Norwegian firm, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has set up a Clean Technology Centre (CTC) in Singapore which aims to be a centre for clean technology innovation and incubation. The facility at the DNV Tech Centre in Science Park has a staff strength of 25 research engineers and advisors, though it expects to quadruple its headcount to 100 in four years.
Initially, the staff will see a mix of locals and foreigners, with locals expected to spur growth going forward.
The CTC will focus on core areas of expertise, namely, green shipping, green port solutions, renewable energy with a focus on wind energy, as well as energy storage and mobility.
It will provide consultancy and risk management services for businesses hoping to go green, to ensure that emerging clean tech solutions in the energy, maritime and urban solutions arenas are fit for investment and commercialisation.
In explaining how businesses can benefit from CTC, DNV’s chief executive officer, Dr Henrik Madsen, said “one of the roles is to certify technology so that people who have invented new technology can have an independent party like ours to sort of give a stamp to that the technology is a good one and investors can invest in it safely”.
Dr Madsen also disclosed that DNV will make Singapore its headquarters for its Asian operations with effect from next month.
While DNV declined to put a monetary value on its investment in CTC, it is believed to be about $80 million.
