In April, a groundbreaking partnership was announced between the company, government agency Enterprise Singapore and state investment firm Temasek to identify and nurture emerging climate technology in Southeast Asia. This collaboration was unveiled at Ecosperity Week 2024 and includes a joint funding commitment over the next three years.
As part of this collaboration, Breakthrough Energy Fellows program is establishing its first regional hub outside of the United States in Singapore. Through this program, Singapore will co-fund and support deep-tech climate start-ups focused on renewable energy and reducing carbon footprints to help the region achieve its net-zero target by 2050. Start-ups in the program will receive an initial seed funding of US$500,000 and gain access to a global network of industry partners, mentors, experts, and investors.
Singapore’s Enterprise Singapore chairman Lee Chuan Teck highlighted the diverse range of technologies that Breakthrough Energy is exploring to combat global warming. He described the partnership as a “win-win proposition” and expressed hopes of expanding collaborations to other global challenges such as food security, waste treatment, and healthcare.
Breakthrough Energy Fellows vice-president Ashley Grosh praised Singapore for its strong technical talent pool at institutions like the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. She emphasized the potential for entrepreneurial innovation among researchers in the region and the opportunity to connect with markets and corporate partners due to Singapore’s strategic location.