Aligned with Singapore's Global Hydrohub vision, the new R&D Center will focus on Innovative Water Quality & Water Scarcity Solutions
Singapore, September 21, 2006 -- GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), will invest SGD 130 million over the next 10 years to establish a world-scale GE Water & Process Technologies Global R&D Centre in Singapore.
Comprising five Centers of Excellence, this R&D Centre will employ 100 top-tier researchers who will build up a full range of R&D capabilities and transform innovative concepts into products and solutions that will address real world demands. Singapore as the Global Hydrohub
"Our decision to invest in Singapore is due to the strong commitment from the government in developing the water industry. This, coupled with the easy availability of skilled manpower and the strong enforcement of intellectual property rights regulations makes Singapore the ideal platform to launch this R&D center," said Mr. Jeff Garwood, President and CEO of GE Water & Process Technologies.
"Singapore has a long term water strategy by looking at ways to diversify water supply sources and to conserve demand. This approach is reflected in the Four National Taps Approach. The Singapore government is also committed to make Singapore a Global Hydrohub. At GE, we recognize this vision, we want to embrace it and we are committed to help Singapore achieve it. We're investing in Singapore with a long term commitment to bring solutions to the globe to answer our customer needs," Mr. Garwood added.
Mr. Teo Ming Kian, Chairman Economic Development Board, said, "GE's decision to site the Global Water R&D Center in Singapore marks a very significant milestone for the water industry here. Singapore has identified the water industry as a strategic growth area and our goal is to develop a vibrant eco-system with many water players, both foreign and local, establishing their bases here. This center will contribute to developing Singapore as a global knowledge hub in water technology and firmly elevate Singapore's standing as a location for water companies in the world. "
The GE-NUS Partnership
Hosted at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the new research center will leverage on the university's comprehensive research infrastructure in engineering, science and medicine. Mr. Garwood and Professor Shih Choon Fong, NUS President, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to establish the research facility at NUS Faculty of Engineering. The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Teo.
The center will conduct research aimed at alleviating pressing water issues, related to quality, availability and the affordability of safe, usable water supplies. Specific areas of research include water treatment and systems integration, fundamental chemical and membrane applications and ion-exchange technology.
Professor Shih Choon Fong, President, National University of Singapore said: "NUS is privileged to be chosen to host GE Water's R&D Center. I see this initiative facilitating interaction between GE's leading scientists and our researchers and students, enhancing the vibrancy of our research environment and capabilities."
"The new Center will promote the growth of an environment and water technology ecosystem spanning the entire value chain. This partnership between GE and NUS holds promise for adding a new dimension to integrating basic and applied research with commercial application for NUS and Singapore," Prof Shih added.
The center is a strong strategic partnership for both NUS as well as for GE. Both have a long history of proven research capabilities and technology development. NUS's research strengths in membranes, biological processes, nanomaterials, catalysis and sensors related to water security, will complement GE's technical expertise and industry experience in water and process technologies. A win-win collaboration between GE and NUS, the new research center is well placed to leverage on the broader and more comprehensive set of expertise available in both GE and NUS to focus on high impact research in water technologies that advances both knowledge and application
"The NUS-GE partnership will aggressively work to address critical water issues, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with the National University of Singapore's faculty, scientists and students on this groundbreaking effort," Mr. Garwood said.
GE R&D Capabilities
The establishment of the center is in line with GE Water & Process Technologies' goal of expanding its R&D capabilities throughout Asia in order to best support and meet
growing demands in both established and emerging Asian markets. Recently, GE completed an expansion of a facility located in Shanghai, in China and in Bangalore, India.
Colin Low, President, Singapore, GE Corporate, said "The initiation of the latest Water R&D Center in Singapore shows the commitment by GE to commit investments and resources in Singapore. This center is GE's sixth R&D center, and it is one of three centers in Asia. This is an exciting phase of GE's growth in Singapore and the South East Asia region and attests to the rapid growth of GE's revenue from this region. "
GE Water & Process Technologies provides a broad range of solutions and technologies, from total system engineering, fundamental research, to waste water treatment. It has also taken an active role in community affairs in the region. During the tsunami aftermath, two mobile water plants were donated to Aceh, and one of the water plants was moved Yogyakarta.
As one of Singapore's largest investors, GE employs some 2, 300 employees since it started operations in 1969. To date, its total annual revenue in Singapore is USD850 million. Recently Singapore also welcomed a Customer Application Center (CAC) under GE Energy.
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
GE's relationship with Singapore dates back to 1969 when the company opened a number of electronics manufacturing plants. These were subsequently followed by an aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul shop and a plastics plant. Today, GE works closely with local partners on key infrastructure projects in the energy, transportation, health sectors and financial services. Under GE Money brand, GE offers financial products in private label credit cards, personal loans, insurance and retail finance to consumer.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a multi-campus university of global standing, with distinctive strengths in education and research and an entrepreneurial dimension. It has an enrolment of 22,000 undergraduate and more than 6,000 graduate students from 80 countries. NUS also enjoys a close teaching-research association with 13 national-level, 11 university-level and 80 faculty-based research institutes and centers. Research activities are strategic and robust, and a 'no walls' collaborative culture forms the bedrock of NUS' research-intensive vibrancy. In addition, a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation promotes creative enterprise university-wide.
NUS plays an active role in international academic networks such as the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) and Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). It is ranked amongst the best universities in the world, and is well-regarded for disciplines such as Technology, Biomedicine and the Social Sciences.
For more information, please visit: www.nus.edu.sg
Contacts for enquiries related to this press release:
General Electric, Kuala Lumpur
Khor Jiak Woen, +603 2267 1808
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Fun Yip, +65 6516 1374
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