To facilitate the establishment of ‘real world’ technology demonstration sites for validating innovative low emissions technology at scale in New Zealand and Singapore

Ara Ake (previously the National New Energy Development Centre) is a government funded entity set up to accelerate New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions energy future through advancing the development and commercialisation of low-emissions energy innovation.

Ara Ake’s area of impact is the demonstration and commercialisation stage of the energy innovation lifecycle. Through its network of local and global connections, Ara Ake identify opportunities and technology with change-making potential and collaborate with the right expertise, infrastructure and capital to develop, test and commercialise low-emissions energy solutions.

Ara Ake has partnered with EcoLabs to jointly develop New Zealand – Singapore Low Carbon Technology Translation Program to facilitate the establishment of ‘real world’ technology demonstration sites, also known as testbeds, for validating innovative low emissions technology at scale in New Zealand and Singapore.

EcoLabs will support Ara Ake with development and establishment of Testbeds Framework, Global Co-Innovation Program, Capability Building Platform and Launchpad Program for New Zealand Energy Innovators. The innovative low carbon solutions of high Technology Readiness Level will be identified in both countries and the best of them will be deployed at the established testbed sites.

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), the biggest tertiary education institution in Taranaki, New Zealand, has been identified as the first testbed partner. WITT Campus at New Plymouth has 11 buildings and more than 6,000 students and 340 staff members. WITT has an ambitious goal to achieve Carbon Neutral Campus by 2025 by leveraging innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy and green mobility technologies. EcoLabs, Ara Ake and WITT is working closely together on structuring Testbeds Framework and Global Co-Innovation Program to achieve this goal. EcoLabs and Ara Ake partnership will be a platform for Singaporean cleantech innovators to expand to the New Zealand market, leveraging support of local partners and testbed opportunities.

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