Upskilling: A Key Strategy to Futureproof SMEs in a Digital and Sustainable Economy
Upskilling is the key for SMEs to thrive in a digital and sustainable economy—and UOB FinLab is here to make it happen.
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2023 Highlights
28 March 2023 - 6 April 2023
The FinLab’s Sustainability Innovation Programme (SIP) is a 2-week programme to help SMEs transform their companies into sustainable and green businesses. It provides deep insights across a variety of sustainability topics such as energy efficiency, sustainable finance, renewable energy certificates (RECs), sustainable packaging, and carbon management and ESG reporting. Learn how sustainability can play a part in your business to balance impact while ensuring profit and productivity.
Programme Schedule
*All dates and timings are subject to change
A certificate of completion will be presented to participants who achieve at least 75% attendance for the programme
Session 1: Programme Kickoff
The programme kickoff began with an opening address by Eric Lim, Chief Sustainability Officer from UOB and sharing sessions by Gan Ai Lim, Managing Director, Head of Marketing, Group Wholesale Banking and Global Markets, UOB and Marianne Tan, Programme Director at UOB FinLab.
This was followed by a panel discussion on “How SMEs can Transition to Net Zero” moderated by Melissa Moi, Head of Sustainable Business, Corporate Sustainability Office, UOB, with panellists Christine Wong, Executive Director, Urban Solutions & Sustainability, Enterprise Singapore, Kang Jen Wee, Founder and CEO of REDEX, Tan Siang Hou, Head of Data Science, Terrascope, and Valerie Chua, Assistant Vice President, Venture Capital, New Ventures Singapore, Economic Development Board (EDB) who shared their insights on the topic.
The kickoff concluded with a closing address by Janet Young, Managing Director and Head of Group Channels and Digitalisation, UOB.
Eric Lim delivers the opening address
Gan Ai Lim shares about the UOB Sustainability Compass
Marianne Tan shares about the FinLab’s sustainability programmes
Janet Young with panellists
Session 2: Fundamentals of Sustainability
Fundamentals of Sustainability
The second session of the programme was a sharing session conducted by Yina Chua, Assistant Director, SP Alliance & Network (SPAN), Department of Industry and Partnerships, Singapore Polytechnic, and Tang Soo Yin, Centre Director, User Experience Centre.
Yina Chua shared insights into how businesses can understand materiality by identifying the relevance and significance of their sustainability issues while Tang Soo Yin shared about how businesses can utilise smart technology to review their utilities, save operational costs, and lower their emissions.
Yina Chua shares how sustainability decisions impact the actions and performance of organisations and stakeholders
Tang Soo Yin shares about the importance of transitioning to sustainable operations to future-proof businesses and stay ahead of the curve
Session 3: Assess Your Green Position
UOB U-Solar, U-Energy & U-Drive
The third session of the programme began with a sharing session on UOB U-Solar, U-Energy, and U-Drive by Edmund Wong, Vice President, Sector Solutions Group, UOB Feng Ni Teo, Vice President, Sector Solutions Group, UOB, and Sherman Tan, Assistant Vice President, Sector Solutions Group, UOB.
Edmund Wong shares about U-Solar financing solutions
Feng Ni Teo shares about the U-Energy Programme
Sherman Tan shares about U-Drive financing solutions
UOB Sustainability Compass and Workplace Banking
A sharing session on the UOB Sustainability Compass and Workplace Banking solutions was then conducted by Mavis Ku, Senior Relationship Manager, UOB, Samuel Tan, Vice President, ESG Solutions, Sector Solutions Group, UOB, and Tan Pin Pin, First Vice President, Marketing, Group Wholesale Banking & Global Markets, UOB.
Mavis Ku shares about the UOB Sustainability Compass
Samuel Tan shares how businesses can assess and reach their ESG goals
Tan Pin Pin shares about UOB workplace banking solutions for business owners
Session 4: Carbon Management and Waste Reduction
Carbon Management and Waste Reduction
Brenda Teo shares how businesses can monitor and manage their carbon emissions
The fourth session of the programme began with a sharing session by Brenda Teo, Sustainability Consultant, Unravel Carbon, who spoke on “How to Manage and Reduce Carbon for Businesses”
A sharing session on “Reducing Waste through Sustainable Packaging” was then conducted by Karen Cheah, Founder & CEO of AlterPacks, and Mohd Andiadzhar, Director of Environment at One Farrer Hotel.
Karen Cheah shares her journey founding AlterPacks
Mohd Andiadzhar shares the long-term benefits that greener operations brings to businesses
Session 5: Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency
Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency
The fifth session of the programme was a sharing session on “Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency” by Zhang Xiang Jing, Vice President, Sustainability, Group Finance & Corporate SVCs, UOB, Alex Loh, Business Development Director, REDEX, Giles Chua, Business Development Director, SP Digital, and Emir Nurov, CEO & Co-Founder, Resync.
Zhang Xiang Jing shares about “Energy Efficiency for Businesses”
Alex Loh shares about Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Giles Chua shares about energy efficiency solutions from SP Group
Emir Nurov shares about technologies for energy efficiency from Resync
Session 6: ESG Reporting and Funding for Sustainability
ESG Reporting and Funding for Sustainability
Will Leong shares on “Sustainable Financing & Grants”
Jayson Koh shares on the Ecolabs Centre of Innovation for Energy
Benjamin Tan shares on “ESG Reporting and Financing for Sustainability”
Max Lee shares on “Technologies for ESG Reporting”
UOB FinLab Sustainability Innovation Programme 2023 Highlights
Highlights from the 2023 Sustainability Innovation Programme and the participant’s takeaway from the programme.
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Sustainability Innovation Programme 2021 – SMEs Features
This video features previous programme participants Cheng Fong Enterprises, Container Printers Pte Ltd, Trust Cleanz Initiative, and Urban Origins.
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Supporting Partners:
Knowledge Partners:
Tech Solution Partners:
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2023 Highlights
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