Singapore has unveiled its first national research centre, TREASURES, dedicated to advancing residue and toxic industrial waste management. Announced by Dr Janil Puthucheary at Catalyst 2026, the centre is a collaborative effort between the National Environment Agency (NEA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
TREASURES, supported by S$35m under the Closing The Resource Loop Funding Initiative, will operate from NTU from 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2030. The centre aims to enhance Singapore’s waste management capabilities by fostering innovation and collaboration among academia, industry, and government.
The centre’s research focuses on four key areas: waste flow analytics, landfill transformation, toxic industrial waste solutions, and risk assessment and standards. These efforts are designed to develop sustainable and circular waste management solutions, particularly for the Semakau Landfill, which is projected to reach capacity by 2035.
From 17 June to 17 August 2026, TREASURES will open its first grant call to support projects that offer practical solutions for waste management. This initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration across various sectors and accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies.
Ng Keng Wei from NEA highlighted the centre’s role in co-developing scalable solutions, whilst NTU’s Professor Chu Jian emphasised the importance of research in addressing Singapore’s waste challenges. Professor Karina Gin from NUS expressed the university’s commitment to transforming Semakau Landfill into a hub for circularity, ensuring a sustainable future for Singapore.
