The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), A*STAR, and Woh Hup have unveiled a $30.4m research programme designed to transition lower-carbon construction technologies from laboratory settings to real-world applications. Over the next three years, the Woh Hup-SIT-A*STAR Consortium for Sustainable Construction Technology will collaborate with seven industry partners to develop solutions such as ultra-low carbon concrete, construction materials derived from demolition waste, AI-enabled structural design, and the reuse of structural steel.
The programme’s goal is to reduce embodied carbon in selected urban developments by up to 40% by 2029. This ambitious target underscores the consortium’s commitment to fostering a more sustainable and productive construction sector. The scale of investment, representing about 10% of the built environment sector’s annual business expenditure on research and development, highlights the industry’s confidence in the necessity of innovative solutions.
Professor Chiew Sing Ping, Head of the Construction Technology Innovation Laboratory and Cluster Director for Engineering at SIT, is a key figure in this initiative. The consortium’s efforts reflect a significant step towards addressing environmental challenges in the construction industry, with potential long-term benefits for urban development and sustainability.
