, into a 3-dimensional map. These maps will help streamline building maintenance and construction processes as they map out hidden internal fixtures such as piping and electrical installations.

The lab’s second focus of Sustainable Urban Solutions aims to develop smart management solutions which minimise energy footprint of buildings. This is achieved through passive ventilation or cooling systems, smart lighting, integration with solar energy technologies and smart grids. One of the projects is a chilled ceiling technology that uses special materials for ceiling panels that are hooked up to a centralised monitoring system. These unique panels transfer heat more effectively than conventional ones, reducing the need for air-conditioning and improving energy efficiency.

The third theme of Future of Industry will continuously address key urban challenges faced by the industry. For example, researchers will explore underground spaces for storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) at cryogenic temperatures of around minus 162 degrees Celsius - it is so cold that it doesn't matter if it is in Celcius or Fahrenheit or Kelvin for that matter, so that space above ground can be freed up for other uses.

The Joint Lab will also nurture industry leaders equipped with the skills to tackle future challenges faced by the urban and industrial sectors. Over the next five years, the lab aims to train around 70 research staff, PhD and graduate students, along with dozens of undergraduate students at NTU.

The lab’s industry-driven solutions will be trialled and test-bedded right here on the NTU Smart Campus, where other advanced technologies are being developed and tested with industry partners. The new lab is also NTU’s sixth corporate lab on campus, alongside other joint labs with Rolls Royce, ST Engineering, Delta Electronics, SMRT and Singtel. This underlines NTU’s drive in nurturing strong ties with industry, which ensures that ideas nurtured in the lab are translated into beneficial solutions for society.

Besides test-bedding cutting-edge research, we at NTU also emphasise urban sustainability by adopting novel construction methods. NTU’s lush campus is home to two state-of-the-art learning hubs – The Hive and The Arc. They are designed with innovative and eco-friendly features befitting their place as architectural icons of sustainability on the NTU Smart Campus. For example, instead of walls, The Arc’s façade has an aluminium sunscreen that reduces solar glare and heat. This keeps the rain out while allowing constant ventilation throughout the day. The Arc and The Hive are also equipped with a special air-conditioning system that saves energy by using passive cooling coils to chill the air without the use of fans. These coils work by creating a natural convection cycle, cooling the air as it sinks downwards, which displaces the warm air upwards.

NTU also holds the national record of 57 Green Mark-certified building projects comprising more than 230 buildings, of which 95 per cent are certified Green Mark Platinum. We are well on track to achieving the target of 100 per cent by 2020. As a testament to NTU’s success, the university is also the first recipient of the Green Mark PlatinumSTAR Champion award – the highest accolade in Singapore for outstanding commitment to sustainable design. 

All these innovations and industrial partnerships are part of NTU’s ongoing focus on sustainability research, where we aim to demonstrate right here on our campus how advanced, tech-enabled solutions can help improve everyday life in a sustainable manner.

Today’s partnership which bolsters Singapore’s innovation system through public-private R&D collaboration is made possible with the strong support from NRF. I would like to thank the NRF for its continued support in promoting industry-driven research and providing companies with direct access to scientific and technological capabilities in our universities.

Leveraging Surbana Jurong’s vast industry experience and NTU’s strong track record in engineering and sustainability research, I have no doubt that the new Corporate Lab will offer real-world engineering solutions that will help pave the way in sustainable urban development in Singapore and beyond.

In closing, I would like to thank Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO of Surbana Jurong, Dr Cheong Wei Yang, Deputy CEO NRF, and my NTU colleagues who worked so hard to make this happen, especially NTU Vice President for Research, Prof Lam Khin Yong, NTU Associate Vice President for Strategy and Partnerships, Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar. I wish all the participants in this exciting new venture, all the very best in the next five 

Thank you very much.