Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the Science & Technology Plan 2010 Press Conference

OPENING REMARKS BY MR LIM HNG KIANG, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PLAN 2010 PRESS CONFERENCE, ON THURSDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 10:00AM, TREASURYBUILDING, 11TH FLR FUNCTION RM

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

Thank you for joining us here today for the release of the Science and Technology Plan 2010 (S&T Plan 2010).

National R&D Drive

The Government will be making significant investments ($13.55 billion[1]) in Research and Development (R&D) over the next 5 years. The aim, as laid out by our Prime Minister at his National Day Rally speech last year, is to transform Singapore into an R&D- and innovation-driven knowledge-based economy, where we compete on knowledge and talent, and not just on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

At the national level, our goal is to achieve R&D spending of 3% of GDP by 2010, with two-thirds coming from the private sector in the longer term[2]. The National Research Foundation (NRF) was set up (on 1 Jan 2006) to coordinate our national R&D efforts, and implement the key strategic R&D thrusts[3] identified for Singapore.

The Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI) will support the national R&D agenda through the S&T Plan 2010. MTI’s focus will be on industry-relevant and economic-oriented R&D, and growing R&D talent for our research institutes (RIs) and industry.

S&T Plan 2010

The S&T Plan 2010 is our 4th 5-year S&T plan. It builds upon the three previous plans which spanned from 1991 to 2005. S&T Plan 2010 aims to sustain innovation-driven growth by strengthening R&D capabilities in both public and private sector. Under the Plan, MTI will commit $7.5 billion over the next five years towards its R&D efforts - this is a $1.5 billion increase over the previous 5-year plan.

The S&T Plan 2010 was developed in consultation and collaboration with several government agencies. Key areas of public research were identified in consultation with experts and leaders in the research and academic community, and industry, both locally and overseas. The identified research areas were aligned with industry development plans to ensure that the focus is economic-oriented and relevant to industries.

S&T Plan 2010 – Key Programmes

The S&T Plan 2010 supports four key programmes in the areas of developing research talent; deepening and strengthening public research capabilities; promoting private sector R&D; and providing excellent R&D infrastructure.

Talent is key. Under S&T Plan 2010, A*STAR will continue to develop research talent through a two-prong approach of nurturing local research manpower and attracting foreign talent. A*STAR RIs would train young local R&D talent for spinning out to industry, and also recruit star scientists to lead research.

Second, we will deepen and strengthen local research capabilities. A*STAR would continue to build research excellence in areas that help to anchor our key industry sectors such as electronics, engineering, chemicals, infocomm media and biomedical sciences. In addition, it would target new research areas to explore new opportunities. For instance, in biomedical sciences, there would be a strategic focus on translational research to tighten the linkage between basic research and clinical application. In physical and engineering sciences, multi-disciplinary collaboration across research institutes will be encouraged to expand research capabilities in new areas such as Human-Machine Interaction Sciences, Sensors and Sensor Systems, and Energy Technologies. There would also be stronger focus on commercializing and transferring technologies to industry, through coordinated management of Intellectual Properties (IP) across A*STAR RIs.

Apart from building capabilities in A*STAR RIs, more resources would be devoted on developing the pipeline of research capabilities in strategic areas, across extramural communities such as the public hospitals and universities.

Third, we will promote and encourage even more private sector R&D. Indeed, the private sector is best placed to align R&D investments with opportunities. Today, many large multinational corporations like Seagate and GlaxoSmithKline have set up R&D centres in Singapore. Going forward, EDB aims to anchor even more flagship R&D projects and attract more multinational companies to locate corporate R&D activities in Singapore. This would also create more jobs in R&D for Singapore.

Fourth, we aim to provide world-class infrastructure and a conducive environment for R&D to thrive. At the one-north, next to Biopolis, the Fusionpolis is being developed as a hub for infocomm media and technology. It would house both public and private research, and create the necessary synergies between public research and industry. The Fusionpolis will be a cradle for knowledge convergence, where next generation applications and technologies are developed, incubated and testbedded.

Conclusion

The S&T Plan 2010 will support our national R&D drive, and anchor our transition to a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy. It forms a significant component of the Government’s commitment to public R&D, and is aimed at achieving sustainable competitive advantage for the long term growth and prosperity of Singapore.

Thank you. I will be happy to take your questions.

[1]$5 billion to NRF, $7.5 billion to MTI, and $1.05 billion to MOE.

[2]National R&D spending in 2004 was 2.25% of GDP ($4.06 billion).Source: National R&D Survey

[3]The 5 key thrusts are: (1) To intensify national R&D spending to achieve 3% of GDP by 2010; (2) To identify and invest in strategic areas of R&D; (3) To fund a balance of basic and applied research within strategic areas; (4) To provide resources and support to encourage private sector R&D; and (5) To strengthen linkages between public and private sector R&D.