GAIN Distinguished Speaker Series - Dr Bicky Bhangu

During the session, Dr Bhangu touched on Rolls-Royce’s approach towards a sustainable future. The Group’s goal was clear – net-zero by 2050; it’s roadmap to get there even more so. The fight will be won through a bold vision, disruptive technologies, radical innovation, talent management, and meaningful collaborations. These are the tools wielded by Rolls-Royce as they lead the journey towards net-zero and strive to create a more sustainable aerospace industry. 

Using technology as a key enabler, Rolls-Royce focuses on sustainable product creation. Though challenging to achieve, reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise are all considered paramount outcomes of their product development process. This strategy is accompanied by an increase in research and technology investment towards game-changing solutions that are sustainable. 

Dr Bhangu also highlighted the importance of academic and industry collaborations in driving innovation – from ideation to commercialization –to bring impactful ideas into fruition. This cannot be achieved without talent and Dr Bhangu ended the session by sharing how Rolls-Royce values talent and their strategy for attracting and retaining these. 

The Q&A session featured discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in achieving net-zero, the feasibility of using recycled materials in Rolls-Royce’s products, the role students can play in Rolls-Royce’s all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle plans and many more.

Achieving a sustainable future is a priority for us all to meet the demands of a growing, more connected society.

Technology has a fundamental role to play in enabling and accelerating the overall global transition to a net zero carbon future.

In aerospace, decades of technological advancements and investments have improved the efficiencies of engines and accelerated the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels. There are also increasing opportunities for all-electric and hybrid-electric solutions. In power solutions, technologies including hybrid drive systems for trains, microgrids and Small Modular Reactors are also providing viable solutions to meet the vital power needs.

The success of the world's energy transition will require new technology breakthroughs that we can create through investment in research, talent development and collaborations within and beyond industries.

In this session, Dr Bicky Bhangu, President, Southeast Asia, Pacific and South Korea at Rolls-Royce will share how the global power group charts technology pathways to decarbonise complex systems, as well as the importance of strengthening STEM talents and alliances to help society and economies move forward.

Dr Bicky Bhangu is President – South East Asia, Pacific and South Korea at Rolls-Royce, based in Singapore. He is responsible for the operations across the company’s key businesses– Civil Aerospace, Defence and Power Systems. 

Bicky currently serves as Council Member for the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), and is Deputy President of Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC). He has served as Deputy President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), and as President of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore.

Bicky is an Adjunct Professor at the Nanyang Technological University. He has a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham, an MSc in Control Systems, PhD in Advanced Machines and Drives from the University of Sheffield and an MBA in Technology Management. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET), Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). 

Bicky is also serving the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS) as Board Member.