NTU spin-out NanoSun snaps up $3.1m deal with Chinese state on water treatment.
NanoSun, a wastewater treatment spin-out of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), has landed a S$4.3m ($3.1m) deal with China Commerce Group for International Economic Cooperation (CCIEC), a commercial arm of the Chinese state.
Under the terms of the deal, NanoSun will deploy its water treatment services for industrial wastewater generated in the 20 square kilometre Qingdao National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. CCIEC now holds a 51% stake in the firm, and will oversee NanoSun’s board and provide funding while NanoSun will focus on developing the supply of its membrane technology.
The Singapore-based firm, founded two years ago, had only been conducting laboratory research before meeting with CCIEC, which saw a greater potential for NanoSun’s primary technology – a 3D printed membrane water filter which is self-cleaning.
The deal could open up the wider wastewater market in China to NanoSun – a growing market in China as the country moves to combat the effects of runaway pollution and climate change.
Darren Sun, founder of NanoSun, said: “What we will demonstrate in Qingdao will be an affordable, but effective technology that can turn polluted and industrial wastewater into a source of clean water, without the generation of secondary waste […] We see great potential for our innovative made-in-NTU technology to succeed in China and beyond.”
Chen Yu , CCIEC president, added: “There is a huge demand from the industries to find unique technology to treat wastewater. China’s textile industry produces two billion metric tonnes of wastewater per year. This collaboration is in relation to our central government’s policies for a green economy.”
