Sustainability Innovation Programme
15 Aug 2024 – 1 Oct 2024
UOB FinLab’s Sustainability Innovation Programme (SIP) is a 5-week programme to help SMEs transform their companies into sustainable and green businesses. Learn how sustainability can play a part in your business to balance impact while ensuring profit and productivity.
Registrations Now Open!

Programme Highlights
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2024 reached it’s successful conclusion after a 5-week programme designed to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with invaluable guidance on transforming their businesses into sustainable and green entities.

Sustainability Deep Dives

Sustainability Deep Dives – Energy Efficiency
24 September 2024

Sustainability Deep Dives – Circular Economy & Waste Management
26 September 2024

Sustainability Deep Dives – Sustainable Cities & Living
1 October 2024
Programme Modules and Schedule
Click each module to find out more
Programme Details:
Module length: 7 hours
No of sessions: 2
Session format: In-person
Develop capabilities and deepen knowledge in key sustainability areas, including:
- Enhance capabilities and deepen knowledge in key sustainability areas
- Understand fundamental ESG concepts and regulations
- Discover economic landscape and trends that necessitate sustainable actions
- Learn why SMEs need to prioritise ESG actions, as it impacts business growth
- Understanding key disclosure metrics relevant for SMEs
Learn key trends, concepts, methodologies, and insights into what it takes to build a sustainable future
- Session 1
- Sustainability Concepts and Strategies for SMEs
- 20 Aug (Tue)
- 09:30am – 12:30pm
- Amazon Web Services Office
- Learn fundamental ESG concepts, including GHG, Scope 1, 2, and 3, and double materiality
- Understand key standards and frameworks (e.g., ISSB, TCFD, CDP), and the importance of ESG reporting and carbon disclosure due to regulatory changes
- Use the Sustainability Compass to get started on your sustainability journey
- Sustainability and profit: how prioritisation of ESG can uplift your bottom line
- Sustainability strategies: how SMEs can collaborate with greentechs and also get support from the bank
- Session 2
- Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting for SMEs
- 22 Aug (Thu)
- 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Amazon Web Services Office
- Learn economic landscape and trends in the region necessitating sustainable actions
- Understand metrics for ESG disclosure and overcoming related challenges
- Plan actionable steps toward sustainability through effective ESG disclosure
- Demo of how to use an industry-approved ESG platform for sustainability disclosure
- Hands-on guidance to disclose your SME sustainability data on the platform
Programme Details:
Module length: 7 hours
No of sessions: 2
Session format: In-person
Disclose your ESG data in order to take clear steps toward sustainability, with hands-on workshops that include:
- Using proven frameworks in materiality assessment to prioritize important metrics relevant for your industry
- Learning how to measure and disclose ESG data to obtain a basic but relevant sustainability report
- Analysing sustainability reports to derive insights and realistic action plans
- Understanding green financing, impact investing, and sustainable finance as a whole
Understand your sustainability needs and assess your opportunities for growth through sustainability
- Session 1
- Materiality Assessment
- 29 Aug (Thu)
- 10:00am – 12:30pm
- 80RR Fintech Hub
- Prioritisation of ESG factors that impact sustainability
- Utilising frameworks for double materiality to identify key areas and metrics important to the business and sector
- Explore dedicated support from SME sustainability advisors on reporting and decarbonisation
- Session 2
-
Understanding Your Disclosure Summary and Incentives for Decarbonisation
- UOB Green Financing Opportunities
- Government Grants and Support - 10 Sep (Tue)
- 10:00am – 12:30pm
- 80RR Fintech Hub
- Obtaining a Sustainability Disclosure Summary using an ESG disclosure platform
- Deriving key insights and action steps after completing the disclosure
- Prioritising areas and understanding the resources needed for improvement
- Getting an overview of banking support in ESG, sustainable financing frameworks, and greentech solutions
- Information on grants and government support for SMEs
Programme Details:
Module length: 6 hours
No of sessions: 3
Session format: In-person
Drive your Decarbonisation plans with various support, including:
- Discovering relevant innovation (both hardware and software) that will enable you to meet your net-zero targets
- Connecting with greentech solutions that cover various areas, including energy efficiency, circular economy and waste management, and ESG reporting and carbon management
- Understanding the sustainability solutions and green programmes offered by the bank, including green financing and our sustainable financing framework
- Finding out how to leverage on sustainability grants and other financial support offered by government agencies (e.g. ESG, MSE)
- Maximising the advice and strategies from various experts in our FinLab network, including ESG trainers and consultants
Start implementing the sustainable solutions, and plan for future growth leveraging clear sustainable actions
- Discover relevant innovation (both hardware and software) that will enable you to meet your net-zero targets
- Sustainability expert sharing from green solution providers
- Showcase of UOB FinLab greentechs
- Session 1
- Energy Efficiency
- 24 Sep (Tue)
- 09:30am – 12:00pm
- 80RR Fintech Hub
- Session 2
- Circular Economy & Waste Management
- 26 Sep (Thu)
- 09:30am – 12:00pm
- Amazon Web Services Office
- Session 3
- Sustainable Cities & Living
- 1 Oct (Tue)
- 09:30am – 12:00pm
- Amazon Web Services Office
Programme Pillars
Click each pillar to find out more
Develop

Learn key trends, concepts, methodologies, and insights into what it takes to build a sustainable future
Disclose

Understand your sustainability needs and assess your opportunities for growth through sustainability
Decarbonise

Start implementing the sustainable solutions, and plan for future growth leveraging clear sustainable actions
Programme Topics

Energy Efficiency

Circular Economy and Waste Management

ESG Reporting and Disclosure

Solutions for Decarbonisation

Sustainability Grants and Support

Sustainable Finance
Programme Benefits
Hover over each benefit to find out more
SME Sustainability Capability Building
Connections to Leading Sustainability Partners
ESG Reporting and Disclosure
Decarbonisation Solutions
Experiential Learning Format
Programme Outcomes
What you will obtain from this programme
- Customised ESG Disclosure Summary
- Materiality Assessment
- Certificate of Completion
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2023 Highlights
Highlights from the 2023 Sustainability Innovation Programme and the participant’s takeaway from the programme.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sustainability Innovation Programme?
The Sustainability Innovation Programme (SIP) is a 5-week programme designed to help SMEs transform into sustainable and green businesses.
Who should attend the programme?
The programme is open to all SME business owners, founders, key decision-makers, or sustainability/business development representatives with intermediate knowledge of sustainability.
What topics are covered in the programme?
It covers topics such as sustainability concepts, strategies, disclosure, reporting, sustainable finance, sustainability support and grants, energy efficiency, circular economy and waste management.
What are the key benefits of participating in the programme?
Participants gain knowledge and tools to make their businesses sustainable, including:
- Customised Sustainability Report
- Materiality Assessment
- Certificate of Completion
How is the programme structured?
The Sustainability Innovation Programme is structured around three pillars: Develop (learning sustainability concepts and methodologies), Disclose (prioritising ESG factors and reporting), and Digitalise and Decarbonise (implementing sustainable solutions and planning for growth).
What are some of the various tools and platforms that will be used in the programme?
The UOB Sustainability Compass helps SMEs start their sustainability journey by providing guidance on sustainability concepts, methodologies, and frameworks, and identifying growth opportunities through sustainability practices.
Do I have to pay to join the programme?
There is no cost to participate in the programme. We highly encourage SMEs to attend at least 70% of the sessions to be eligible for the Certificate of Completion.
What if I am unable to attend all the sessions?
You may nominate another representative from your company to attend the session. Please let our team know.
Whom do I contact if I have a question about the programme?
You may contact our programme manager Will Leong at will.leong@uobgroup.com.
When will I receive my Certificate of Completion?
For participants who have attended at least 70% of the sessions, a Certificate of Completion will be sent to you 6 – 8 weeks after the programme.