Lien Foundation - NTU Environmental Endeavour

Within NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) , the Environmental Endeavour is embodied in two complementary entities: the LIEN Institute for the Environment (LIFE) and Lien Aid. Both will work hand-in-hand to develop, implement and promote affordable, socially and culturally acceptable technologies and practices for the betterment of living conditions in developing countries.

LIEN Institute for the Environment (LIFE)

LIFE will explore, develop and promote the use of low-cost, small scale, culturally acceptable environmental technologies and techniques that can be deployed in developing countries. Lien Aid will pro-actively seek out the needs and deploy the appropriate technological know-how in the field through engineering-based community projects. This partnership between an action driven R&D entity (Lien Aid) and a R&D-driven action entity (LIFE) will be a distinct platform for Singapore to effectively service global environmental and social needs through innovative programmes and technology-based solutions.

To grow its portfolio of environmental technology, LIFE's R&D staff will continuously aggregate and evaluate relevant research being done both locally and overseas. Promising research will be used to develop and produce the appropriate technologies. Working through Lien Aid and other NGOs, these technologies and ensuing products will be deployed in the field.

Working closely with Lien Aid, LIFE can then close the feedback loop on user needs and requirements. The Institute will ensure that engineering support like training, maintenance and servicing be appropriately designed to meet the indigenous operational constraints.

Inter-disciplinary studies will be considered for the development of relevant policies, paramount to ensuring that the improvements made to the community are long-lasting.