Mr S Iswaran at BioBiz 2011, 26 March 2011

MR S ISWARAN AT BIOBIZ 2011, 26 MARCH 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you at BioBiz 2011.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Biomedical Industry

The biomedical sciences industry has been responsible for some of the most important technological advancements in the last 60 years. The mass production of antibiotics, for example, has saved millions from infectious diseases. Implantable devices such as cardiac pacemakers and stents have given many a second lease of life.

Today, the industry continues to hold much promise. Technological advancements are driving new therapies, diagnostics and even new paradigms of healthcare. At the same time, the growth of Asia is creating new demand for therapies and devices.

Singapore positioned to impact global healthcare

With our strengths in science and technology, our location in the heart of Asia and the abundance of talent like yourselves, Singapore is in an excellent position to make an impact on the industry.

The last decade saw not just the growth of bio-pharmaceutical manufacturers, but also the establishment of top life science and medical technology companies in Singapore. This has led to the creation of more than 7,000 new jobs

[1]

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Fulfilling, varied career opportunities in the biomedical sciences

If you have a passion for science, engineering or healthcare, you will be able to find your niche in this sector.

I’m not sure how many of you remember the excitement around the Human Genome Project which was completed in 2003. Working with Life Sciences companies, you too have the opportunity to create tools that help scientists collect and analyze the information hidden within our genetic code and unlock its disease-fighting potential.

Even after a drug has been discovered and approved for human use, biopharmaceutical companies have to find a way to commercially manufacture the drug with consistent quality. Though Penicillin was discovered in 1929, it took more than 10 years to manufacture it commercially.

At a biopharmaceutical company, you have the chance to design and implement processes to produce some of the world’s most important drugs on a commercial scale. Apart from R&D and process design, you may also wish to join a medical technology company to develop and manufacture diagnostic instruments and other medical devices.

Let me share with you the success story of one of the many medical device companies here, CIBA Vision Asian Manufacturing. It is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of contact lenses.

For 15 years, the biggest defect in contact lens manufacturing had been the chipping of the surface of the lens due to friction with the packaging shell. It was thought that little could be done to remedy it as the defect was “inherent” in the manufacturing process.

However, CIBA Vision’s Singapore team found a solution. They engineered a new texture for the packaging shell of the lenses, which solved the problem.  This new shell is now used at CIBA Vision plants worldwide.

Career development through global exposure and leadership training

Like the engineers at CIBA Vision, working at an international biomedical sciences firm can offer you the opportunity to build technical expertise, and gain international exposure and leadership experience.

Take the example of Mr. Chow Wai Sheng, a manufacturing manager at Agilent Technologies.  His career has taken him through different roles in materials and mechanical engineering, product design and commodity management, and spanned Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Shanghai.  Mr. Chow is part of a growing group of local leaders who have built illustrious careers in the industry.

I would like to end by sharing the experience of a recent graduate from NUS, Raymond Zhang. After university, he joined Lonza, one of the companies present here today. Lonza sent him on a training stint in the U.S. and he returned to help with the launch of one of its new plants.

Having been at the facility from the very beginning, one of his proudest moments was when the company opened the plant, before its launch, to the friends and families of their employees, and he was able to share with his mother the hard work that he had put into it.  Passionate individuals such as Raymond, and others among you, will be our next generation of industry leaders.

Conclusion

As a graduate today, you will be presented with numerous career choices, many of which will be challenging and rewarding. The world looks to the next generation of dreamers and leaders for novel solutions to today’s healthcare challenges. I hope that talented and passionate individuals like you will be amongst them.

I want to thank the BioBiz Committee for their efforts in bringing the biomedical industry and its talent together at this conference. I hope the contacts you make and the insights you gain will inspire you to pursue a meaningful and rewarding career in this promising sector. I wish you a fruitful conference.

[1]EDB Research and Statistics Unit’s data