24 June 2008

NUS partners EU Commission to set up EU Centre

EUROPEAN CONNECTION: Mrs Viviane Reding (centre) , EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media; Prof Tan Eng Chye (right), NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost; and Prof Bertil Andersson, NTU Provost, at the launch of the EU Centre in Singapore.

THE NUS community can look forward to more academic links and exchanges, as well as research opportunities in Europe. The University has entered into collaboration with NTU and the European Commission to set up the European Union (EU) Centre in Singapore. It aims to encourage greater awareness and knowledge of the EU in Singapore through support for EU-focused education, research and outreach activities.

Mrs Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media; Prof Tan Eng Chye, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost; Prof Bertil Andersson, NTU Provost, signed the Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony held at the Fullerton Hotel (20 June). The Centre will be managed by NUS and hosted by NTU at its One-North Campus.

NUS and NTU are the ideal partners for the project. Both are leading global universities in Singapore with extensive networks both across Europe and through out Asia. NUS, for example, has set up research institutions with Dutch water specialist Delft Hydraulics, France's leading aerospace research agency Onera and French institution Supelec. The University also collaborated with the Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, KTH) to set up an Overseas College in Sweden.

"We believe that the EU Centre can further enhance the understanding of the EU's role in Southeast Asia and its engagement with Singapore. NUS is very proud to be a co-sponsor of the EU Centre in Singapore," said Prof Tan.

The EU's number one trading partner in ASEAN, Singapore is a hub for over 2,200 European businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. The EU Centre in Singapore is well placed to promote the policies and awareness of the EU which could have a knock-on effect on other countries in the region.

Mr Klaus Regling, a Senior Fellow hosted by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) will help enhance the links between the Centre and the European Institutions. He is the Director General of Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) in the European Commission.  

The European Commission will provide a grant of up to €1.2 million for the Centre over the next three year.