Sustainability Innovation Programme
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 Pillars
Learn key trends, solutions, and insights into what it takes to build a sustainable future
Understand your sustainability needs and opportunities for growth
Increase your green proficiency through in-person engagement with greentechs & experts
Start implementing solutions, and plan for future growth leveraging clear sustainable actions
Programme Topics
Energy Efficiency
Funding for Sustainability
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Sustainable Packaging
Carbon Management and Reporting
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 panelists 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 panelists
Session 2
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
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”
Brenda Teo shares how businesses can monitor and manage their carbon emissions
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
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
The final session of the programme was a sharing session on “ESG Reporting and Funding for Sustainability” by Will Leong, Programme Manager, UOB FinLab, Jayson Koh, Programme Director, Ecolabs, NTU, Benjamin Tan, Business Development Associate, STACS, and Max Lee, CEO & Co-Founder, Pantas.
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”
Agenda
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2022: Week 1 – “Educate”
No better way to get your sustainability journey started than to better understand the basics of sustainability, and know where you stand with regards to key sustainability metrics! Join us next week for 2 and half-day session to deepen your understanding about sustainability fundamentals through sharing by Ngee Ann Poly, STACS, Enterprise Singapore, and UOB.
| Date | Topic | Speaker | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 May 2022 10.00am – 12.00pm | Learning Sustainability 101 | Benjamin Soh Co-founder and Managing Director, STACS Dr Jason Tang Director, Environmental & Water Technology Centre of Innovation (EWTCOI), Ngee Ann Polytechnic | You can look forward to learning about: |
| 12 May 2022 10.00am – 11.30am | Learning Sustainability 101 | Samuel Tan Vice President, ESG Solutions, Section Solutions Group, Group Wholesale Banking, UOB Shawn Yap Vice President, Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy, Personal Financial Solutions, UOB Shaun Tan Programme Director, The FinLab | You can look forward to learning about: |
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2022: Week 2 – “Evaluate”
Join our Sustainability Business Model Canvas Workshop to learn how to use a tried-and-tested innovation framework, the BMC, to understand the gaps and opportunities in your business. The workshop helps you to clearly identify your specific sustainability problem statement, so that you can find the right green solutions.
The sustainability assessment questionnaire developed by Global Initiatives helps companies start their sustainability journey using an assessment framework based on global standards like the UN SDGs. It provides a competitive positioning vis-a-vis peers, and it allows SMEs to develop a clear action plan for sustainability, based on the data collected.
| Date | Topic | Speaker | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2022 9.30am – 3.00pm | Sustainability Business Model Canvas Workshop | Felix Tan Mentor-in-Residence, The FinLab | You can look forward to learning about: Venue : 80RR FinTech Hub SG, 80 Robinson Road, #08-01 Singapore 068898 |
| 19 May 2022 2.00pm – 3.00pm | Sustainability Assessment Tool with Global Initiatives | Puneet Chaddha Promoter and Adviser to the Board, Global Initiatives | You can look forward to learning about: |
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2022: Week 3 – “Experience”
Our first session in the “Execute” pillar in our SIP allows you to “Tech-Match” with solutions from SP Digital and E-Tech! Do join us as we showcase the benefits of these solutions offered by our partners, and find out how these innovative solutions can help your business increase productivity and save costs by being more energy efficient.
| Date | Topic | Speaker | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May 2022 2.00pm – 3.00pm | Managing Rising Energy Costs with Greener and Smarter Solutions | Satinderpal Singh Sandhu Deputy Director, Business Development and Sales, SP Digital Mr. Sean Lee Assistant Director, Project Development, E-Tech Building Services Pte Ltd | You can look forward to learning about: |
| 25 May 2022 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Visit to SP Digital’s Office | Clement Cheong Vice President, Sales and Customer Operations, SP Digital Satinderpal Singh Sandhu Deputy Director, Business Development and Sales, SP Digital | You can look forward to learning about: |
Sustainability Innovation Programme 2022: Week 4 – “Execute”
Our second session in the “Execute” pillar in our SIP showcases UOB’s sustainability programmes, U-Solar and U-Energy. Join us as we feature the green solutions offered by the programmes, and discover how you can leverage the bank’s green financing to get support for your sustainability projects.
Our third session in the “Execute” pillar in our SIP features solutions introduced to us through our government agency partners. Find out more about the benefits of these solutions focusing on energy efficiency, and what kind of government subsidies and grants are available for these solutions.
| Date | Topic | Speaker | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 June 2022 10.00am – 11.00am | UOB U-Solar and U-Energy Solutions | Jasper Wong Head, Construction and Infrastructure, Section Solutions Group, UOB Teo Feng Ni Vice President, Section Solutions Group, UOB | You can look forward to learning about: |
| 2 June 2022 10.00am – 11.30am | ESG and SGI Solutions | Emir Nurov Co-founder & CEO, Resync Nilesh Jadhav Co-founder & CEO, BtrLyf William Temple CEO, Ampotech | You can look forward to learning about: |
UOB FinLab Sustainability Innovation Programme 2023 Highlights
Highlights from the 2023 Sustainability Innovation Programme and the participant’s takeaway from the programme.
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.
Organised by
Supported by
Knowledge Partners
Tech Solution Partners
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