Second Minister Mr S Iswaran at The 2013 A*Star Scholarship Awards Ceremony

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Speech By Mr S Iswaran, Minister (Prime Minister’s Office), Second Minister For Home Affairs And Trade & Industry, At The 2013 A*Star Scholarship Awards Ceremony
On 16 July 2013 3.00 – 6.00pm, At Matrix Auditorium, Biopolis

Her Excellency Ms Amira Arnon, Ambassador of Israel to Singapore,

Her Excellency Heather Grant, High Commissioner, High Commission of Canada,

Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman A*STAR,

Scholars and parents, distinguished guests,

Friends and colleagues from A*STAR and all the partner agencies,

A very good afternoon to all of you.

1.               First, let me say how pleased I am to join all of you this afternoon at this event to celebrate the award of the A*STAR scholarships to 137 well-deserving recipients. My congratulations to all of you. Well done and welcome on board.

Singapore’s robust and internationally-regarded R&D ecosystem is undergirded by our vibrant talent pool

2.               Let me start by emphasising that research and development is an integral part of Singapore’s economic strategy. It drives innovation, it creates opportunities, and ultimately it enhances the quality of all our lives. Our investment in R&D over the last 20 years has resulted in the evolution of a very broad spectrum of R&D capabilities in Singapore. These have helped strengthen our competitive advantage in established sectors, such as semiconductor industry, but it has also created new opportunities and dimensions for us in new and emerging sectors, such as personal care and nutrition.

3.               Our R&D investments continue to create good jobs for Singaporeans as well, in both research and non-research roles. This is an important corollary of the effort we have undertaken in this sphere. A case in point is the soon-to-be-opened Proctor & Gamble Innovation Centre here in Biopolis – in fact, you can see the new building once you step out of this venue. P&G will employ 500 people in Biopolis, and it will partner A*STAR research institutes, consortia and centres to develop cutting-edge market innovations, adding to the rich base of collaborations that has emerged over the past decades between Singapore’s public and private sectors.

4.               R&D is also the driving force behind the creation of healthcare, environmental and lifestyle solutions that will benefit the lives of many. For example, A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre is collaborating with several public agencies and private companies to develop a more cost-effective flu vaccine that can be easily tweaked to counter new or emerging flu strains. This will contribute greatly to Singapore’s preparedness in producing vaccines for our population.

5.               To support our economic and social objectives, we have developed, and the Government is committed to sustaining, a world-class research ecosystem that supports the highest quality of research. Today, we have a vibrant and diverse community of over 38,000 local and international researchers. This is a more than sevenfold increase from 1991, when we launched the first five-year National Technology Plan. We are proud of our strong R&D talent pool, which is anchored by a growing core of young Singaporeans.

A*STAR scholars are recognised for their contributions to scientific excellence and to improving lives

6.               As the lead local agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent, A*STAR plays a critical role in nurturing young Singaporeans and international talent for careers in science. The number of PhD research scientists and engineers in Singapore has doubled to 7,700 between 2001 and 2011, injecting new capabilities and dynamism into our R&D ecosystem. A*STAR has contributed to the growth of our scientific talent base through a variety of scholarships and fellowships, talent development programmes, and research grants. To date, about 370 A*STAR scholars and fellows have completed their PhDs, accounting for at least 10% of Singaporean PhD-level research talent in Singapore – a significant contribution.

7.               I am pleased to learn that many of our scholars are highly regarded for their contributions to scientific excellence and have already made their mark in the international community. Let me highlight a few examples:

a.     In 2012, Dr Jonathan Loh from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Dr Joel Yang from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering were among the 12 scientists who were conferred the inaugural TR35@Singapore Award. This award is given by MIT Technology Review Magazine to young scientific talent for their groundbreaking contributions to research.

b.     Mr Ngiam Jiquan, a scholar pursuing his PhD at Stanford University, was featured in Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30” list for his role as Chief Engineer of Coursera, an online education platform that offers over 300 free college-level courses to 3 million people across the world. The “30 under 30” list highlights the brightest stars under the age of 30 worldwide, in various fields that represent the intellectual best of their generation.

A*STAR supports scholars to pursue their passion and realise their full potential in multiple career pathways

8.               Most of the A*STAR scholars who have completed their PhDs are now actively contributing to the advancement of science in our various A*STAR research institutes. They include Dr Guo Huili, who returned to A*STAR in 2012.  Just two years after completing her PhD at MIT, Huili is running her own lab that conducts research into the importance of translational control in human diseases.

9.               Other scholars have leveraged on their research experience honed at A*STAR and ventured into a variety of research-related careers in pursuit of their passion, be it in academia, private sector research, entrepreneurship and research management. Dr Karen Crasta for example, worked at A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology after her post-doctoral training in paediatric oncology at Harvard Medical School. Karen has recently been awarded an NRF Fellowship to continue her cutting-edge work in oncology as an Associate Professor at NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. Dr Brian Tan, who was previously with the Genome Institute of Singapore, is now contributing to education and innovation through his work at Republic Polytechnic’s School of Applied Sciences, where he mentors and inspires youths to pursue scientific careers through various outreach programmes. Brian is also heading a collaborative project with CellSievo Pte Ltd, a spin-off from A*STAR’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, to develop more precise cancer diagnostic solutions.

10.           Today, we welcome a new cohort of young Singaporeans who will join the ranks of more than 1,200 A*STAR scholars and fellows. I think it is noteworthy that this year, in addition to those who have demonstrated their aptitude for science through traditional routes in our educational system, we also have recipients who have chosen roads less travelled:

a.     Stephanie Tay is one of our A*STAR Undergraduate Scholarship recipients this year. She is a pioneer recipient of the A*STAR Science Award (Polytechnic). Stephanie pursued a higher NITEC course at ITE before continuing her tertiary studies at Republic Polytechnic. Stephanie looks forward to delving deeper into the field of Microbiology and exploring its applications to green technology at the National University of Singapore.

b.     Azmi Sultan is one of the MBBS-PhD scholars this year, who will be embarking on more than 10 years of training to become a clinician-scientist. This level of dedication to such a rigorous programme is a clear testament to his passion and resolve to excel in science. Azmi will join the ranks of a core group of clinician-scientists who bridge the gap between doctors and scientists, as he believes that a career in medicine is incomplete without integrating research with clinical work.

c.     Jeremy Wong, a Singaporean who spent many years abroad, has stayed in touch with the developments in our R&D landscape through numerous research stints with our R&D labs. As one of this year’s NSS (PhD) scholars, Jeremy will be pursuing his studies in information engineering at Cambridge University. He looks forward to contributing to Singapore’s R&D ecosystem upon his return.

Conclusion

11.           All our scholars here today, and indeed all the preceding batches of scholars, have important roles to play in Singapore’s development and growth, going forward. I would urge you to take full advantage of your educational and career options, and also seize the rich opportunities offered by the A*STAR scholarships. I also urge you to constantly reflect on how you and your research can benefit the lives of Singaporeans and the larger, broader community, be it through healthcare and other

social improvements, or by creating new economic and other forms of opportunities. I hope you will also help us in our national endeavour to inspire yet another generation of young Singaporeans to take up careers in scientific research and development by imbuing them with your passion for the sciences. This is an important part of what will sustain not just our R&D ecosystem, but also the larger economic development in the years ahead. So let me once again congratulate the A*STAR scholarship recipients and your family members on this accomplishment, and I wish you all the very best in your academic pursuits as well as the career that lies ahead.

12.           Congratulations and well done.