MTI announces Science & Technology 2010 Plan

MTI ANNOUNCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2010 PLAN – $7.5 BILLION TO BE COMMITTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO SUSTAIN INNOVATION-DRIVEN GROWTH

The Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI) will commit $7.5 billion over the next five years to sustain innovation-driven growth through economic-oriented Research & Development (R&D) which supports our key industry clusters.MTI’s R&D plans for the next five years are set out in the Science & Technology Plan 2010 (STP2010), which was released today at a press conference chaired by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang. 

STP2010 is part of the Singapore Government’s overall strategy to make significant investments in R&D in the next five years, so as to increase national spending in R&D to 3% of GDP by 2010.The National Research Foundation (NRF), chaired by Dr Tony Tan, will coordinate the research of different agencies within the larger national framework, as well as develop policies and plans to implement the strategic thrusts for the national R&D agenda.

To support the national R&D efforts, MTI will focus on economic-oriented R&D which supports our key industry clusters. Under STP2010, MTI will commit $7.5 billion over the next five years for the promotion of R&D through its implementing economic agencies, namely the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Economic Development Board (EDB). Of the $7.5 billion, $5.4 billion would go towards promoting economically relevant public sector R&D by A*STAR.Another $2.1 billion would go towards promoting private sector R&D investments by EDB.

STP2010 aims to sustain innovation-driven growth by strengthening R&D capabilities in both public and private sector. This would be achieved through four key programmes:

• developing the research talent in Singapore;

• strengthening and deepening our research capabilities;

• promoting private sector R&D; and

• providing infrastructure support.

Developing Research Talent in Singapore

Within MTI, A*STAR will develop and sustain a substantial pipeline of research talent to meet industry needs. A*STAR aims to groom more of the brightest Singaporeans to pursue careers in research and assume leadership positions in the public research sector; and also draw the best global talents to Singapore to meet its immediate needs for quality R&D manpower and to create a vibrant research community.

Strengthening and Deepening Our Research Capabilities 

In public research, A*STAR will focus efforts and resources to build internationally competitive concentrations of R&D in areas that are most relevant to the development of key industry sectors. 

The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) will continue to deepen its capabilities in basic research to support Singapore’s growing Biomedical Sciences industry. Beyond this, BMRC will focus on strengthening translational research at the “bench-bedside” interface to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical practice and transform the outputs of basic research into clinically useful and commercially viable applications.

The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) will focus on driving greater public-private joint R&D to support the upgrading of the key industry clusters, particularly the Electronics/Infocomms, Precision Engineering and Chemicals clusters. These efforts will be boosted by the development of Fusionpolis, where companies can co-locate and engage in R&D collaboration with the SERC research institutes. Fusionpolis will be the icon for public-private joint R&D in the physical sciences and engineering.

A*STAR will encourage the commercialization of the intellectual property (IP) arising from research at the research institutes through its commercialization arm, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd. The IP emerging from the research institutes will be managed in an integrated way and exploited to optimise the economic impact.

Promoting Private Sector R&D 

Companies are best positioned to align research investments with commercial opportunities. Under STP2010, EDB will lead efforts to promote private sector R&D. With the support of A*STAR and our universities and polytechnics, EDB aims to anchor 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 in Singapore.

Providing Infrastructure Support 

A*STAR would provide world-class infrastructure and a conducive environment to attract R&D talent and investments. Under STP2010, Fusionpolis, located next to the biomedical hub Biopolis, would be created as a vibrant hub for infocomm media and technologies. Fusionpolis would be part of a work-live-learn-play environment, where public research institutes, companies and corporate R&D co-exist. It would showcase next generation applications, technologies and state-of-the-art prototypes. 

The STP2010 would be available on-line at MTI’s website.

Click here for the Science and Technology Plan 2010

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
16 FEBRUARY 2006