Singapore launches $30.4m construction technology research programme

It targets up to a 40% cut in embodied carbon in urban development.

Singapore has launched a $30.4m consortium research programme aimed at developing and deploying lower-carbon construction technologies, led by Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in partnership with A*STAR, Woh Hup, and other industry partners.

The three-year programme is supported under Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan.

The programme comprises seven research projects focused on industry-identified challenges and opportunities for deployment on construction sites.

These include scaling up ultra-low embodied carbon concrete production and developing AI-powered design tools to help engineers reduce embodied carbon, material use, and costs in structural design.

Another project will scale up SIT’s ultra-low embodied carbon concrete technology, which was developed during CTIL’s first phase and has demonstrated up to a 65% reduction in embodied carbon.

The new phase will focus on further development, validation, and testing with industry partners.

Industry partners will provide project sites, operational expertise, and testing environments to assess the technologies under actual construction conditions.

The consortium aims to shorten the process from research and development to deployment on construction projects.

By 2029, the programme targets up to a 40% reduction in embodied carbon in urban development applications using the relevant technologies, compared with conventional construction approaches.

It also aims to generate new business opportunities and operational cost savings for participating industry partners.

The programme will also include training for undergraduate and postgraduate students and research staff through applied projects conducted with industry partners.

Industry professionals will receive capability-building support through specialised training, industry attachments, and technical seminars.

The research programme builds on CTIL, SIT’s applied research platform for sustainable construction technologies, which was established in 2021 to work with construction companies on industry challenges and test technologies under actual operating conditions.

CTIL recently opened its facility at SIT’s Punggol Campus, which brings researchers, students, and industry partners together to develop, test, and showcase built environment solutions.

From 2021 to 2026, CTIL completed 13 applied research projects with 26 industry partners.

Five technologies have since progressed to deployment on construction projects.