The document discusses Singapore's research and development landscape and strategy. It notes that Singapore has established itself as an R&D hub through consistent large investments in R&D over decades. Key aspects of its R&D strategy include focusing on key industries like biomedical sciences and electronics, developing world-class research talent, supporting collaborative public-private research, and funding research competitively. The National Research Foundation coordinates Singapore's national R&D policies and programs across different government agencies and academic institutions.

1. Yuri Anisimov, October 2015
Ability Factors Pte. Ltd.
Notes for a weary pedestrian. Non-
comprehensive, informal and biased

2.  Strong Government
 No corruption in a corporation
 Lots of money and investments
 Society is highly sophisticated
 People are highly educated
 Pace of change and development
phenomenal
 Diversity of race, religion and culture

4.  Thinking of Singapore as a company building a brand,
rather than the country that it really is, sometimes
helps to make sense of it
 Price factor: people will pay good money for a good
product when the benefit is tangible, or linked to
privilege and aspiration; there is a cultural aversion to
paying for ideas, expertise and consultants of all kinds
 Singaporeans consider foreigners’ tenure temporary,
yet their presence is welcomed and work appreciated.
 Approach as an opportunity to boost the local economy
and to achieve your goals

5.  National Research Foundation (NRF)
 Smart Nation Programme Office (SNPO)
 Cybersecurity Programme Office (CSPO)
 Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
 Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL)
 Infocomm Development Authority (iDA)
 Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd (IIPL)
 Media Development Authority (MDA)
 SPRING Singapore
 Ministry of Communications & Information (MCI)
 Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
 Ministry of Education (MOE)
 EDB – Economic Development Board
 Monetary Authority of Singapore
 Land Transport Authority (LTA)

6.  National University Singapore (NUS)
 Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
 National University Health System (NUSH)
 Nanyang Technology University (NTU)
 Nanyang Technopreneurship Center (NTC)
 Singapore Management University (SMU
 Singapore Business Federation (SBF)
 Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
 DBS Innovation Group
 Incubators and Accelerators
 Jurong Town Consultants (JTC)
 ST Engineering Group of Companies
 Multinationals – Dassault, HP, EMC, AWS, NVIDIA, IBM,
MICROSOFT

7. Singapore established as an R&D hub, committed to boost
R&D and sustain competitive edge of economy. Consistent
investing in a long and uncertain process
First National Technology Plan adopted in 1991 with total
R&D expenditure S$760M; in 2010 - S$6.5 B
Allocation:
 1991-1995 – $2 billion
 1996-2000 – S$4 billion
 2001-2005 - S$6 billion
 2006-2010 - S$13.9 billion
 2011- 2015 - S$16.1 billion
In 2015 budget NRF was topped by $1 billion

8. R&D and Industry
1. Financial Sector
2. Transport Logistics
3. Energy
4. Biomedical sciences
5. Electronics
6. Engineering
7. Chemicals

9.  A*STAR , 2002, renamed from National
Science and Technology Board, established in
1991
 RIEC , 2006, The Research, Innovation and
Enterprise Council was set up to provide
overall strategic direction for Singapore’s R&D,
chaired by the Prime Minister; advises the
Cabinet on national research and innovation
policies and strategies.
 NRF - The National Research Foundation
formed under the Prime Minister’s Office to
support the RIEC in through the development
and coordination of national policies to grow
Singapore’s R&D capabilities.

10. Initially R&D capabilities resided in research institutes and
the universities
Modern Singapore established a R&D ecosystem comprising:
 Public sector research institutions (A*STAR RIs)
 Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) including the
universities, polytechnics, Research Centres of Excellence
(RCEs)
 International institutions under the Campus for Research
Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE)
 Hospitals and academic medical centres, and corporate R&D
laboratories.
 Singapore’s universities were transformed to become more
research-intensive under a holistic R&D framework and
strategy

12. NRF aims to develop Singapore to be among most research-intensive
and innovative countries through strong partnerships and
collaboration partners;
1. A*STAR, 21 public research institutes that conduct R&D with an industry
focus, and is involved in translating research outcomes into innovative
products and services.
2. SPRING Singapore focuses on the translational aspects of R&D and the
development of Small and Medium Enterprises.
3. EDB, Economic Development Board- the lead government agency that
works to attract multinational corporations and corporate R&D laboratories to
Singapore.
4. Institutes of Higher Learning
under:
• Ministry of Education (MOE): Autonomous Universities (the National University
of Singapore, the Nanyang Technological University, the Singapore Management
University and the Singapore University of Technology and Design) and the
polytechnics.
• Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and academic medical centres, which engage
in translational clinical research

14. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean is the Chairman
of the NRF Board. NRF is a department within the Prime
Minister's Office, sets national direction for R&D by:
 Developing policies, plans and strategies for research,
innovation and enterprise;
 Funding initiatives that strengthen research and
scientific capabilities, and achieve economic and
national impact;
 Building up R&D capabilities and capacities through
nurturing our people and attracting foreign researchers
and scientists; and
 Coordinating the research agenda of different agencies
to transform Singapore into a knowledge-intensive,
innovative and entrepreneurial economy.

15.  NRF’s programmes and policies cover the entire RIE
spectrum. The spectrum of activities by the various
agencies and entities shade into each other.
 The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), with its
agencies, also covers the RIE range, although each
agency would have a slightly different mandate.
 SPRING focuses on the translation aspects of R&D and
the building of local enterprises.
 EDB is the lead government agency for planning and
positioning Singapore as a global business centre and
in creating value for investors and companies in
Singapore.
 The Institutes of Higher Learning under the Ministry
of Education and the hospitals and medical centres
under the Ministry of Health engage in basic to applied
research as well as bringing innovations out of the
academic and medical institutions.

16. NRF is the secretariat to the Research,
Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC),
chaired by the Prime Minister of Singapore,
who appoints members to two-year terms. The
RIEC comprises Cabinet Ministers and local
and foreign members from the business,
science and technology communities.
 RIEC’s National budget for research,
innovation and enterprise is the part of the
RIE2015 S$16.1B plan

17. 1. Continued emphasis on basic science and
knowledge as the basis for future innovations.
2. Second, focus on talent attraction and development,
positioning Singapore as a choice location for top
researchers.
3. Emphasis on competitive funding as a means to
select the best ideas.
4. Synergies between researchers across the public
and private sectors. Funding to encourage public-
private research collaboration.
5. Emphasis on industry-oriented R&D with economic
outcomes
6. Support for commercialisation to spur the
development of new products and services for
economic and societal benefit.

18.  Invest in new knowledge and ideas, seed the intellectual
capital that forms the basis for future innovations.
 Tier 3 programme to fund programme-level research projects
ranging from S$5 million to S$25 million over 5 years.
 Attraction and development of scientific talent to meet the
needs of the research institutions. S$735 million for
scholarships and fellowships for talent training both locally
and overseas.
 Competitive funding to spur innovation for further support
and development.
 NRF Competitive Research Programme expanded to S$1
billion.
 Synergies across our various R&D performers, funding
priority to multi-disciplinary and collaborative efforts,
including collaborations with corporate R&D laboratories.
 A*STAR’s Joint Council Office, received an expanded budget of
S$250 million for multidisciplinary research across the
physical and biomedical sciences

19.  Focus R&D on economic outcomes, greater support
for private sector R&D, closer collaborations between
public and private sector R&D, and added emphasis
on commercialization.
 Support for private R&D - S$2.5 billion
 New S$1.35 billion Industry Alignment Fund will
encourage public researchers to work closely with the
industry.
 Support for scientists to take ideas from basic
research through to commercialization, with the
Innovation and Enterprise budget doubling to about
S$1.08 billion.
RIE 2015 introduced a new S$1.6 billion White
Space fund for responding to quickly to
unanticipated challenges and opportunities.
Open to proposals from all agencies

21. Singapore has benefited from the good investment in
biomedical sciences, clean water and interactive & digital
media.
 Biomedical Sciences - Translational and Clinical Research
(Nutrition and Medical Technology are the new areas)
 Established strong critical mass of basic science research
talent and capability, highly competitive in terms of research
output and quality
 Built up strong translational and clinical research capability to
facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries f to bedside
and to industries.
 Enhanced industry engagements attracting more industry
R&D activity and investment into Singapore;
 Integrating basic, translational and clinical research activities
to strengthen competitive advantage over other BMS research
centres in Asia
 Sustaining strengths in basic and translational research to
develop novel capabilities to address unanticipated challenges
and opportunities.

22. Singapore has benefited from the good investment in
biomedical sciences, clean water and interactive & digital
media.
 Biomedical Sciences - Translational and Clinical Research
(Nutrition and Medical Technology are the new areas)
 Established strong critical mass of basic science research
talent and capability, highly competitive in terms of research
output and quality
 Built up strong translational and clinical research capability to
facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries f to bedside
and to industries.
 Enhanced industry engagements attracting more industry
R&D activity and investment into Singapore;
 Integrating basic, translational and clinical research activities
to strengthen competitive advantage over other BMS research
centres in Asia
 Sustaining strengths in basic and translational research to
develop novel capabilities to address unanticipated challenges
and opportunities.

23. Interactive & Digital Media
IDM will be a fundamental enabler in the 21st
century, is a key driver in Singapore's thrust towards
an innovative global media city.
 The development of the IDM sector requires the
collaboration of a diverse range of public sector agencies,
educational and research institutions, industry players
and other stakeholders. Four key focus areas:
1. Education;
2. Animation, Games & Effects;
3. Media Intermediary ("Mediary") Services; and
4. "On-the-Move" Technologies.
 The IDM R&D Programme is under the purview of the
IDM Programme Office (IDMPO), which coordinates a
nation-wide effort across various agencies and oversees
R&D initiatives in the IDM space, while research on the
use of IDM in Education is overseen by the Ministry of
Education (MOE).

24.  Physical Sciences & Engineering research
programmes in engineering and physical sciences
- including mathematics, artificial intelligence,
and computer science carried out mainly by the
universities and research institutes in Singapore.
Science and Engineering Research Council
 A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research
Council (SERC) promotes public sector research
and development in the physical sciences and
engineering, by supporting world-class research
in A*STAR institutes in a wide range of fields
including data storage, materials, chemicals, and
advanced manufacturing.

27. Local universities, research institutions and corporate research labs conduct talent
programmes to attract and develop world-class scientists, both local and
international, at all levels and in all areas of the R&D landscape.
 National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship scheme is a key
initiative to attract and root young scientific talent to Singapore. Open
to all areas of science and technology, and scientists of all nationalities
are welcome to apply. NRF Fellows are given complete independence
and freedom to pursue their own research directions, free to choose the
host organisation which they think is the best environment for their
research.
 The Returning Singaporean Scientists Scheme seeks to attract back
talented and established overseas-based Singaporean researchers and
provide them with the funding and opportunity to relocate their
research to Singapore.
 Ministry of Health - Biomedical research The Ministry of Health
(MOH)‘s talent development programmes nurture a critical mass of
clinician scientists in Singapore.
 The Ministry of Education (MOE) has channelled 10% of its Research
Scholarship Block to support industry-relevant research training to
encourage locally-trained scientists to stay and contribute to Singapore
over the long term

28.  Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Undergraduate and
Graduate Research, pioneered a series of programmes to grow the local PhD
talent pool in the research institutes (RIs) and increase the enrolment of
Singaporean students in the engineering and science PhD programmes at the
local universities.
 A*STAR works with the Ministry of Education, Science Centre Singapore,
schools and the scientific community to augment the capacity of educators and
scientists to mentor and guide students in research projects.
 The Singapore Academy for Young Engineers and Scientists (SAYES) has been
established
 Economic Development Board & Ministry of Education - Industry-relevant
research. - Industrial Postgraduate Programme to support the pipeline of
talent for industry. The programme supports the training of Masters and PhD
students working on industry projects, and is co-supervised by companies and
industries.
 Industrial Postgraduate Programme, run by Singapore University of
Technology and Design (SUTD) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

29.  Great proportion of R&D funding available on a
competitive basis, to support the highest quality
research
 National Innovation Challenge - R&D capabilities to
tackle large, complex problems facing cities.
 Competitive Research Programme (NRF), a
competitive funding scheme offers different grant
sizes (S$1 billion)
 Open Collaborative Fund, jointly administered by
A*STAR and MOH, S$590 million of competitive
funding to support productive collaboration and
integration across Singapore’s healthcare, academic
and research institutions.

31. Strategy Directorate assesses and formulates research, innovation and
enterprise (RIE) strategies, policies and governance frameworks. The
Corporate Communications unit is responsible for public communications
and outreach.
Programmes Directorate develops and manages research and
development programmes, in partnership with stakeholders in
government, academia and industry.
Grant Management Unit manages key NRF programmes. It monitors
and assesses the outcomes of the programmes to ensure funds are used
effectively.
Corporate Services Directorate shapes the corporate policies to achieve
the goals: human resources, finance and administration, information
technology, facilities and infrastructure management.

32. Campus for Technological Excellence and Technological Enterprise
(CREATE) Directorate - planning, development and implementation of
CREATE programmes working with CREATE partners
Digital Economy Directorate and the Interactive Digital Media R&D
Programme Office - effective governance frameworks for research and
scientific programmes in the digital domain. Links between industry and
science, and catalyse innovation and enterprise in ICT sector.
Energy & Environment Research Directorate - R&D capabilities in the
energy and environmental sectors to meet national challenges.
Innovation & Enterprise Office - grow the innovation and enterprise
landscape in Singapore through a range of programmes that help start-up
companies commercialise new technologies (jobs for Singaporeans)
National Cybersecurity R&D Directorate - R&D expertise and
capabilities in cybersecurity. Promotes collaboration -agencies, academia,
research institutes and private sector for cyber infrastructure for Singapore.
Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Executive Committee (Exco) Planning &
Coordination Office - coordinated whole-of-government approach to
growing the BMS sector in Singapore.