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060 INNOVATION TECHNOLOGYSMART FAÇADES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTUREAs nearly four billion people live in cities today, at AkzoNobel we believe that innovation can enable cities to “do more with less” and help turn the urbanisation challenge into an opportunity to create more “Human Cities” for people and society in general.  By 2050, the number of people living in cities is expected to increase by 2.5 billion, with over 90 per cent of this growth being in Asia and Africa. Cities will need to accommodate spiralling urbanisation, service the needs of citizens and stimulate commerce and investment to create jobs, all within the constraints imposed by climate change and the need to meet greenhouse gas emission targets. As one of the world’s leading paint companies – with globally recognised brands such as Sikkens, Dulux, International and Interpon – AkzoNobel has established its global Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) centre for exterior wall paints in Singapore. This garden city, in the centre of South East Asia, is a stimulating hub for innovation. The high growth economy of the region increases the need for innovation and AkzoNobel launches essential new products every year in the exterior wall paint category. Our research programmes are mainly focused on sustainability, energy efficient solutions, long-term durability and protection, and aesthetics for exterior walls. Guided by our Planet Possible approach to “doing more with less”, and underlined by our #1 ranking on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, AkzoNobel is constantly striving to develop better and more sustainable products and technologies in order to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring. PAMELA PHUA, DIRECTOR, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION (RD&I), SOUTH EAST & SOUTH ASIA, MIDDLE EAST, DIRECTOR, EXTERIOR, WALLPAINT EXPERTISE GROUP, RD&I, GLOBAL, AKZONOBEL DECORATIVE PAINTS