HDB fund to help turn 'cool ideas' into better living

A $500,000 fund is being set up to help turn innovative ideas into real solutions to improve HDB living. Each feasible proposal can be awarded up to $10,000.

To show their commitment, those who receive the funding will have to match the Government grant dollar for dollar, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.

Mr Khaw, who was speaking at the launch of this year's Cool Ideas for Better HDB Living exhibition at Toa Payoh, said the public had come up with many good ideas over the years.

The new fund, to be built up over three years, will help commercialise some of these inventions to benefit more Singaporeans.

More than 220 ideas have been received since the launch of the Cool Ideas for Better HDB Living initiative in July 2011.

They include ideas to reduce the number of bicycle thefts, for easier laundry drying and community greening.

This year's Constituency Competition for Cool Ideas will be launched in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi-Shyan said: "It is very encouraging to see such strong involvement from our residents. Public participation has increased by more than 50 per cent since the Cool Ideas platform was launched.

"This shows that we have residents who want to do their part in improving our living environment."