WTF!!. Cannot produce anything from all this money spend and a bloated A*STAR bureaucracy just say so lah. More example of PAP lack of productivity?
Singapore's R&D scene still at a nascent stage: A*STAR chairman
In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, Mr Lim Chuan Poh says part of Singapore's formula to boost the scene are a flexible approach to foreign talent, as well as more collaboration in the science and technology sector.
SINGAPORE: The Republic's research and development (R&D) in science and technology is still at a nascent stage, said Mr Lim Chuan Poh, who is chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, he added that many local scientists have relatively young careers and the sector needs to remain open to foreign talent who can help develop the field.
"It's much better for us to have them working with us, catalysing, providing mentorship and building that capability within Singapore," said Mr Lim. "It is this flexible attitude in the talent strategy, this openness in the talent strategy, that I think enables Singapore to do a lot more, far more, than we otherwise would be able to do if we just rely on local talent."
DEVELOPING MANPOWER, INNOVATING TOGETHER
Currently, there are more than 39,000 professionals in the field with about 70 per cent of them locals and the rest foreigners. A*STAR has more than 5,400 staff, including corporate employees.
But A*STAR is grooming more local researchers. One way is through its scholarships, which provide mentorship for recipients even after they complete their studies. The agency has awarded 114 new scholarships this year. Since 2001, it has given out more than 1,400 scholarships.
However, manpower is just one part of its blueprint to grow R&D. Another aspect is developing a cross-disciplinary approach, which means getting the various disciplines in science and technology to come up with products or solutions together, instead of working in silos.
An example is applying electronics technology to biomedical sciences. For instance, the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is developing a monitoring device in prosthetic grafts. These are usually inserted in the arms of dialysis patients to improve blood flow, but graft blockages can occur due to blood clots or build-up of plaque.
A*STAR's version has electronic sensors that display blood flow through a handheld reader so blockages can be detected earlier. It also reduces the need for patients to undergo costly scans on a regular basis to check if the grafts are working well. An ultrasound test can cost about S$400, while patients pay around S$1,000 for a a computerised tomography scan.
Researchers also plan to develop an app which allows patients to monitor flow readings without having to go to the hospital.
"Sensors are one example," said executive director of IME, Professor Dim-lee Kwong. "Even though they are for the data centre or for communications, they can be equally and readily applied to diagnostic of infectious diseases."
Similar partnerships with both the public and private sectors have also reaped rewards. From 2011 to the first quarter of the year, the agency has undertaken close to 7,500 industry projects. This amounts to more than S$1.13 billion in investments in R&D here.
ROLE OF FUSIONOPOLIS AT ONE-NORTH
A*STAR is banking on such inter-disciplinary collaborations to boost R&D, and the development of the S$450 million Fusionopolis Two building at one-north in Buona Vista is a push in that direction. Its opening ceremony to be held on Monday will be attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The one-north site is part of the Government's vision to create a vibrant research and development hub which focuses on knowledge-intensive activities in key growth sectors including biomedical sciences as well as infocomm and media. The building will house four of A*STAR's research institutes as well as industry partners.
"We operate under the open innovation framework," said Mr Lim. "By virtual open innovation, it means there's no single entity that has all the resources, all the capabilities, all the research in the various disciplines to solve the big question. So, when you start thinking of open innovation, you look for partners."
Mr Lim said R&D will also play a greater role in the country's economy, by allowing industries to remain competitive. He noted that the manufacturing sector, for instance, can make use of R&D to provide services instead of just products.
Mr Lim cited how British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is adopting this approach. Apart from selling engines and replacement parts, it is also providing long-term repair and maintenance service or what it called "power-by-the-hour". This involves collecting and analysing data about an engine's performance through sensors that are placed in various parts of the engines. The company would then make recommendations to the airline for engine maintenance.
Said Mr Lim: "We are not a cheap location. We cannot compete just based on cost, we can only compete based on knowledge creation and innovation. "The other countries are not sitting idly by watching what Singapore is doing. They also want to be competitive, they are also closing the gap and therefore we have to constantly move forward."
Mr Lim stressed that Singapore's survival has always relied on its ability to stay competitive. That principle, he said, also applies to R&D in science and technology.
