The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co (SSTEC) has unveiled the SUTD Eco-City Research & Innovation Centre (SERIC) in collaboration with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Administrative Committee (ECAC).

With the official opening of SERIC, the first two research projects were also officially launched. The first project focuses on the use of the Falcon+ family of inspection robots designed for facility maintenance, especially for ceiling inspections. The second project focuses on cutting-edge materials and smart decarbonisation systems to effectively reduce carbon emissions from buildings.

Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, president of SUTD (7th, L), demonstrates the Falcon+ building maintenance robot to Desmond Lee, Singapore's minister for national development (6th, L). [Photo provided by SSTEC]

Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, president of SUTD, spoke highly of the collaboration between the bodies: "Research and innovation are vital to the pursuit of a sustainable future."

"At SUTD, we use design powered by AI and tech to look at existing challenges faced by communities to find sustainable and actionable solutions.

"We are grateful to SSTEC and ECAC for enabling SERIC as a novel public, private, academia platform to scale prototypes to products. We have been working closely with enterprise to bring these two solutions – Falcon+ and Carbon Capture – from the lab to the market in Parcel D, SUTD.

"With the launch of SERIC, we are building the first bridge between Parcel D and SERIC to connect talents and enterprise in China to join us in refining and optimising these technologies for the Eco-City and beyond, with the aim of advancing their commercial viability and community wellbeing in the years to come."

This was unveiled at the 10th Meeting of the Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council held in Tianjin. The meeting was co-chaired by Desmond Lee, Singapore’s minister for national development, and Zhang Gong, mayor of Tianjin.

Desmond Lee, Singapore's minister for national development, and Zhang Gong, mayor of Tianjin (right), jointly unveils SERIC, the China-Singapore Smart Manufacturing Park and TEC Co-Lab. [Photo provided by SSTEC]

SSTEC, the Eco-City's master developer, also unveiled the China-Singapore Smart Manufacturing Park, a modern industrial park with green and low-carbon features.

The park also welcomed its first batch of occupants, including Feasurge New Material Co – which is a company from Singapore – Changchun Huasheng Auto Parts and the Tianjin Zexing Medical Technology Co.

Teo Eng Cheong, CEO of SSTEC (1st, L), signs leasing framework agreements with Song Guanhua, chairman of Feasurge New Material Co (2, L); Zhang Jian, general manager of Changchun Huasheng Auto Parts Tianjin branch (2nd, R); and Han Wei, general manager of Tianjin Zexing Medical Technology Co. [Photo provided by SSTEC]

The Eco-City Collaborative Innovation Centre for Green and Low-carbon Technologies (TEC Co-Lab) was also unveiled at the meeting. The TEC Co-Lab was jointly set up by SSTEC, Tiangong University and the National University of Singapore, among other partners. The lab will focus on water-centric research.

Teo Eng Cheong, CEO of SSTEC, said, "SSTEC is glad that we have successfully launched SERIC, the TEC Co-Lab and the Smart Manufacturing Park.

"These are essential components of the business eco-system in the Eco-City. We will continue to work with the governments of China and Singapore, as well as partners from all sectors, to build the Eco-City into a leading green and low-carbon economic and innovation hub in China. "