Join us on 4 September at the National Design Centre for thought-provoking keynotes and panel discussions, followed by research presentations on 5 September at the CREATE Theatrette
Future Cities: Science, Design, and Policy for Urban Transitions Symposium & Exhibition Singapore 2025
Join us on 4 September at the National Design Centre for thought-provoking keynotes and panel discussions, followed by research presentations on 5 September at the CREATE Theatrette
As cities rapidly evolve under the pressures of climate change, population growth, and resource constraints, the need for a new urban paradigm has never been greater. Traditional models are no longer enough to address the interwoven social, ecological, and technological challenges of today’s urban environments. A new mode of urbanisation must urgently emerge, building on knowledge from different disciplines to envision net-zero urban futures and chart pathways for systemic change.
The Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) Global is an international research collaboration between ETH Zurich and the Singapore universities NUS, NTU, and SUTD, supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF). FCL Global aims to shape sustainable cities and settlement systems through science, by design, in place, over time. Over 150 researchers across 13 modules bring together diverse expertise in Science, Design, Engineering, and Governance to develop transdisciplinary approaches tackling the global challenges of rapid urbanisation.
“Future Cities: Science, Design, and Policy for Urban Transitions” is a symposium and exhibition to be held on 4-5 September in Singapore. As a flagship event of Singapore Urban Science Week 2025, organised in collaboration with the Centre for Liveable Cities, Future Cities demonstrates how the FCL Global programme’s settlement systems approach enables the development of tools, scenarios, and strategies able to transcend the limitations of traditional disciplines. By identifying and redesigning the drivers of complex urban systems, we can enable a transition towards positive forms of urbanisation.
The symposium highlights research that not only deepens our understanding of complex urban systems but also leads to actionable outcomes that are already informing change on the ground. Spanning scales from materials to megacities, and guided by long-term thinking, the programme showcases how knowledge is created in place, evolves over time, and transforms cities through science and by design. The symposium will open on 4 September with keynote speeches and panel discussions by international experts at the National Design Centre Auditorium. On 5 September, guests will be invited to the CREATE Campus, home to FCL Global’s Singapore hub, for in-depth research presentations.
A public exhibition at the National Design Centre Gallery accompanies the symposium. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of the insights and impact of FCL Global modules, demonstrating how our 13 research modules – organised into four clusters – influence design and policy across scales, in Singapore, Zurich, and our research sites worldwide. The exhibition opens on 4 September with guided tours led by FCL Global researchers. Visitors can also learn more about FCL Global’s research by exploring interactive exhibit tables and demonstrations.
Following the end of the symposium, the exhibition will transfer to the CREATE Campus Lobby and reopen to the public on 7 September, for public viewing until 4 October 2025.
Organised by: Singapore-ETH Centre Future Cities Laboratory Global in collaboration with the Centre for Liveable Cities
Opening Address
Prof. Dr. Christian Wolfrum
Deputy President and Provost NTU Singapore, Former Vice President of Research ETH Zurich
Prof. Dr. Subodh Mhaisalkar
Executive Director, National Research Foundation Singapore
Dr. Limin Hee
Director of Research, MND Centre for Liveable Cities
Prof. Sacha Menz
Executive Director, Future Cities Laboratory Global
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Dr. Susan Parnell
Global Challenges Research Professor, School of Geography, University of Bristol, Emeritus Professor at the African Centre for Cities (ACC), University of Cape Town
Prof. Dr. Stephen Goldsmith
CLC Visiting Fellow, Derek Bok Professor of the Practice of Urban Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and director of the Data-Smart City Solutions program at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University
Mr. Masanori Kobayashi
Chief Economist for Infrastructure Policy, Policy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Japan
Dr. Inhee Kim
Honorary Research Fellow, Seoul Institute
Em. Prof. Ir. Dirk Sijmons
H+N+S Landscape Architects/TU-Delft
Leonard Ng
Director of Business Area, Henning Larsen Asia Pacific
Moderators
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schroepfer
Director, Future Cities Laboratory Global Singapore Hub
Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter
Director, Future Cities Laboratory Global Zurich Hub
Closing Keynote
Dr Vo Trong Nghia
Founder & Principal Architect, VTN Architects
Programme
4 September 2025National Design Centre L2 Auditorium | |
09:30 |
Registration and Welcome Coffee/Tea |
10:30 |
Opening of Symposium:Prof. Dr. Christian Wolfrum Prof. Dr. Subodh Mhaisalkar Dr. Limin Hee Prof. Sacha Menz |
11:00 |
Keynote Presentations:Prof. Dr. Susan Parnell Prof. Dr. Stephen Goldsmith Mr. Masanori Kobayashi |
11:40 |
Panel discussionPolicy Innovation for Urban Transitions: Regulatory Frameworks and Incentives for Sustainable Development moderated by Prof Dr. Thomas Schroepfer |
12:30 |
FCL Global Exhibition Opening and TourLocation: NDC L2 Gallery |
13:00 |
Lunch and Networking |
14:30 |
Keynote Presentations:Dr. Inhee Kim Prof. Dr. Dirk Sijmons Mr. Leonard Ng |
15:10 |
Panel discussionBridging the Divide: Fostering Collaboration between Science, Design, Policy and Community moderated by Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter |
16:00 |
Coffee / Tea Break |
16:15 |
Closing KeynoteDr. Vo Trong Nghia |
16:45 |
Thank You Note |
17:00 |
Apero and Exhibition |
5 September 2025CREATE L2, CREATE Seminar Room L2 | |
Opening Session @ CREATE | |
08:30 |
Arrival/Registration |
09:00 |
Opening Addressby FCL Global Directors |
09:20 |
PresentationEngagement Platform: Linking outreach and impact - Internal and External
Mr. Sean Eu |
09:40 |
Tea break |
10:00 |
Cluster Presentations (Parallel Sessions) |
Cluster Presentations (Parallel Sessions)Theatrette Session (AM): Cluster 1 - Cycles and Districts | |
10:00 |
Session Opening (Associate Director Research) |
10:10 |
Module Presentations
[CFC] Circular Future Cities |
11:10 |
Discussions |
12:00 |
Lunch |
Cluster Presentations (Parallel Sessions)Seminar Room Session (AM): Cluster 2 – Infrastructure and Ecologies | |
10:00 |
Session Opening (Associate Director Research) |
10:10 |
Module Presentations
[AMI] Adaptive Mobility, Infrastructure and Landuse |
11:10 |
Discussions |
12:00 |
Lunch |
Cluster Presentations (Parallel Sessions)Theatrette Session (PM): Cluster 3 – Food and Territories | |
13:30 |
Session Opening (Associate Director Research) |
13:40 |
Module Presentations
[RES] Resilient Blue-Green Infrastructure |
14:30 |
Discussions |
15:15 |
Tea Break and Networking |
Cluster Presentations (Parallel Sessions)Seminar Room Session (PM): Cluster 4 - Integration and Strategies | |
13:30 |
Session Opening (Associate Director Research) |
13:40 |
Module Presentations
[ACP] Architectural Cognition in Practice |
14:30 |
Discussions |
15:15 |
Tea Break and Networking |
15:30 |
SAC and FCL Global Directors Discussion / Deliberations |
Closing SessionCREATE Level 2 | |
16:30 |
SAC Comments and Summary (Panel Chaired by Prof Susan Parnell) |
17:00 |
FCL Global Outlook (Panel - FCL Directors) |
17:30 |
Closing note and Thank you |