GSK and EDB commit $35 million (USD) in funding to support research in green and sustainable manufacturing in Singapore

• Eight proposals receive inaugural awards

Issued: London UK & Singapore

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the government agency responsible for economic growth and development, today jointly awarded funding for eight research projects based in Singapore aimed at growing local capabilities and talent in green and sustainable manufacturing.

The first round of projects will receive close to US$3.5 million in funding under the US$24 million GSK-Singapore Partnership for Green & Sustainable Manufacturing. The partnership will be funded by GSK-EDB US$35 million joint fund to grow Singapore’s capabilities and talent base in green and sustainable manufacturing as well as healthcare policy. The joint fund is part of GSK-Singapore 10-year Strategic Roadmap to address the industry’s challenges and co-create innovative solutions.

“GSK is committed to the sustainability of our company, our people, our facilities, and the communities in which we operate. The funds we are committing for the research on green and sustainable manufacturing over 10 years will help Singapore to become a leader in sustainability research in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals manufacturing and ensure that companies, such as GSK, can improve the efficiency of all activities by minimising materials, energy and waste worldwide,” said Mr Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline.

“Singapore is proud to partner GSK to grow our capabilities and talent base in green and sustainable manufacturing. This partnership will help to establish a research talent base in Singapore capable of developing more sustainable manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing sectors,” said Mr Leo Yip, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board.

The inaugural awards were presented today to the eight principal investigators from the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). They will work on research projects in chemical-, physical- and bio-transformations to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste generated during the manufacturing process. The eight lead investigators are expected to recruit 17 post-doctoral and PhD researchers.
Describing the joint funding from GSK and EDB as an investment in the future, Mr Christopher Dobson, Vice President & Managing Director, Global Manufacturing & Supply Singapore, GSK, said, “It is GSK’s wish that this investment will encourage more open exchange amongst the best research minds from all over the world and greater R&D collaborations. With this inaugural initiative, Singapore will be able to drive towards a sustainable manufacturing sector and serve as a magnet for the world’s top talent in green and sustainable manufacture.”

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.

Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) - EDB is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre and grow the Singapore economy. We dream, design and deliver solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. In so doing, we generate economic opportunities and jobs for the people of Singapore; and help shape Singapore's economic future. For more information about Singapore’s biomedical sciences sector, please visit www.biomed-singapore.com.