1. Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA, to collaborate in joint research projects, facilitate graduate students exchanges and organise joint academic meetings, symposia and other academic partnerships to advance the development of sustainable manufacturing technologies.
2. Sustainable manufacturing technologies will shape future living as they open up manufacturing possibilities to create new environmentally friendly products. These products can be produced cost-effectively to improve quality of life minimising or minus the costly repercussions of pollution, damage to the environment and depletion of resources among others. Sustainable manufacturing technologies can be used in multiple industries for clean production and services. Technology advancements in sustainable manufacturing technologies are aligned to Singapore’s long-term R&D thrusts to grow the clean energy and environment industries.
3. The 2-year collaboration between the institutes of the two countries will build on the collective and complementary research capabilities in sustainable manufacturing technologies in SIMTech, and expertise in the areas of sustainable development and design combining real world experience with a strong academic and research background in GIS. Specific research collaboration areas include joint R&D in sustainable manufacturing technologies, renewable energy and fuel cells, clean production process technologies, clean technologies, reverse logistics and green supply chains, intelligent testing and diagnostics and sustainable design for remanufacturing.
4. Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech, said: ”Research collaboration in sustainable manufacturing technologies is relevant today. SIMTech has assisted many local enterprises to break new grounds and secure global markets using sustainable manufacturing technologies. This collaboration will enable us to help local enterprises migrate to a higher plane in the field of sustainable manufacturing technologies, critical in today’s dynamic manufacturing environment and for economic as well as societal benefits.”
5. Jeremy Haefner, RIT provost, added “This partnership will enhance research and education programmes offered through the Golisano Institute for Sustainability and serve as a first step in creating additional collaborations with Singapore.”
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Notes to Editor:
Sustainable manufacturing is more than recycling materials and renewable energy sources as commonly perceived. It encompasses a wide spectrum of manufacturing issues such as environmental considerations throughout the life cycle of a product from raw material stage and the rate of energy efficiency during production and usage among others.
Among A*STAR’s key achievements in sustainable manufacturing technologies is SIMTech’s assistance to help companies gain global recognition and financial success from sustainable manufacturing and development. SIMTech assisted Nanyang Optical, a local eyewear manufacturer and retailer, to assess the life cycle of its business operations and to identify potential areas for improving sustainability. This has led to the feasibility of cutting recycled pellets made from industrial polymer waste into fashionable eyewear frames.
The launch of environmentally friendly eyewear, Linkskin, light-weight, paper-thin eye glasses that are almost 100% recycled plastic, was met with overwhelming response at the Milan International Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology Exhibition 2008 or MIDO Event and garnering many international design awards at the prestigious iF (International Forum) design competition in 2006 and the Red Dot design in 2007. Nanyang Optical also successfully penetrated into new, eco-conscious European markets like Germany, France and Italy.
Another notable green project is with Grenidea Technologies, a sustainable material company to develop food packaging employing sustainable manufacturing. Using life cycle engineering techniques, SIMTech assessed Grenidea’s product life cycle and successfully improve the product development lead time and reduce manufacturing costs.
The result is more cost-efficient biodegradable food packaging made from agricultural waste and empty fruit brunch of oil palms that can be designed into different shapes, sizes and degradation periods. The product is a global success. They are available in J Sainsbury in UK, COOP in Sweden and Coles in Australia and in selected supermarkets in Singapore. Recently, the flagship product of Grenidea, AgroResin® won the most votes for the category – Environmentally Sustainable Packaging in last year’s Singapore Packaging Star Award organised by the Packaging Council of Singapore (PCS).
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Annex 1
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
A*STAR is Singapore's lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. A*STAR actively nurtures public sector research and development in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to Singapore's manufacturing industry and new growth industries. It oversees 22 research institutes and consortia and supports extramural research with the universities, hospital research centres and other local and international partners. At the heart of this knowledge intensive work is human capital. Top local and international scientific talent drive knowledge creation at A*STAR research institutes. The Agency also sends scholars for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training in the best universities, a reflection of the high priority A*STAR places on nurturing the next generation of scientific talent.
For more information, please visit http://www.a-star.edu.sg
About the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) is a research institute of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). SIMTech develops high value manufacturing technology and human capital to contribute to the competitiveness of the Singapore industry. It collaborates with multinational and local companies in the precision engineering, electronics, semiconductor, medical technology, aerospace, automotive, marine, logistics and other sectors
For more information, please visit http://www.SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg
About Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) at Rochester Institute of Technology is an exciting and wholly unique initiative. GIS will play a major role in enabling the transformation of global industrial enterprises into sustainable systems by undertaking comprehensive interdisciplinary initiatives in education, research, and technology transfer. Programmes within GIS will take a holistic approach toward optimising production and consumption systems by simultaneously addressing material flow, energy utilisation, societal needs, ecological impacts, technology and policy factors, and the economics of sustainable business enterprises. Graduates of GIS will be prepared to effect meaningful change on a global scale.
For more information, please visit http://www.sustainability.rit.edu
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Lee Swee Heng
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing
Technology, A*STAR
Tel: +65 6793 8368
HP: +65 9620 3902
E-mail: leesh@scei.a-star.edu.sg
Mr William Dube
Golisano Institute of Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Tel: + 585 475 2816
E-mail: wjduns@rit.edu