Straits Times 12 Oct 10;
ONE does research in the field of water, environment and health. Another specialises in large-scale thermal solar panels. A third delves into areas such as water treatment.
These cutting-edge clean-technology companies will be neighbours in the new CleanTech One (CTO) building, launched by JTC Corporation and the Economic Development Board yesterday.
The seven-storey, 37,500 sq m building will be the first of 25 expected to be constructed in CleanTech Park in Jurong - the region's first eco-business park.
CTO will cost an estimated $87 million and is expected to be completed next year. Tenants can move in starting from 2012.
Sinomem founder and chairman Lan Weiguang said expanding in Singapore makes sense because of the Republic's ability to bridge the gap between China and the rest of the world. The top membrane separation and purification solutions supplier for China's pharmaceutical and fermentation industries, Sinomem employs more than 1,500 people in China and 12 people here.
Solid Asia chief executive Peter-Jurgen Husnik said the advantages of being based in Singapore are the ability to conduct safe business, government support for research, and a secure intellectual property framework. The firm has more than 20 years of experience in large-scale solar thermal systems, which provide air-conditioning and heating through solar energy.
Mr Tom Foster, managing director of Danish firm DHI, which does research in water, environment and health, said the company's move to CTO was timely because it had been thinking about expanding. It employs more than 1,000 staff worldwide, and plans to expand its Singapore office to 160 people, up from 125.
Mr Foster added that the rent at CTO is 'competitive'. The monthly rent for lab space is $25 per sq m, while office space is $22 per sq m. Four other clean-tech firms have confirmed their tenancies, bringing occupancy to 50 per cent.
Speaking at the launch, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran said CleanTech Park is set to play a major role in the development of the clean-tech industry here. He added that this was in line with the Economic Strategies Committee's recommendations earlier this year, which indicated that the clean-tech industry has significant potential to generate sustainable value for Singapore.
JTC chairman Cedric Foo said CTO will boost Singapore's position as a clean-energy hub. The industry is expected to contribute $3.4 billion to gross domestic product by generating some 18,000 jobs by 2015.
DARYL CHIN
CleanTech One achieves 50% occupancy rate
May Wong Channel NewsAsia 11 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE: The upcoming CleanTech Park in Jurong West is attracting strong interest.
Industrial landlord JTC said the first phase of the eco business park - CleanTech One - has already achieved a 50 per cent occupancy rate.
The building is part of a total of 25 buildings which will make up the entire CleanTech Park.
The new eco business park will occupy a land of about 50 football fields and will only be fully completed by 2030.
One of the key aims of the park is to provide a one-stop place for cleantech companies to interact and collaborate in different research and development projects.
CleanTech One is expected to be completed by December next year, and tenants can move into the two-towered building by early 2012.
The construction cost of CleanTech One is about S$87 million. The 37,500 square metre building will occupy a 1.5-hectare site.
A unique feature of CleanTech One is that it also incorporates renewable energy and green facilities as part of its design and operation.
JTC chairman Cedric Foo said: "By locating here at CleanTech One, companies can demonstrate their commitment towards green technologies. This strong brand association cannot be replicated elsewhere in Singapore."
There are hopes that CleanTech Park will become a model of sustainable features for other industrial parks.
Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said: "We have made good progress in building up a strong cleantech ecosystem comprising world-class R&D centres, testing and certification services, and multipliers such as various venture capital funds and incubators.
"These institutes and initiatives serve to complement (one another) to create a dynamic environment for advancement in clean technologies".
Some of the key tenants in CleanTech One include the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, SOLID Asia, one of the world's leading specialists in all applications of solar thermal energy, and Sinomen Technology, a membrane solution provider.
One of the tenants, DHI, a water environment technology company, will move a majority of its current facilities from Pandan Loop to CleanTech One.
DHI Water & Environment's Southeast Asia's regional manager, Tom Foster, said: "So, (the) 3,000 square metres which we've committed, which is about 40 per cent more than what we presently have in our existing office building, gives us the opportunity to expand our research and developments here in Singapore.
"We're probably planning to expand our research by 40 per cent or so in human capital; it's probably an increase of something in the order of S$1.5 million of (our) own funding at the moment to maybe S$2 million of own funding come 2012, when we plan to move in here.
"And the ability to mix and to cooperate with the other companies here, I think, it's a tremendous opportunity to foster the research and development of sustainable technologies in Singapore."
One of the key aims of the park is to provide a one-stop place for cleantech companies to interact and collaborate in different research and development projects.
- CNA/wk/al
