Lloyd's Register, MPA and NUS collaborate to establish
s$9 million professorships to push maritime R&D
Lloyd's Register, a leading international classification society
and risk management organisation, the Maritime and Port Authority
of Singapore (MPA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS)
have collaborated to set up two professorships at NUS, worth a
total of S$9 million. The aim is to further boost the growth of
maritime research and development (R&D) in Singapore, in
particular, offshore research. The Memoranda of Understanding
(MOUs) to set up the two professorships, namely the Lloyd's
Register Professorship and the MPA Maritime Technology
Professorship (MTP), were signed at NUS today. The signing ceremony
was witnessed by the Minister for State for Finance &
Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, and the British High Commissioner to
Singapore, Alan Collins.
Under the MOUs, Lloyd's Register and MPA will each commit S$3
million dollars to the Lloyd's Register Professorship and MTP,
respectively. With Lloyd's Register's contribution, NUS will seek
from the Government, through the Ministry of Education, a
dollar-for-dollar matching grant, bringing the total worth of the
Lloyd's Register Professorship and MTP to S$9 million.
The establishment of the Lloyd's Register Professorship and the
MTP is an important tripartite collaboration between industry,
government agency and tertiary institution, and a significant step
forward in our efforts to create a dynamic maritime R&D cluster
in Singapore. It also marks the first time that Lloyd's Register, a
diverse international company, founded in the UK, has committed
funds to set up a professorship outside of the UK. This is a clear
demonstration of Lloyd's Register's determination to promote
maritime R&D and its confidence in the Singapore Government's
commitment to develop Singapore as a premier centre for maritime
R&D.
In her address, the Minister of State for Finance &
Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said: "While maritime R&D
activities in our tertiary and research institutes are increasing
steadily, we strongly believe that the maritime industry can
continue to make important contributions with its valuable business
and operational insights. The move by Lloyd's Register to
contribute S$3 million towards the Lloyd's Register Professorship
in NUS is one part of the R&D equation. Equally important is
Lloyd's Register's in-depth experience and technical expertise as
one of the world's leading international classification
societies."
Highlighting the collaborative efforts between the UK &
Singapore in R&D, Alan Collins, the British High Commissioner
to Singapore said: "The UK recognizes that 95 per cent of research
is undertaken outside the UK and to be successful, our companies
need to partner not only with our excellent UK scientists but also
with the best from around the world. I am therefore delighted that
the latest collaboration is between one of the UK's top companies -
Lloyd's Register and NUS - Singapore's premier university".
The Lloyd's Register Professorship and MTP will be established
at the Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE), which
is jointly set up by NUS and the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The professorships will be used to support offshore research and
engineering and maritime R&D through the participation of
prominent visiting professors or renowned industry experts as
R&D project leaders or advisors.
Taking pride in supporting CORE with the establishment of the
Lloyd's Register Professorship in Offshore Engineering at the NUS,
John Stansfeld, Director for Asia, Lloyd's Register Asia,
commented: "The NUS is ranked number 22 in a global ranking of 200
best universities and ninth for the disciplines of engineering and
IT (above many better known universities) and this has been an
important factor in the decision to support a university outside of
the UK for the very first time."
Speaking for CORE, NUS President Shih Choon Fong commented: "The
NUS Faculty of Engineering's CORE has been at the forefront of
R&D efforts to strengthen Singapore's base of offshore
engineering capabilities. It is thus a most opportune time, when
the maritime and its associated marine and offshore engineering
industry are assuming an ascending role in the world economic
landscape, that these three organizations come together to jointly
broaden the scope of their endeavors".
Teo Ming Kian, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board,
said: "I am delighted that CORE has provided a conducive platform
for this tripartite collaboration, and I am confident we will see
many more such private-public sector collaborations. We would like
CORE to be one of the world leaders for research and education in
the field of oil & gas and offshore engineering, and this
collaboration is a strong step towards enhancing the R&D
capabilities of this important industry in Singapore."
Guests from the maritime industry, government agencies and
tertiary institutions attended the signing ceremony. The MOUs were
signed by John Stansfeld, Director for Asia, Lloyd's Register Asia;
BG Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore; and Professor Shih Choon Fong, President, National
University of Singapore.
End of release.
Notes to editors
For further information, please contact:
Ms Jeannie Tay
Corporate Communications
MPA
Phone: + 65 6 375 1628 /email:
Jeannie_M_S_Tay@mpa.gov.sg
Ms Julie Liau
Office of External & Industry Relations
NUS Faculty of Engineering
Phone: + 65 6 516 4436 /email:
engliauj@nus.edu.sg
Professor Choo Yoo Sang
Director, CORE
NUS Faculty of Engineering
Phone: + 65 6 516 2994 /email:
cvecys@nus.edu.sg
Mr Alastair Jones
Oil & Gas Business Manager
Lloyd's Register Asia
Phone: + 65 6 370 4552 /email:
alastair.jones@lr.org
Available on request:
- Fact sheet on Lloyd's Register Professorship and MPA Maritime
Technology Professorship
- Fact sheet on Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering
(CORE)
- Speech by Minister of State for Finance & Transport, Mrs
Lim Hwee Hua
- Speech by HE Mr Alan Collins, British High Commissioner to
Singapore
- Speech by Mr John Stansfeld, Director for Asia, Lloyd's
Register
- Speech by Prof Shih Choon Foong, President, NUS
About Maritime Port Authority of Singapore
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was
established on 2 February 1996 as a statutory board under the
Ministry of Transport with the key functions of developing and
promoting Singapore as a premier global hub port and an
international maritime centre, and to safeguard Singapore's
strategic maritime interests. As the newly designated 'Champion
Agency', the MPA is tasked with expanding the Singapore maritime
sector by developing a strong and attractive cluster of ancillary
services. These range from, among others, ship broking/management,
marine insurance/finance, maritime legal/arbitration services,
R&D initiatives, and manpower expertise.
For more information, visit
www.mpa.gov.sg
About Lloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is an independent risk management
organisation that works to help improve its clients' quality,
safety, environmental and business performance throughout the
world, because life matters. It expertise and activities cover
shipping, oil and gas, railways, and other asset-based
industries.
About National University of Singapore
Established since 1905, the National University of Singapore
(NUS) is acknowledged as one of the finest universities in the
world. NUS is a fully comprehensive university offering a
broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses
and cross-faculty enrichment.
NUS has 13 faculties, with an enrolment of more than 22,000
undergraduate and 8000 graduate students. It actively promotes
innovation and entrepreneurship, and enjoys a close
teaching-research nexus with 13 national-level, 11 university-level
and 70 faculty-based research institutes and centres. The
University is strongly committed to advancing knowledge and
fostering innovation, educating students and nurturing talent in
the service of country and society.
Backed by a rich heritage spanning 100 years, NUS has a proven
track record of delivering premium education. This year, NUS
celebrates its centennial through a series of activities that
showcase and commemorate the global excellence, academic
distinction, cultural virtuosity and the rich heritage of NUS.
For more information, visit
www.nus.edu.sg
For more information
Alastair Jones
Oil & Gas Business Manager, Lloyd's Register Asia
T + 65 6 370 4552
E
alastair.jones@lr.org
Services are provided by members of the Lloyd's Register
Group.
Lloyd's Register, Lloyd's Register EMEA and
Lloyd's Register Asia are exempt charities under the UK Charities
Act 1993.