Your Global Research & Technology Partner

Launched in March 2008, NEWRI represents NTU’s efforts over the last two decades of being a committed and active participant in Singapore’s Environmental and Water Technology (EWT) R&D landscape. Operating with 8 co-ordinated units and some 400 researchers, NEWRI provides a coherent platform for multi- and trans-disciplinary interactions and a contiguous value chain involving research, translation, development and applications. This approach better ensures development of innovative and practical environmental solutions relevant to industry and community.
 

The broad areas of research interest and expertise are:

4 Centres of Excellence, supported by EWI/EDB:

*    DHI-NTU, a collaborative set-up with DHI of Denmark established in October 2007 which focuses on urban water quantity and quality modelling and management, environmental impact assessment, and process modelling and control;

*    SMTC (Singapore Membrane Technology Centre), established in January 2008, spearheads R&D efforts in fundamental membrane science and development of membrane technologies;

*    R3C (Residues & Resource Reclamation Centre), launched on 5 October 2009, provides a R&D platform for urban and industrial wastes and residues management and resource reclamation;

*    AEBC (Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre), a collaboration between NTU and UNSW, was launched on 10 May 2010. It focuses on applied environmental microbiology and bioprocesses, and marine science for environmental and sustainability applications.


4 Value-Add Supporting Members:

*    The research group, ECMG (Environmental Chemistry & Materials Group), supports the NEWRI Ecosystem with its research capabilities in environmental chemistry and development of materials for treatment processes;

*    Lien Foundation-NTU Environmental Endeavour (EE2), NEWRI’s window to society through philanthropic projects, has a focus on providing clean water and sanitation to Asia’s less privileged communities;

*    iESE (a NTU wholly owned company) is an associate member of the NEWRI Ecosystem and serves as its window to industry for testbedding and technology transfers activities;

*    NEWRI Postgraduate Education Unit (N.PhD) generates manpower for the industry, by preparing students to be at the forefront of environmental science and engineering.


A key element in NEWRI’s operating philosophy is its emphasis on reducing dependency on serendipity and increasing reliance on purposeful action through translational activities to bring research outcomes to the industry and community. This involves active dialogue with industry and community stakeholders for feedback which allows for regular calibration of relevance.

This approach has allowed NEWRI to be successful with winning competitive funding which helps perpetuate the cycle of “research-generation of relevant knowledge-benefit to community and industry-research”.