09
October
2015
|
15:00
Asia/Singapore

Converging membrane research

Membranes have many applications in areas such as water purification

Academic researchers and industry partners have come together to boost membrane-related research in Singapore through the NUS Membrane Science and Technology Consortium (MSTC), which was launched on 28 September. The umbrella organisation aims to scale basic, applied and translational research in this field, with particular emphasis on water, energy and environmental applications within the municipal and industrial sectors.

More than 100 guests from the academia, industry and government sectors attended the launch, including Mr Harry Seah, Chief Technology Officer of Singapore's national water agency PUB, National Research Foundation Programmes Directorate Director Mr George Loh and NUS Faculty of Engineering Dean Professor Chua Kee Chaing.

"The MSTC will encourage collaborations, which will hopefully lead to the development of novel membrane materials and innovative membrane process technologies. We also hope the MSTC will help further build up international recognition of NUS as being at the forefront of membrane research as well as a key player in translational research leading to new applications that benefit mankind, said Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology).

The Consortium will help to raise Singapore's visibility in the membrane technology domain, encouraging more research collaborations, translational and commercialisation activities and funding opportunities. It will also serve as an important platform to encourage technology transfer and commercialisation of new research. Membranes have wide applications in areas such as water purification, environmental protection, energy security and food-and-beverage processing.

On Kent Ridge Campus, the Consortium will promote synergies between more than 25 faculty members in the NUS Faculties of Engineering and Science, known as MSTC Fellows. They will concentrate on three research themes: novel materials and fabrication; membrane modules and innovative processes; and membrane systems operation, integration and optimisation.

Outside academia, the Consortium has linked up with partners from the industry and government. So far, eight Singapore-based companies, multinationals and small- and medium-sized enterprises, have joined MSTC's Industry and Government Affiliates Program. Another eight have expressed interest in doing so.

membrane consortium-2

The Consortium signed on a new academic partner at its launch (from left): MSTC Coordinator Prof Gary Amy, Director of the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology Prof Greg Leslie and Prof Chua

Further alliances are being developed with global academic and institutional partners involved in membrane-related research. MSTC signed on a new Australian academic partner, the University of New South Wales' UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, during the event.

At the launch, three scientists presented projects they are currently working on: this year's President's Technology Award winner NUS Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Neal Chung Tai-Shung on organic solvent nanofiltration; NUS Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Ng How Yong on an anaerobic membrane bioreactor; and NUS Biological Sciences Professor Prakash Kumar on a new desalination process that "copies nature.

The MSTC is supported by the NUS Faculty of Engineering, the NUS Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology) and the NUS Industry Liaison Office, which is part of NUS Enterprise.

See press release.