Applicants are to submit white paper by May 22
Business Times 17 Apr 09;
THE National Research Foundation (NRF) is launching a competitive research grant call for proposals that will address the challenges of high-density urban living.
With funding of up to $10 million over three to five years, the programme aims to draw projects that will have high potential impact, if successfully developed. Proposals will have to be based on a specific future scenario.
For this particular grant call, the NRF has painted a setting of a mega city, with a population exceeding 10 million people.
The high intensity urban living will impose strains on infrastructure and systems that sustain the functioning and growth of societies.
The scarcity of vital resources and mounting pressures on productivity will present opportunities for new technologies that could dramatically improve the way mega cities operate and thrive.
The NRF wants to draw projects that are relevant to Singapore and other densely populated cities.
'Such projects are expected to be multi-disciplinary in nature, and have a strong science base,' it said.
'The intent is for Singapore to become a world- class originator of innovative technologies, products and devices.'
A list of 14 broad research areas related to the scenario were listed. They include technologies for an efficient transport system, sustainable energy, better food production yields, low land-intensive infrastructure for utilities delivery, and solutions to mitigate the warming trend.
Applicants are to submit a white paper of up to five pages to the NRF by May 22.
This will be assessed by both a local panel and an international one chaired by Rita Colwell, former director of the US National Science Foundation.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to develop full proposals which will then be put through an international peer review process.
For more information, go to https://rita.nrf.gov. sg/.
