We do Cleantech Right. Countries that want to implement a comprehensive program to stimulate the developement of Clean technology and investment would do well to study the programs being implemented by the EDB (Economic Development Board) of Singapore.Singapore, a small city state has been at the head of the pack when it comes to innovation. I would like to point out also that Singapore implemented it first version of urban congestion pricing in 1975, decades before London. It implemented an updated fully functional version in 1998, which electronically priced the usage of roads, something that should be considered a future standard. New York City most notably is trying to still trying to muster the the political wherewithal to think about doing this 33 years later. I point this out because it is indicative of the way Singapore is able to fund, implement and refine longterm programs. Ramping up what can be considered emerging industries and technologies and using itself as a proving ground for development, implementation and testbedding. Singapore leads the curve so much that technology, economic models and administrative implementation that are 'done & done' there often have yet to be phrased in a coherent manner in other jurisdictions.
Another Center of InnovationRecently at the Clean Tech Investors conference in San Francisco, Kenneth Tang from from Singapore's EDB went into detail about what makes Singapore different. To begin with a little background about Singapore, it is a City State located off the Malacca Strait, one of the worlds busiest maritime passages transited by 70% of the world's shipping. Its population of about 4.5 million has one of the highest standards of living in the world. 3 billion people live within a 7 hr flight radius. There are over 30,000 companies located there. Its manufacturing capability is 35% of California, which is by itself the world's 6th largest economy. Taxes are low with a cap of 20% on personal income tax and 18% on corporate and Singapore is connected via its business relationships and sovereign wealth fund (Temasek) to 60% of the world's GDP.Singapore's EDB has for 45 years pursued a core development strategy of creating a high standard of living in a garden city environment with a strong emphasis on development that is both ecologically and economically friendly to its inhabitants. Certainly the lack of available fresh water was one of the earliest reasons for the consideration and implementation of conservation techniques in the 1960's. Water comes from either rainfall based cisterns, aqueducts or desalination. Singapore has innovated so consistently in water ways that it won the Stockholm prize for water managment and in some ways has succeeded in turning itself into a tropical version of Venice in SE Asia. This is part of a longterm strategy to become a world CleanTech Hydrohub.
Sunlight in the Tropics, 25% More. REC, the Norwegian Solar Energy firm is building the world's largest solar panel manufacturing plant there. The plant when finished will have an annual capacity 1.5 gigawatts, 75% of global capacity. Singapore's EDB is working to establish a solar value chain and industrial park capable of supplying the area's needs. Sensible I would say given that solar power in the tropics generates 25-30% more than in temperate zones and that there is also more need for clean electricity in this area. Thats just one project. The real secret to the approach is Singapore's policy of a having a CleanTech strategy for sustainable growth which is integrated into a holistic policy managed by the EDB. The rationale is simple: Cities are the new focus. Singapore will lead the way by building the infrastructure, passing the laws and training the people. Its infrastructure is open to testbedding projects and products. The R & D budget is $14 Billion over the next 4 years. To put this in perspective the the US is trying to get a 'Green Jobs' bill of $250 million passed for training and industry development over 2 years.Singapore looks to the future and intends to 'export social capital and solutions to the world' according to Ken Tang, with the city state itself acting as a CleanTech proving ground whose motto is almost 'Think, Try, Test & Trust.' One of the projects on the drawing board is building a sustainable city for 6 million inhabitants in the PRC from the ground up as a technology proving ground.
Really Big Green RoofsOne way to attract knowledge capital is to bring in the best and brightest. To that end Singapore is encouraging partnerships between the Public sector, Private industry and Universities. Overseas Universities and research institutes are being encouraged to setup satellite campuses in Singapore including Stanford, http://www.caltech.edu/ and Germany's Fraunhofer Institute.This includes providing the funds and facilities to get them setup and going. The EDB's policy is straightforward: to establish themselves as a 1 stop shop for any organization looking to setup shop in SG. One that is also in charge of policy & planning and one that can assist in:1-Setting up companies
2-Providing and training staff
3-Coninvesting and incubating new Clean Technologies
4-Providing office and manufacturing space
Xeriscaping at Changji AirportIn other words if you want to start a new business in the Cleantech sector or setup manufacturing Singapore is trying to be your one-stop solution.   It will also provide matching funds for CleanTech Ventures that meet its investment criteria including grants for hight school and college students to get a leg up early. All that in the environment of a Garden City, lets hope this model catches on worldwide.