PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, will receive close to $100 million in initial funding under the country's Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 programme to support the development of advanced municipal and industrial water solutions.
The funding, provided through the Urban Solutions & Sustainability domain of the National Research Foundation (NRF), includes $85 million for municipal water technology research and development and a further $12 million for industrial water solutions.
The municipal water allocation builds on support received under the previous RIE2025 framework and will fund research in areas such as water treatment, desalination and the management of contaminants of emerging concern. PUB also plans to develop an Integrated Validation Plant dedicated to energy-positive used water treatment. Scheduled for development in 2027, the facility is expected to provide a platform for research institutes and industry partners to collaborate on new treatment technologies.
In addition, PUB has secured funding for a new industrial water research programme focused on improving water efficiency and increasing water recycling in wafer fabrication and data centre operations, two sectors with significant water demands.
To support these efforts, PUB will bring together universities, research institutes, technology providers, trade associations and industry end-users to develop and validate innovative solutions. Two Industrial Water Solutions Innovation Ecosystem Alliances are expected to be launched during Singapore International Water Week 2026, targeting the wafer fabrication and data centre sectors.
Technologies demonstrating strong potential for real-world deployment could undergo testing and validation at dedicated facilities before being considered for wider implementation. Successful projects may contribute to a portfolio of water recycling and cooling technologies for deployment and commercialisation opportunities, including in overseas markets.
The investment forms part of Singapore's broader efforts to strengthen water security, sustainability and innovation capabilities through research and technology development.
