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Ministry of Trade and Industry
2. Speeches

Speech by MOS Gan Siow Huang at the Singapore Science Conference Closing Dinner 2025

10 December 2025

Introduction

  1. Good evening, everyone. It is my pleasure to join all of you here for the closing dinner of the Singapore Science Conference 2025.

  2. To our distinguished plenary speakers, researchers, industry partners, colleagues from our universities and health clusters, and to our international guests who have travelled to Singapore, thank you for being part of this important gathering.

  3. This year’s Conference is especially meaningful as it marks 60 years of scientific excellence in Singapore, a journey that has shaped our transformation from a nation focused on survival in 1965, to one that competes confidently on the global stage.

  4. More than three decades since our first technology plan in 1991, Singapore today is home to a diverse research ecosystem supported by strong government commitment to Research, Innovation and Enterprise, also known as R-I-E.

    1. Our universities advance fundamental knowledge;

    2. Our academic medical centres bring discoveries into clinical practice;

    3. Our research institutes and corporate laboratories focus on translational research; and

    4. Our industry partners, be it MNCs, SMEs or startups, are receptacles of such research and see it through to economic impact.

  5. Just last week, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the RIE 2030 Plan to deepen research capabilities, enhance our talent pool and drive impactful innovation and change.

  6. Over the last three days, the Conference discussed scientific discoveries and applications in Sustainable Health, Environment, Manufacturing and Energy.

  7. At the same time, many have highlighted how the global operating environment has fundamentally changed. Technological competition is intensifying, and global norms, from data to sustainability, are increasingly shaped by geopolitics. These shifts influence how countries collaborate, how innovation flows, and how quickly new ideas can be translated into real-world impact.

  8. In such an environment, Singapore must double down on our ability to innovate and translate research into solutions that matter to the world. And our ability to do so rests on:

    1. Strengthening our research ecosystem and deepening partnerships between research and enterprise;

    2. The entrepreneurial drive from our researchers to turn ideas into impact; and

    3. The talent we nurture to carry our scientific ambitions forward.

  9. Let me elaborate on each of these in turn.

    Strengthen mission-driven research and deepen partnerships between research and enterprise

  10. First, we must continue to anchor mission-driven research and deepen public-private partnerships to create new growth opportunities and good jobs for our people.

  11. We are already seeing how research paired with enterprise delivers impact.

    1. Through the Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab between A*STAR, Rolls-Royce and SAESL, it yielded 18 breakthrough technologies and over S$4.5 million in business opportunities, with 8 local SMEs added to Rolls-Royce and SAESL’s approved vendor list. Building on these successes, the second phase of the joint lab which was launched this October, will advance Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul and advanced manufacturing technologies, while also uplifting our SMEs to strengthen Singapore’s position as a hub for next-generation aerospace manufacturing and servicing.

    2. Another example is partnerships with our local SMEs that enable them to innovate to stay competitive on the global stage. The joint lab between Abrasive Engineering and A*STAR has created six new product lines. Through its collaboration with A*STAR since 2013, Abrasive Engineering has more than doubled its revenue to S$12 million and transformed into a technology-driven enterprise that now sells its new products globally and continues to innovate today. 

  12. These examples show how mission-driven research can deliver economic value through development of new and innovation products and productivity-enhancing technologies.

    Entrepreneurial spirit in researchers to translate research into real-word impact and build a vibrant ecosystem of deep tech startups

  13. Second, we are committed to supporting our researchers to translate research into real-world impact and build a vibrant ecosystem of deep tech startups.

  14. Deep tech startups have unique technologies which can generate outsized economic impact, and are sometimes difficult to replicate.

  15. Over the past five years, our public research ecosystem has given rise to deep tech enterprises that are now recognised globally.

    1. In biotech, A*STAR spin-off Nuevocor leverages a novel mechanobiology platform to treat dilated cardiomyopathy. It has raised US$45 million in Series B funding and is preparing for first-in-human Phase I trials in 2026.

    2. In clean energy, NTU spin-off VFlowTech, which specialises in battery systems for long-duration energy storage, has secured over US$34 million in funding and shipped their energy systems to more than 11 countries, supporting energy transition efforts worldwide. 

  16. To advance early-stage innovation into globally investible spinoffs, I am pleased to share that A*STAR has launched the Entrepreneur Partners Programme. This programme will bring together seasoned entrepreneurs with A*STAR researchers and intellectual property to co-create the next generation of deep tech spin-offs. The initiative is on track to officially onboard the first entrepreneur partners by February 2026.

  17. I encourage our researchers to take the leap from research to entrepreneurship. The path is not always easy, but our ecosystem is here to support your entrepreneurial journey with programmes that provide mentorship from entrepreneurs, innovators and venture capitalists, as well as training and networking opportunities, just like this conference. Together, these efforts can empower innovators to deliver real-world impact and contribute to Singapore's continued success.

    Continue to invest in our talent pipeline to meet the needs of the future economy

  18. Last but not least, we need continue to invest heavily in our talent pipeline.

  19. As the global technology landscape becomes more complex, talent will increasingly be an important differentiator. We must build a deep pool of research and innovation talent, while continuing to stay open to exceptional minds from around the world.

    1. Under RIE2030, we will introduce a postdoctoral award, international postgraduate scholarships, and new programmes to enable trained researchers to gain entrepreneurial experience in deep tech startups abroad.

  20. A*STAR will continue to grow a steady stream of Singaporean PhD scholars by supporting their training at leading institutions. More than 80% of 1,900 scholars trained since 2001 have remained active in Singapore’s RIE ecosystem, including universities, public research institutes, hospitals, and industry. New A*STAR scholarships in semiconductors and quantum will help Singapore develop specialised talent in these frontier new areas.

  21. Our universities are also playing a central role in preparing talent for the future:

    1. NTU offers sustainability-focused scholarships;

    2. NUS and SIT have partnered Google and NVIDIA to build AI talent and advance AI adoption across industries.

  22. A key part of developing future-ready talent is also integrating learning with real workplace experience.

    1. Applied learning pathways like SIT’s Integrated Work Study Programme bring together over 900 companies to train students, with one in two students receiving job offers before graduation. Through the A*STAR T-Up scheme, companies can also tap on A*STAR’s research talent to enhance their innovation capabilities.

  23. By investing in people early and consistently, Singapore is building a workforce ready for frontier science, industry collaboration and a more complex global environment.

    Conclusion

  24. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we celebrate not just the progress of the last 60 years, but the possibilities ahead, and how research, enterprise and policy can move forward together with purpose.

  25. In a more uncertain global operating environment, no country can advance alone. This is why Singapore welcomes our international partners to test new ideas here, scale innovation globally and build enterprises that create meaningful impact for the world. 

  26. Thank you for your contributions to the SSC 2025, and for your commitment to advancing science for the good of society. I wish everyone a wonderful evening ahead. Thank you.

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