Board Changes at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Spring Singapore

BOARD CHANGES AT THE AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (A*STAR) AND SPRING SINGAPORE

The Minister for Trade and Industry will appoint Mr Philip Yeo as Chairman, SPRING Singapore, from 1 April 2007, when he completes his current term as Chairman, A*STAR. He will concurrently be appointed Senior Science & Technology (S&T) Advisor to the Minister for Trade and Industry to tap on his extensive experience in the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) and Science & Technology arena.

LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, will succeed Mr Philip Yeo as Chairman, A*STAR from 1 April 2007. From 1 November 2006, he will take up the appointment as Deputy Chairman, A*STAR.

Mr Philip Yeo

From January 1986 to January 2001, Mr Philip Yeo served as Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB). He was appointed Chairman of the National Science & Technology Board (NSTB) in February 2001 and concurrently Co-Chairman, EDB until January 2006. Under Mr Yeo’s leadership, NSTB was transformed into A*STAR, with the primary mission of fostering world-class scientific research and talent development to build a vibrant knowledge-based economy.

Mr Yeo has been instrumental in growing the BMS sector, and attracting global biomedical companies to set up operations here. The BMS industry’s manufacturing output tripled from S$6 billion in 2000 to S$18 billion in 2005. Value added for the industry reached S$9.2 billion in 2005, creating 10,200 jobs.

Mr Yeo has also built up Singapore’s reputation as a centre of excellence in BMS research. He established the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), the Genome Institute of Singapore, the Bioinformatics Institute, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the Centre of Molecular Medicine and the new Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. During his tenure, Biopolis was opened in October 2003 with its purpose-built state-of-the art facilities and a plug-and-play environment for the BMRC research institutes and private sector BMS R&D laboratories. Phase II of the Biopolis is now under construction and will be ready by the end of this year.

Similarly, Mr Yeo has strengthened physical sciences and engineering research in Singapore. He established the Science & Engineering Research Council and set up the Institutes of Infocomm Research and Chemical & Engineering Sciences. Mr Yeo also led the development of Fusionopolis, which will be Singapore's new physical sciences and engineering R&D hub.

Another significant contribution from Mr Yeo is the comprehensive scholarship programme that he has put in place to develop our young scientific talents at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. A*STAR’s scholarship programme systematically prepares and grooms our local talents to be the next generation of researchers and leaders in the science and technology field. To date, more than 600 have received A*STAR scholarships.

Mr Yeo has also been the driving force behind Singapore’s success in drawing top international talents to come to Singapore. We have attracted many world-renowned scientists who now call Singapore home and are helping to establish internationally recognised expertise in Singapore in their respective fields.

For his extensive contributions to Singapore, Mr Yeo was awarded the high National Day Award, the Order of Nila Utama (First Class) this year.

MTI wishes to place on record its deep appreciation to Mr Yeo for his invaluable contributions in helming A*STAR during its formative years and building it up into an organisation that has significant standing in the world. We look forward to a continued, close working relationship with Mr Yeo in his new appointment as Senior S&T Adviser to the Minister. Mr Yeo will advise the Minister on R&D strategies to further economic growth and attract foreign scientific talent. He will also assist A*STAR and EDB to widen and extend their international networks.

Mr Yeo’s vast experience in R&D, and many years of industry development gleaned from his years at EDB, will be invaluable in his new role as Chairman of SPRING Singapore, to help develop our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the future.

Said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: “Philip has made many outstanding and lasting contributions to Singapore, especially in the economic field.I worked with him when he was Chairman EDB, and I was in MTI. In his two decades with EDB, he helped Singapore to attract a steady multi-billion dollar stream of investments, despite fierce international competition. At A*STAR, he assembled a dedicated team and in the span of just six years, they grew the biomedical sciences sector at a frenetic pace. Philip’s relentless drive and boundless energy has always been directed to just one goal: to do the best he can for Singapore, to bring in more jobs, more employment opportunities for all Singaporeans. I wish to thank Philip for his passion and commitment to whatever task we have given him. I wish him all the best in the new challenges ahead.”

Said Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Lim Hng Kiang: “I am glad that we will be able to tap on Philip’s talent and experience to promote our SMEs. With his foresight and drive for whatever he does, I am confident that we will be able to take our SMEs to the next lap of development.”

LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh

LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1980 on being awarded an SAF Overseas Scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Mathematics from CambridgeUniversity in 1983. He received a Master of Arts degree from CambridgeUniversity in 1988 and a Masters in Business Administration degree (with distinction) from Cornell University, USA, in 1993.

LG (NS) Lim held various appointments in the course of his military career, including Head, Joint Plans Department; Commander of the 10th Singapore Infantry Brigade; Commander, 9th Division; Chief of Army from July 1998 to March 2000; and Chief of Defence Force from April 2000 to March 2003.

LG (NS) Lim attended the Advanced Management Programme at HarvardBusinessSchool in 2003 before assuming the appointment of Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, in July 2003. He was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education in July 2004.

LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh has been a board member of A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) since January 2004 and the National Research Foundation since January 2006. LG (NS) Lim also chairs the Academic Research Board in MOE, and co-chairs the Interactive & Digital Media Executive Committee. As Chairman, A*STAR, he will carry on what A*STAR has achieved to date, build on the new thrust into translational and clinical research, and implement the Science and Technology 2010 Plan.

The strong team that Mr Yeo has built up in A*STAR will enable LG (NS) Lim to build on the strong foundations that Mr Yeo has laid, and further A*STAR’s pursuit of research excellence.

Mr Cedric Foo

Mr Cedric Foo was appointed as Chairman, SPRING Singapore from 1 April 2003, after serving as Deputy Chairman since 1 January 2002. Mr Foo steered SPRING to re-focus itself on enterprise development and be the champion for SMEs.

During his tenure as Chairman, SPRING embarked on many initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of our enterprises. A comprehensive business information portal, “Enterprise One”, was launched in February 2006 to assist SMEs and start-ups. This was further supported by the establishment of Enterprise Development Centres (EDC) at various umbrella business associations and chambers to help SMEs get face-to-face business information and advice.

Through the launch of the SME Credit Bureau and programmes like the SME ACCESS Loan and Startup Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS), the financing environment for local companies has improved significantly.

Mr Foo also championed the drive to improve the quality of enterprises in Singapore. SPRING leveraged on A*STAR’s GET-UP (Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrading Programme) and the Technology Innovation Programme (TIP) to assist enterprises integrate technology into their products and operations. The Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) Programme works with business associations to develop capabilities for SMEs in their respective industries, and BrandPactTM aims to sharpen SMEs’ edge through branding.

MTI wishes to thank Mr Foo for his many achievements as Chairman, SPRING.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
20 OCTOBER 2006