Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is an internationally known research-intensive institution with a broad-based curriculum covering science and technology, business and the arts, entrepreneurial and leadership skills to prepare students for the global working world.  The Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) is a new global center of excellence that will advance research aimed at improving efficiency of current energy systems while maximizing synergistic effects of alternative energy sources. ERI@N's focus is on sustainable energy, energy efficiency and infrastructure, and socio-economic aspects of energy research. Research activities and considerable expertise in these areas exists within NTU’s research centres and schools. ERI@N is providing a unique platform, where various disciplines including materials, power electronics and systems, biological, physical, social sciences, as well as humanities and business communities can interact to explore new solutions to a host of issues including energy generation, harnessing, storage, distribution, efficiency, as well as impact on climate change and global warming. Professors Mhaisalkar and Tseng will present an overview of the new institute and discuss their research activities in grids, energy systems and sustainable building technologies.