Chang Chieh Hang - The Singapore Research Story

THE SINGAPORE RESEARCH STORY

World Scientific Series on Singapores 50 Years of Nation-Building

Published

50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore
edited by David Chan

Our Lives to Live: Putting a Womans Face to Change in Singapore
edited by Kanwaljit Soin and Margaret Thomas

50 Years of SingaporeEurope Relations: Celebrating Singapores Connections with Europe
edited by Yeo Lay Hwee and Barnard Turner

Perspectives on the Security of Singapore: The First 50 Years
edited by Barry Desker and Cheng Guan Ang

50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations
edited by Tommy Koh, Li Lin Chang and Joanna Koh

50 Years of Environment: Singapores Journey Towards Environmental Sustainability
edited by Tan Yong Soon

50 Years of the Chinese Community in Singapore
edited by Pang Cheng Lian

SingaporeChina Relations: 50 Years
edited by Zheng Yongnian and Lye Liang Fook

Singapores Economic Development: Retrospection and Reflections
edited by Linda Y. C. Lim

Food, Foodways and Foodscapes: Culture, Community and Consumption in Post-Colonial Singapore
edited by Lily Kong and Vineeta Sinha

Singapores Health Care System: What 50 Years Have Achieved
edited by Chien Earn Lee and K. Satku

Singapores Real Estate: 50 Years of Transformation
edited by Ngee Huat Seek, Tien Foo Sing and Shi Ming Yu

50 Years of Urban Planning in Singapore
edited by Chye Kiang Heng

The Singapore Research Story
edited by Hang Chang Chieh, Low Teck Seng and Raj Thampuran

The complete list of titles in the series can be found at
http://www.worldscientific.com/series/wss50ynb

World Scientific Series on Singapores 50 Years of Nation-Building

THE SINGAPORE RESEARCH STORY

Editors

Hang Chang Chieh

Institute for Engineering Leadership, NUS, Singapore

Low Teck Seng

National Research Foundation, Singapore

Raj Thampuran

A*STAR, Singapore

Published by

World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224
USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601
UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hang, Chang C., editor. | Teck, Seng Low, editor. | Thampuran, Raj, editor.
Title: The Singapore research story / editors, Hang Chang Chieh,
Institute for Engineering Leadership, NUS, Singapore, Low Teck Seng,
National Research Foundation, Singapore, Raj Thampuran, A*STAR, Singapore.
Description: 1st Edition. | New Jersey : World Scientific, 2015. |
Series: World scientific series on Singapores 50 years of nation-building |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015038918 | ISBN 9789814641258 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Singapore--Economic policy--21st century. | Singapore--Economic conditions-
21st century. | Technological innovations--Economic aspects.
Classification: LCC HC445.8.S5718 2015 | DDC 330.95957--dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015038918

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Copyright 2016 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher.

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In 1985, the Singapore economy was in recession. For the first time, our domestic economy contracted while the global economy was still growing. We established that this was in part due to high wage costs which had eroded our competitiveness. The recession was thus not only cyclical, but revealed more basic problems within our economy.

We convened the Economic Review Committee to review our policies and strategies. In February 1986, we published a report The Singapore Economy: New Directions to explain the causes and chart a new course. One key strategy was to invest in Research and Development (R&D) so as to build a more resilient, knowledge-based economy.

The National Science & Technology Board (and subsequently its successor the Agency for Science, Technology and Research), together with the Economic Development Board and other agencies were tasked to implement the R&D strategy. Our focus on R&D helped Singapore to become the preferred partner for leading MNCs and universities to establish R&D centres and other high value-added activities, creating good jobs in both research and other complementary roles. It has also benefitted Singaporean enterprises and SMEs, by encouraging companies like Keppel Offshore & Marine, Advanpack Solutions Private Limited and Singapore Asahi Chemicals and Solders Industries Pte Ltd to create innovative products/services.

R&D has also helped us to overcome our constraints and meet national needs. Water is one success story. PUBs R&D programme has given Singapore two new sources of water NEWater and desalinated water, complementing the traditional sources of water imports and local catchments. The capabilities we have built in water research have helped grow the water industry. Today, we have a thriving water ecosystem with over 180 water companies and 26 research centres. These include not only Singapore-owned companies such as Hyflux and Sembcorp, but international names like Black & Veatch and Meidensha.

Our universities have become world-class research institutions, especially after the formation of the National Research Foundation in 2006. We have encouraged creativity and innovation in our young people, and opened up career opportunities in Science and Technology. We now have a pool of highly talented and skilled people a good mix of local and foreign talent in Science and Technology and a vibrant entrepreneurial community.

I would like to thank all those who have played a role in the Singapore Research Story. In particular, I would like to thank Dr Sydney Brenner who helped to establish the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) in 1985, and Professor Hang Chang Chieh, who made key contributions towards establishing key R&D infrastructure in Singapore.

I hope that in the next 50 years of our Research, Innovation and Enterprise journey, we will scale new heights in research excellence and create more value in Singapore. As the Singapore Research Story shows, the spirit of R&D is that of can-do and infinite possibilities. Anything is possible, if only we persevere and put our minds to it. I hope that spirit will drive not just our R&D folk, but all Singaporeans as we write the next chapter of our Singapore Story together.

Congratulations on telling this inspiring Story.

LEE Hsien Loong
Prime Minister of Singapore

Hang Chang Chieh and Yeoh Keat Chuan

Hang Chang Chieh, Low Teck Seng, and Yeoh Keat Chuan