Partnerships

Joint ventures

Rolls-Royce has joined forces with key industry partner SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) to create two joint ventures:

• SAESL – Singapore Aero Engine Services Pte Ltd – A tripartite maintenance, repair and overhaul centre, in partnership with SIAEC and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Pte Ltd (HAESL). As a Trent Centre of Excellence, SAESL services all engines in the Trent family.
• IECO – International Engine Component Overhaul – the engine component MRO facility celebrated its 10th year of operations in 2008 and has repaired over one million components.

In 2005, Rolls-Royce singed a joint venture agreement with Enertek, a Singapore consortium comprising Accuron Technologies, EDB Investments Pte Ltd (an investment subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board), and Temasek Holdings, a Singapore-based investment company, to develop a commercially viable power system based on solid oxide fuel cell technology.

Significant investment in the fuel cell programme continues and in Singapore, fuel cell activity is carried out through the Rolls-Royce Advanced Technology Centre and is focused on technology acquisition.

Suppliers

Rolls-Royce also supports ST Aerospace Engines Pte Ltd, an ST Engineering company, which includes an Authorised Maintenance Centre (AMC) for the Rolls-Royce T56 engine. In addition, the company has established relationships with Singaporean suppliers and manufacturers, such as the sub-contracting of aero-engine component manufacture to:

• Singapore Aerospace Manufacturing (SAM), a subsidiary of Accuron Technologies
• JCS-Vanilla, a subsidiary of JCS Group, headquartered in Singapore
• Barnes Aerospace, a division of Barnes Group Inc. headquartered in the US.

Research partners

As part of our global Research & Technology acquisition activities, we are fully engaged with local research partners in Singapore such as A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), NTU (Nanyang Technological University) and NUS (National University of Singapore). Singapore’s focus on R&D and the availability of highly qualified and skilled research scientists and engineers are the main factors behind the growth in our R&T activities here.

Our relationship with A*STAR started in 2001 through an MOU with one of the A*STAR research institutes (Institute of High Performance Computing). After the initial success, the relationship moved to a higher level by the signing of a comprehensive Master Research Agreement with A*STAR in 2004. We currently work with most of the research institutes in the Science and Engineering Research Council of A*STAR. Projects range from Artificial Intelligence to Manufacturing Process Technologies and cover a wide range of technology readiness levels.

Our engagement with NTU started in 2005 through our Fuel Cell related R&D activities. Following success in these projects, a Master Research Agreement with NTU was signed in 2009. Several research projects in areas such as Electrical Systems and Computational Engineering have been started.

Economic Development Board (EDB)

Rolls-Royce participates in the EDB's Training and Attachment Programme (TAP), which aims to help companies develop manpower capabilities and prepare for growth. The EDB funds the training, both in Singapore and abroad, of engineers and other professionals to create a ready pool of trained manpower for companies such as Rolls-Royce.

In 2006, Rolls-Royce was awarded the Distinguished Partner in Progress (DPIP) Award by the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore in recognition of its 'exemplary contributions to Singapore' in the economic, social and community areas. In 2008, the company won a British Business Award in Science & Technology, awarded by the British Chambers of Commerce, for its work in developing solid oxide fuel cells technology.

At the 2009 British Business Awards, Rolls-Royce won the UK TI Innovation award for its contribution to driving innovative technology, products and services in Singapore. Rolls-Royce also won a British Business Award in Education and Training while our joint venture IECO won the Manufacturing and Technology award.