<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published August 29, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>A*Star pumps in $27.5m to develop green technologies
Agency wants to make sustainable development research a key focus, with funding directed at four areas
By FELDA CHAY
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THE push for sustainable development has been given a boost by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) injecting $27.5 million into research in areas such as the production of bio-cement and bio-fuels.
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</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>PROF ZUKOSKI
A*Star's investment will help develop Singapore into a global centre of knowledge and expertise in the emerging area of sustainable development</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>With more countries waking up to the idea of growing in a way that does the least damage to the environment, the agency hopes to go into sustainability in a big way by making it a key research focus.
'This will help develop Singapore into a global centre of knowledge and expertise in the emerging area of sustainable development,' said Charles Zukoski, chairman of A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council.
Funding has been provided in four areas of sustainable development research - storage and use of carbon dioxide; bio-fuel and bio-energy production; creation of environmentally friendly construction materials; and making non-toxic, energy-efficient materials for the aerospace and automotive industries.
A key aim is to develop technologies that are cost-efficient - an issue that has plagued the green technology industry.
For instance, research into energy-efficient materials for fuel-guzzling industries such as the aerospace and automotive sectors will look to enhance mobility while improving fuel economy.
Projects on sustainable construction materials will look at ways to make cement from cheap organic waste and naturally occurring, non-pathogenic micro-organisms to reduce the reliance on sand and conventional cement.
'The intent of this programme is to develop new and sustainable engineering materials for industries that are strategically important to Singapore,' said He Chaobin, senior scientist at A*Star's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering.
'The materials will be developed with an understanding of industry needs and with one key focus in mind - to minimise the environmental footprint over the lifetime of a given product so there will be less waste produced, less energy consumed and less damage caused.'
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>A*Star pumps in $27.5m to develop green technologies
Agency wants to make sustainable development research a key focus, with funding directed at four areas
By FELDA CHAY
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>THE push for sustainable development has been given a boost by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) injecting $27.5 million into research in areas such as the production of bio-cement and bio-fuels.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>PROF ZUKOSKIA*Star's investment will help develop Singapore into a global centre of knowledge and expertise in the emerging area of sustainable development</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>With more countries waking up to the idea of growing in a way that does the least damage to the environment, the agency hopes to go into sustainability in a big way by making it a key research focus.
'This will help develop Singapore into a global centre of knowledge and expertise in the emerging area of sustainable development,' said Charles Zukoski, chairman of A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council.
Funding has been provided in four areas of sustainable development research - storage and use of carbon dioxide; bio-fuel and bio-energy production; creation of environmentally friendly construction materials; and making non-toxic, energy-efficient materials for the aerospace and automotive industries.
A key aim is to develop technologies that are cost-efficient - an issue that has plagued the green technology industry.
For instance, research into energy-efficient materials for fuel-guzzling industries such as the aerospace and automotive sectors will look to enhance mobility while improving fuel economy.
Projects on sustainable construction materials will look at ways to make cement from cheap organic waste and naturally occurring, non-pathogenic micro-organisms to reduce the reliance on sand and conventional cement.
'The intent of this programme is to develop new and sustainable engineering materials for industries that are strategically important to Singapore,' said He Chaobin, senior scientist at A*Star's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering.
'The materials will be developed with an understanding of industry needs and with one key focus in mind - to minimise the environmental footprint over the lifetime of a given product so there will be less waste produced, less energy consumed and less damage caused.'
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