Singapore Climate Ventures programme to nurture green technology innovators

Image: First cohort of the Singapore Climate Ventures programme 

To foster climate technology innovation in the region and to accelerate commercialisation of these green solutions, NTU, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Temasek, with support from Breakthrough Energy, have launched the Singapore Climate Ventures (SGCV) programme. Started in August 2024, this initiative complements the partnership between Breakthrough Energy, Temasek, and Enterprise Singapore for the Breakthrough Energy Fellows – Southeast Asia (BE Fellows - SEA).

As a venture exploration education programme, SGCV offers Singapore-based participants from NTU and NUS access to global climate tech expertise through the Temasek and Breakthrough Energy networks. The 10-week programme equips participants with foundational knowledge to transition climate innovations from lab to market. Upon completion, participants can apply for venture creation programmes such as BE Fellows - SEA to further develop their ideas.

These efforts collectively aim to catalyse the climate innovation ecosystem in Southeast Asia, supporting the region’s transition to net zero carbon. This week saw the first SGCV cohort graduate with a Demo Day, where six teams from NTU and NUS presented their solutions and business plans to a panel of climate tech investors and experts for feedback.

Among the teams working on commercialising NTU research and innovation are Hydrotech Solutions, which leverages nanostructured high entropy alloys to manufacture cost-effective electrodes for green hydrogen production via water electrolysis, and Carbonsynk, a team pioneering enhanced rock weathering to capture carbon in Southeast Asia. Carbonsynk’s solution also targets agricultural productivity and the reduction of waste from mining and construction, with advanced tools for measurement, reporting, and verification of the carbon capture achieved.