NORWAY-ASIA BUSINESS REVIEW
Tan and Mrs. Mary Tan to Norway, the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway organised a seminar where ten MoUs between Singaporean and Norwegian institutions were signed, indicating the drive and support for more cooperation in the research and development between our two countries. “The Norwegian energy sector is increasingly looking abroad for new investments and inputs and many companies are using Singapore as a starting hub due to good infrastructure and a very favourable businesses environment,” explains Dr Lund. NEC is still in its infant stages but Dr Lund sees a number of opportunities and areas where the Centre can assist and promote Norwegian energy businesses at home and in Singapore. He has identified four main roles that NEC can fulfil. As a partnership between Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Research Council and the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University, NEC can promote Norwegian technology and services, facilitate research collaboration as well as university cooperation in terms of student and faculty exchange between Nanyang Technological University and education institutions in Norway. Nanyang Technological University already has MoUs with leading universities and research orgnisations in Norway including Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Oslo, Norwegian Business School (BI), Sintef and MARINTEK.
ISSUE 4 2016
Secondly, NEC can act as a “softlanding” site for Norwegian energy technology entering markets in Southeast Asia. “We can help small Norwegian companies have a soft landing into Asia. They may have technologies that are applied in the home markets (Norway, EU) and with presumed applicability globally. However, they need to verify that their technology also is relevant in specifics of the Asian market,” explains Dr Lund. “NEC will provide office and laboratory facilities at Nanyang Technological University in the short and medium term and we can provide a professional eco-system where they have access to technology, market experts, related businesses and entrepreneurs. That way we can help them minimise risk and the cost of Asian market entry. They will have access to state-of-theart facilities where they can test and demonstrate their technology, develop prototypes and change and modify existing technologies as well as get feedback from experts and professors at Nanyang Technological University. You could say it is like an incubator in the warm, innovative environment of a university.” The third area where Dr Lund sees the need for NEC is in the support of energy related companies in Singapore and Southeast Asia to expand and strengthen by giving them access to a discussion and collaboration environment, early access to new technology, research facilities and new companies and investors that
can support them in expansion. “Take traditional maritime and oil and gas companies with ambitions of moving into cleaner energy such as LNG and renewables such as Statoil,” he adds. “NEC can help such energy companies move beyond the petroleum trading businesses and look into new avenues for growth such as renewable energy. Elkem, REC, Multiconcult and SN Power are all companies that continuously push innovation. They need access to new technology, new ideas, new concepts and insights.” Lastly, NEC plans to utilise its strong network in the Singaporean business community to help Norwegian companies connect with the right partners and institutions. “We can help companies plug into a wider network of related businesses and agencies, such as IPI Singapore, SPRING, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. Also, Singapore is a great starting point for expansion in Southeast Asia so we can help with contacts in India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar trough the Innovation Norway offices in these countries.” NEC will operate with a membership fee and hopes to attract companies, agencies and research institutions. “Our modus operandi will be to organise monthly symposia for the members,” explains Dr Lund. “Members should act and interact and benefit from a diverse group of participants. We also plan to organise technological seminars, workshops and symposiums on relevant topics and we will attend conferences and exhibitions including Singapore International Energy Week and the Singapore Conference on Sustainable Energy. We will also organise site visits to members or other companies in order to facilitate idea exchange. We’re here for the members so it also depends on what the members want.” “The NEC website will be an information portal connecting Norwegian energy companies with the rapidly expanding market opportunities in the region. “, Dr Lund adds.
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Facts
PHOTO: PER CHRISTER LUND
Above left: The Chinese Heritage Center and the “Beehive” building (left) at Nanyang Technological University” Above: The NEC team at Nanyang Technological University. From left: Research director Dr. Sanjay Kuttan, NEC director Dr. Per Christer Lund, and ERI@N executive director Subodh Mhaisalkar.
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Nanyang Technological University is the leading technological university in Singapore and the second in Asia, according to Times Higher Education. The Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N) conducts research in areas of energy generation, conversion and storage systems as well as grid systems and urban energy solutions in a “living lab” environment with a particular focus on solutions for mega-cities and for the tropical environment. ERI@N is one of the leading research institute for innovative energy solutions in Southeast Asia.
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