Dutch Technology Foundation STW and Hyflux Limited Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Jointly Fund and Execute Membrane Research Programme

Jun 23, 2009 21:40 JST

Source: Hyflux

SIWW, Singapore, Jun 23, 2009 - (ACN Newswire) - Dutch Technology Foundation ("STW") and Hyflux Limited ("Hyflux"), one of the world's leading providers of integrated environmental solutions, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") to jointly fund and execute an STW Research Partnership Programme ("Programme") on advanced membrane separation technologies.

The MOU was signed by Hyflux Group Deputy CEO & CFO Mr Sam Ong and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) Area Director Ms Linnie MacKenzie on behalf of STW. The MOU was signed during a media event held along side Singapore International Water Week 2009, and witnessed by Hyflux's Group CEO Ms Olivia Lum and PUB Singapore Chief Executive Mr Khoo Teng Chye.

A new initiative mooted by the STW, the Programme aims to stimulate more effective cooperation between academia and industry to create technological breakthroughs in inorganic membrane separation technologies that can accommodate applications with extreme temperatures, pressures and pH values. The Programme's broad direction will be set with industry input, and universities will be invited to submit PhD and post-doctorate proposals in an open tender. These proposals will be jointly evaluated by qualified representatives of STW and Hyflux. Work will be carried out on selected proposals in both university and industrial laboratories in a practical environment under the guidance of university professors and industry staff. The first collaboration of its kind for Hyflux, the Programme is expected to draw the best academic researchers in the Netherlands.

Administered by a team made up of representatives from a cluster of Dutch universities, Hyflux's inorganic membrane R&D and technology commercialisation teams, the Programme is expected to last between two to four years. The budget of EUR 3 million will be co-funded equally by STW and Hyflux.

"There is an immediate need and huge market potential for membrane separation technologies in replacing costly and high energy-consuming distillation processes in petrochemical industries. In this respect, Hyflux is a natural fit as our partner as its proprietary inorganic hollow fibre membrane concept is based on delivering costeffectiveness while maintaining the typical compactness of polymeric hollow fibre membranes," said Dr Eppo Bruins, Director of STW. "This first partnership with leading water company Hyflux will further reinforce the reputation of The Netherlands as a research hub with high quality researchers well known for their expertise in ceramic and hybrid membranes. We are therefore very excited in enabling the close collaboration between Hyflux and leading Dutch universities."

Commenting on the partnership, Ms Lum said, "Hyflux has always been a technology-driven company. We are excited at the opportunity to enhance our knowledge base by tapping into ongoing membrane developments through linkages and collaborations with internationally recognised research experts, reputable universities and renowned research institutions worldwide."

About STW

STW is the Dutch Technology Foundation. Its aim is to realize knowledge transfer between academic research and users in general and industry in particular. STW's annual budget is about 80 million euros, mainly being government money. Its research portfolio comprises of about 20 research programmes and about 700 research projects at all Dutch universities and most academic hospitals, covering all fields of applied science. About 1000 companies, mostly small or medium in size, are involved in STW's research or knowledge transfer processes. STW's network of researchers and companies is unique in the Netherlands. STW ranks as one the best compared to other European funding organisations in the number of patents coming from its projects. For more information, please visit http://www.stw.nl/English/

Contact:

Dr Yvette Roman
Program Officer
STW
DID: +31 30 6001 326
Email: y.roman@stw.nl

Mr Huub Eggen
Head of Communication and Public Affairs
STW
DID: +31 30 6001 298
Email: h.eggen@stw.nl

Claire Ng (Ms)
Asst Vice President, Corporate Communications
Hyflux Ltd
DID: +65 6580 6814
HP: +65 9151 1557
Email: claire_ng@hyflux.com

Lee Shou Yin (Ms)
Asst Manager, Corporate Communications
Hyflux Ltd
DID: +65 6372 6235
HP: +65 9645 7837
Email: shouyin_lee@hyflux.com

Source: Hyflux
Sectors: Water, Environment, ESG