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Sustainability Innovation Programme

15 Aug 2024 – 26 Sep 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!

Timeline

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Timeline

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Background

SMEs often struggle to get started on a sustainability journey, citing limited resources, insufficient knowledge, and cost pressures. But the need to “go green” is needed now more than ever, as many large MNCs and listed companies have committed to net-zero targets and decarbonisation plans.

Our Sustainability Innovation Programme (SIP) help SMEs to develop knowledge on sustainability concepts and terms, especially the impact of ESG regulation. This knowledge will lay the foundation for SMEs to disclose their ESG data, in order to create a basic but important sustainability report, generated by the MAS Greenprint platform. The report help SMEs to set net-zero targets by prioritising sector-specific ESG metrics and focus on high-emission factors. SMEs will then be connected to green solutions — some supported by financing, to achieve their decarbonisation goals.

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

Obtain comprehensive knowledge and insights on key sustainability concepts, terms, frameworks, regulations, and trends

Connections to Leading Sustainability Partners

Get connected to key ecosystem players

ESG Reporting and Disclosure

Get started on sustainability disclosure (including determining your GHG inventory) in order to meet ESG reporting requirements that has affected you or your customers

Decarbonisation Solutions

Discover innovative greentechs that can help your business reach your decarbonization goals

Experiential Learning Format

Maximise your learning with hands-on and interactive sessions facilitated by sustainability experts with relevant knowledge about SMEs

Programme Outcomes

What you will obtain from this programme

Customised ESG Disclosure Summary

Materiality Assessment

Certificate of Completion

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

Develop capabilities and deepen knowledge in key sustainability areas

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

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

Disclose your ESG data in order to take clear steps toward sustainability

Prioritisation of ESG factors that impact sustainability
Utilising frameworks for double materiality to identify key areas and metrics important to the business and sector

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

Decarbonisation - Insights and Technologies

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

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 [email protected].

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.

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Supported by:

Supporting Partners