BANGKOK - Grundfos has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) to co-develop energy and water efficient smart solutions that will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable built environment across Southeast Asia, through collaboration, talent development and sustainability education.
To support sustainable urbanisation in Southeast Asia, Grundfos and NP will be jointly exploring and developing smart sustainable solutions for the region’s built environment, as well as driving initiatives focused on UN Sustainability Development Goals such as SDG6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG13 (sustainable consumption and production patterns) for climate action.
By 2030, Southeast Asia’s urban population is expected to grow by another 100 million people[1]. This growth will drive up new build demand, with nearly half of new construction globally expected to come from the region by 2040[2]. Construction comes with a significant carbon footprint – ASEAN's buildings sector accounted for 24% of energy-related carbon emissions in 2019[3]. With Southeast Asia being one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, the sector’s sustainable ambitions are high on the region’s agenda.
The partnership will see both parties contributing complementary expertise, knowledge, and talent that will advance sustainability efforts for the commercial building industry. NP will facilitate the various touchpoints between academia and industry, while Grundfos will tap into its extensive network and industry knowledge to provide staff and students with the necessary resources and industry opportunities to successfully co-develop innovative sustainable solutions. These solutions will be subsequently implemented across the NP campus as well as Grundfos’ facilities.
To achieve this, the 3-year partnership will focus on sustainability education and talent development. Grundfos and NP will look to roll out a comprehensive range of solution packages, projects, events, courses, and trainings to proactively promote smart sustainability to the industry, which includes webinar sharing sessions, seminars, and conferences.
To build talent pipelines and foster talent development, Grundfos will also be working closely with NP across various programs such as mentorship programs, book prizes, student projects, and internships. One such initiative includes Grundfos’ sponsorship of the annual book prizes for NP’s School of Design & Environment (DE).