Technology for livability: 10 research projects awarded $30.8m in funding

They were chosen from among 78 proposals.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, today awarded 10 research projects a total of S$30.8 million in funding under the Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) First Call for Proposals.

In a release, the MND and NRF indicated that the L2 NIC First Call for Proposals was launched on 14 November 2013 to support research and development (R&D) that will develop innovative technological solutions in four key areas: the creation of space, optimising the use of land, creating highly liveable residential towns and supporting Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and platforms. 

MND and NRF adds that 78 White Papers were received at the close of the Call for Proposals in January this year. All submitted proposals underwent a rigorous evaluation process by international and local technical experts, as well as representatives from government agencies. 

Here’s more from MND and NRF:

The awarded projects presented opportunities to use technology to improve the living environment for Singaporeans, as well as pushed the frontier of possibilities for future space development and land optimisation. A project by Singapore Management University’s (SMU) iCity Lab will leverage the use of sensors to support ageing-in-place. The sensors, installed in the homes of seniors, can help community volunteers better monitor and respond to the seniors' calls for help in a timely manner.

Another project by A*STAR's Institute for High Performance Computing (IHPC) and Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) will develop a highly integrated modelling tool that incorporates a range of environmental factors such as wind, thermal, solar irradiance and noise in the urban landscape. It will enable urban planners to visualise the effects of their designs on different environmental parameters, hence optimising the planning and design of our living environment.

A third project by a team of faculty members from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will develop an integrated solution for ensuring structural fire safety and life safety of occupants in underground structures. The project will support the development of safe, robust and cost-effective designs for future mega underground development in Singapore. Please refer to Annex A for more details on the awarded projects.

The L2 NIC will continue to work with research institutes, private sector companies and government agencies to fund more research projects that will play a key role to create a highly-liveable and resilient city of the future for Singaporeans.