A*STAR Annual Report 2010/11
S. 35 of 2011
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Statute.
Ordered by Parliament to lie upon the Table:
25 August 2011
AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT
APR 2010 – MAR 2011
AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2011
In the opinion of the directors, the annual report of the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR) is drawn up so as to present fairly the state of
affairs of A*STAR as at 31 March 2011.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Lim Chuan Poh
Low Teck Seng
Chairman
Managing Director
30 Jun 11
30 Jun 11
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ORGANISATION DETAILS
Board
Secretary
Ms Tricia Huang
Director
Planning & Policy Department
Agency for Science, Technology and
Research
Address
1 Fusionopolis Way, #20-10 Connexis
North
Singapore 138632
Telephone 68266111
Fax
67771711
Email
Tricia_HUANG@a-star.edu.sg
2
CONTENTS
Introduction to A*STAR
4
Board members
5
Key management personnel
7
Organisation structure
8
Major shareholder of subsidiary companies
9
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Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd
List of A*STAR research institutes, consortia & centres
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Highlights of key accomplishments
11
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Highlights of the year in review
14
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Highlights of scientific breakthroughs in A*STAR research
22
institutes, consortia & centres
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Highlights of spin-off companies and commercialisation of
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A*STAR technologies
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Highlights of partnerships with research institutes and industry
Outlook for the next fiscal year
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Financial Statements
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AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
The Mission of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is to foster
world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.
Fulfilling our mission successfully will allow us to realise our Vision of a prosperous and
vibrant Singapore built upon a knowledge-based economy.
A*STAR makes use of three broad strategies to carry out our mission. This is A*STAR‘s
―3Cs‖ strategy.
Firstly, we contribute to Human Capital Development by promoting manpower training and
development in the areas of science, engineering and technology, and by undertaking the
promotion of science and technology to increase public awareness and understanding of the
importance of science and technology in Singapore.
Secondly, we contribute to Intellectual Capital Development that enhances and strengthens
knowledge-creation and innovative capability for the country. We do this by directing and
undertaking research and development in the areas of science and technology in our
Research Institutes (RIs), and by providing extramural research grants to the larger research
community in Singapore.
Thirdly, we contribute to Industrial Capital Development by promoting the commercial
application of scientific knowledge and technology in Singapore. We do this through industry
engagement and collaboration, R&D investment promotion, and active commercialisation of
the intellectual property we hold.
A*STAR‘s Corporate Values are : Action, Speed, Teamwork, Agility, Resolve and Integrity
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BOARD MEMBERS
Chairman
Mr Lim Chuan Poh
Chairman, A*STAR
Deputy Chairman
Prof Tan Chorh Chuan
Deputy Chairman, A*STAR
President, National University of Singapore
Members
Prof Low Teck Seng
Managing Director, A*STAR
Prof Sir George Radda
Chairman, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR
Emeritus Professor of Molecular Cardiology, University of Oxford
Prof Charles Zukoski
Chairman, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR
Prof Bertil Andersson
President-Designate & Provost, Nanyang Technological University
Dr Beh Swan Gin
Managing Director, Economic Development Board
Mr Bruce Brown
Chief Technology Officer, The Proctor & Gamble Company
Dr William W. Chin
Executive Dean for Research
Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School
Prof Sir Alex Markham
Professor of Medicine, University of Leeds
Mr Ng Cher Pong
Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Education
Mr Ng Wai Choong
Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Finance
Mr Ong Boon Hwee
Chief Operating Officer, Singapore Power Ltd
Prof Sir John O’ Reilly
Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University
Lord Ronald Oxburgh
Deputy Chairman, Science and Engineering Research Council,
A*STAR
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, UK
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Mr Quek Tong Boon
Chief Defence Scientist/Chief Research & Technology Officer,
Ministry of Defence
Dr Sun Shih-Wei
Chief Executive Officer, United Microelectronics Corporation
Prof Tan Eng Chye
Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, National University
of Singapore
Mr Tan Kok Kiong Andrew
Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency
Centre Fellow, Centre for Liveable Cities, Ministry of National
Development
Dr Patrick Vallance
Senior Vice President, Medicines Discovery & Development,
GlaxoSmithKline
Dr Tadataka Yamada
Scientific Advisor to CEO and Member of Board of Directors, Takeda
Pharmaceutical Corporation
Operating Partner at Frazier Healthcare
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KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
Chairman
Mr Lim Chuan Poh
Deputy Chairman
Prof Tan Chorh Chuan
Managing Director
Prof Low Teck Seng
Scientific Advisor to A*STAR Chairman
Dr Sydney Brenner
Chairman, Biomedical Research Council (BMRC)
Prof Sir George Radda
Chairman, Science and Engineering Research
Council (SERC)
Prof Charles Zukoski
Chief Scientist
Prof Sir David Lane
Deputy Managing Director (Corporate Planning
and Administration)
Mr Teoh Yong Sea
Deputy Chairman, Translational and Clinical
Sciences Group, BMRC
Prof Edward Holmes
Executive Director, BMRC
Prof Lee Eng Hin
Executive Director, SERC
Dr Raj Thampuran
Executive Director, A*STAR Graduate Academy
Dr Lim Khiang Wee
Chief Executive, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd
(ETPL)
Mr Philip Lim
General-Counsel
Mr Suresh Sachi
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MAJOR SHAREHOLDER OF SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Name of subsidiary company:
Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd
% shareholdings in company:
100%
Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL)
Exploit Technologies is the strategic marketing and commercialisation arm of the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Its mission is to support A*STAR in
transforming the economy through commercialising R&D. Exploit Technologies enhances
the research output of A*STAR scientists by translating their inventions into marketable
products or processes. Through licensing deals and spin-offs with industry partners, Exploit
Technologies is a key driver of technology transfer in Singapore. It actively engages industry
leaders and players to commercialise A*STAR's technologies and capabilities, bridging the
gap from mind to market. Exploit Technologies‘ charter is to identify, protect and exploit
promising intellectual property (IP) created by A*STAR‘s research institutes.
In 2008, Exploit Technologies co-founded the Technology Transfer Network (TTN), a
collaborative alliance of technology transfer offices, to help start-ups to manage and
commercialise their intellectual property. In addition, Exploit Technologies also launched the
Angel Investment Management (AIM) initiative to help start-ups to gain wider access to
Angel investors in Singapore and the region.
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LIST OF A*STAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES, CONSORTIA & CENTRES
A*STAR has 14 research institutes and 6 research consortia and centres, spanning a broad
range of research areas from the biomedical sciences, to the physical sciences and
engineering.
Biomedical Research Institutes, Consortia & Centres
Bioinformatics Institute (BII)
Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI)
Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC)
Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN)
Institute of Medical Biology (IMB)
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)
A*STAR - Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership (NRP)
Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC)
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS)
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN)
Singapore Stem Cell Consortium (SSCC)
Science and Engineering Research Institutes & Centre
Data Storage Institute (DSI)
Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES)
Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC)
Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE)
Institute of Microelectronics (IME)
National Metrology Centre (NMC)
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)
STAFF STRENGTH IN A*STAR
A*STAR headquarters has a staff strength of 217. The total strength of the larger A*STAR
community, including scientists and researchers, technical and non-technical staff, and
industry development and commercialisation staff, was 4078 as at the end of FY2010.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A*STAR had a fruitful and productive year in FY2010. It made good progress in achieving its
Key Performance Indicators under the 2010 Science and Technology Plan. All six KPI
targets were met.
Category
Key Performance Indicator
Human Capital
No. of PhD Students trained 220
and graduated
555
252.3
No. of RI staff spun out to 835
locally-based industry as
RSEs
1058
126.7
No. of primary
applications filed
1170
106.4
No. papers published (in SCI 7940
and EI journals)
15,978
201.2
No. of industry projects
1,120
1,554
138.8
Industry funding ($mil)
197
219.53
111.4
Intellectual Capital
Industrial Capital
Target
Actual
(by
end (FY2006
FY2010)
to
FY2010)
patent 1,100
%
Achievement
INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL AWARDS WON BY A*STAR SCIENTISTS AND ENTITIES
A*STAR‘s scientists won several international and local awards in FY2010. They include:
 The I²R Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) team led by Dr Guan Cuntai working jointly
with medical doctors from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Dr Karen Chua Sui Geok, Mr
Christopher Kuah) and National Neuroscience Institute (Associate Professor Ang
Beng Ti) won the Annual BCI Research Award for their project ―Motor imagerybased Brain-Computer Interface robotic rehabilitation for stroke‖.
 Professor David Townsend, Head of PET and SPECT Development for SBIC and
Director of the Clinical Imaging Research Centre, was honoured with the prestigious
2010 IEEEMedal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology for the design,
commercial development and clinical implementation of the PET/CT scanner.
 Professor Lam Kong Peng, Scientific Director of BTI, was conferred the Arthur
Kornberg Memorial Award by the Asia Pacific International Molecular Biology
Network (A-IMBN).
 Dr Melissa Fullwood, an A*STAR scholar, was the first Singaporean to win one of
four Regional General Electric (GE) & Science Prizes for Young Life Scientists
for her original essay, ―Genome-Wide Chromatin Loops Regulate Transcription‖.
 Professor Boris Lukiyanchuk, Senior Scientist at DSI, was recently elected a Fellow
of Optical Society of America (OSA) and recognised for his outstanding
contributions in theory of laser-matter interactions, including laser thermochemistry,
laser cleaning, laser ablation and plasmonics.
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A team of researchers from I²R was awarded at the 2010 World Technology
Awards for their innovative Dance!3D system. The team comprised of Dr Susanto
Rahardja, Dr Farzam Farbiz, Dr Huang Zhiyong, Mr Chua Gim Guan, Dr Yuan
Miaolong, Ms Christina Tang Ka Yin, Ms Loke Mei Hwan, Dr Corey Manders, Dr
Ishtiaq Rasool Khan, Dr Zhu Yongwei, and Mr Chan Ti Eu.
Dr Tan Yen Nee, a Research Engineer with IMRE, was one of the winners of the
2010 AsiaNANO Young Researcher Award.
Dr Low Hong Yee from IMRE was one of the three recipients of the prestigious
L'Oreal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowships.
Dr Patrick Lo Guo-Qiang, Dr Liow Tsung-Yang, Dr Ang Kah Wee and Dr Yu Mingbin
from IME received the President’s Technology Award (PTA) in recognition of their
outstanding contributions in advancing Singapore‘s semiconductor technology and
industry development through cutting edge research on silicon photonics.
Professor Yoshiaki Ito from IMCB received the President’s Science Award (PSA)
for his breakthrough discovery of the tumor suppressor roles of RUNX3 in gastric and
colon cancers.
Professor Andy Hor, Executive Director of IMRE, was awarded the Outstanding
Chemist Award (OCA) 2010 by the Department of Chemistry, National University of
Singapore (NUS).
Asst Prof Wu Jishan, who shares a joint appointment with NUS' Department of
Chemistry and IMRE, was one of the winners of the 2010 Young Scientist Award.
Dr. Susanto Rahardja and Dr Liang Ying Chang of I2R were recognized for their
efforts in research and conferred the status of ‗IEEE Fellow’ by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the highest honor to be bestowed by
IEEE.
A*STAR scientists and research institutes which had turned in the best performance on each
of the dimensions of the 3Cs – Human Capital, Intellectual Capital, and Industrial Capital,
were honoured with the A*STAR Awards 2010. They include:
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Dr Chandrashekar Verma, Division Head and Senior Principal Investigator at BII, and
Dr Akkipeddi Ramam, Senior Scientist at IMRE, clinched the Star Employee award
that recognises staff who best embody A*STAR's values of Action, Speed,
Teamwork, Agility, Resolve and Integrity.
Dr Nikolai Yakovlev, Research Scientist at IMRE and A/Professor Graeme R Guy,
Senior Principal Investigator at IMCB, were conferred the Most Inspiring Mentor
Award that recognises inspirational and dedicated scientists who have played
fundamental roles in nurturing other scientists and scholars.
NanoImprint Lithography Lab at IMRE won the 2011 TALENT (The Award for
Leading, Educating & Nurturing Talent) for providing a conducive environment for
nurturing young researchers.
SIMTech won the Most Valuable Partner Award as the research institute which
contributed the most to an industry partner through their collaboration.
SIMTech also won the Most Income Derived from Alternative Sources Award for
being the most successful in attracting external funding.
GIS and IME were conferred The Outstanding Publications Award, which
recognises a research institute from each of the Biomedical and Science and
Engineering Research Councils for the highest number of quality publications in high
impact journals.
IME was awarded the Patent Power Award for having the highest number of
primary patents filed per budget dollar spent.
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The Sustainable Manufacturing Centre (SMC) at SIMTech won the A*STAR
Borderless Award for its excellent collaborative work across organisational
boundaries.
The 2011 Star Innovation Award was awarded to the Opensource Computing team,
Technology Innovation and Scientific Computing at BII as well as to Wong Jwee Huat,
Senior FM Specialist at ICES, for ideas that have resulted in substantial cost savings
for A*STAR.
Dr Kostas G Anagostakis, Founder of Niometrics Pte Ltd, won the ScientistEntrepreneur Award for having successfully commercialised and spun-off his
research from A*STAR research institutes to the industry.
A*STAR has also achieved high standards of business, operational and organisational
excellence which was recognised through the many awards it won in FY2010.
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Public Service Milestone Award - this celebrates outstanding achievements of
public agencies that have attained best-in-class standards and innovative practices.
Leading HR Practices in Manpower Resourcing & Planning Award (The
Singapore HR Awards 2010) - for achieving all-round excellence in staffing,
manpower planning, deployment, recruitment and selection strategies and
programmes.
Leading CEO Award (The Singapore HR Awards 2010) - Ms Yena Lim, MD
A*STAR, clinched the Leading CEO Award for her dedication, championship of
innovative and effective HR ideas and practices, and strong commitment and support
towards the work of HR in A*STAR.
Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H (Helping Employees Achieve Life-Time Health) Award –
Silver - presented by the Health Promotion Board to give national recognition to
organisations with commendable Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) programmes.
ISO 9001:2008 (re-certified from 2010-2013) - A*STAR has ISO certification for its
key business processes to ensure consistent high quality performance.
Major Employer of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – As one of the six
major employers of NTU students, A*STAR was honoured by the University at the
opening of NTU‘s Career Fair.
Winner of Best Graduate Development Practices at the HRM Awards 2011 recognises organisations with effective graduate recruitment and training practices
that are aligned to the organisation's goals and future talent needs.
MTI Borderless Award - celebrates the Best of MTI innovations through
collaboration beyond boundaries.
A*STAR‘s reputation as an ―Employer of Choice‖ was affirmed in the JobsFactory Employer
of Choice Survey 2010 that ranked A*STAR #6 as an Employer of Choice out of over 50
public sector organisations.
A*STAR also secured a place in Singapore‘s top 100 Leading Graduate Employers, a result
of votes cast by Singaporean undergraduate students and fresh grads.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Apr 2010
Four Centres of Innovation (COIs) in local polytechnics came onboard the
A*STAR‘s Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-Up)
programme to help more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) upgrade
their R&D capabilities to stay competitive in this economy.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) announced the launch of the MicroElectro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) Consortium, bringing together eight
MNCs and local enterprises from the MEMS supply chain to collaborate on
research so as to grow the MEMS industry in Singapore.
Twelve research projects on infectious diseases and immunology were
awarded grants by A*STAR‘s Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN). These projects accounted for over
one-third of the $23 million in grants from BMRC‘s 8th General Grant Call
and SIgN‘s 4th Grant Call.
A record number of 469 research projects were submitted for the Singapore
Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) and the A*STAR Talent Search (ATS).
Three outstanding student scientists were selected by the judging panel
headed by Nobel Laureate, Professor Barry Marshall, to receive the A*STAR
Talent Search Award.
A*STAR hosted visits by:
 Dr Ernesto Zedillo, Director of Proctor & Gamble Co. (P&G) and
former President of Mexico
 Professor David Leebron, President of Rice University
May 2010
Imperial College London bestowed its highest honour on A*STAR Chairman
Lim Chuan Poh by appointing him a Fellow of the College, an award for
persons of outstanding distinction.
The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and the Singapore Institute of
Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) inked an agreement to launch
Singapore and South East Asia‘s first carbon label. This Carbon Label is a
Singapore initiative that will support the country‘s transition to a recognised
low carbon economy.
Fujitsu and A*STAR jointly announced the official opening of Fujitsu‘s first
bio-medical focused research facility in the South East Asia region. Fujitsu
Laboratories Singapore would support a number of key research initiatives,
working in collaboration with A*STAR‘s Experimental Therapeutics Centre
(ETC), National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital
(NUH) and the Cancer Science Institute (CSI) to drive research for diagnosis
of cancer and diseases.
A*STAR hosted separate visits by:
 Mr Rainer Bruderle, the Minister of Economics and Technology of
Germany
 Honorable Senor Josep Huguet i Biosca, Catalonia (Spain), the
Minister of Innovation, Universities and Enterprises of Spain
 Mr Masaharu Nakagawa, Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture,
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Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan
Jun 2010
ImaginAb, Inc. and A*STAR embarked on a collaborative project to reengineer a therapeutic antibody asset against a promising oncology target –
PRL3 – into an imaging agent as a first step towards better understanding
the biology of this target in humans. Led by Prof Sir David Lane, A*STAR‘s
Chief Scientist, the collaboration tapped on the cutting edge imaging
technologies at the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) under
A*STAR.
A*STAR showcased more than 10 innovative market-ready technologies at
CommunicAsia 2010. Among the technologies making their debut at the
mega ICT event were a group of personal 3D entertainment technologies
developed by researchers from the Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R).
The I²R Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) team, led by Dr Guan Cuntai
working in collaboration with medical doctors from Tan Tock Seng Hospital
and National Neuroscience Institute, won the Annual BCI Research Award
for their project ―Motor imagery-based Brain-Computer Interface robotic
rehabilitation for stroke‖. The team beat sixty other international entries to
secure the award.
Professor David Townsend, Head of PET and SPECT Development for the
Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) and Director of the Clinical
Imaging Research Centre, was honoured with the prestigious 2010
IEEEMedal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology for the design,
commercial development and clinical implementation of the PET/CT
scanner, an innovation that have made diagnostic imaging of cancer faster
and more accurate for millions of patients. Prof Townsend received the
medal jointly with his co-inventor, engineer Ronald Nutt, at the IEEE Honors
Ceremony in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
A*STAR introduced OLIVIA and LUCAS, the first social robots to be unveiled
in Singapore, at Robocup2010. Developed under A*STAR‘s Social Robotics
Programme (ASoRo), the robots were results of the integration of research
capabilities of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), the Data Storage
Institute (DSI) and the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
(SIMTech).
A*STAR hosted visits by:
 Her Excellency Prof Dr Annette Schavan, German Federal Minister of
Education and Research (BMBF)
 Mr Martin Plachy, the First Deputy Minister of Regional Development
and Singapore Honorary Counsul General in the Czech Republic
 Dr Tamotsu Nomakuchi, President of the National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan
July 2010
At A*STAR‘s Scholarship Awards Ceremony, A*STAR announced that its
10-year scholarship drive had been successful in nurturing a pipeline of
1,000 scholars who would contribute to the Singapore R&D scene.
Switzerland‘s Cytos Biotechnology and A*STAR jointly announced their first
collaboration on a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. This partnership, which
involved academic and clinical partners across Singapore, aimed to conduct
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research, develop and commercialise a VLP vaccine to manage influenza
infections.
Four companies, namely, Rolls Royce, Vestas, SP PowerGrid and CEI
Contract Manufacturing, entered into strategic partnerships with A*STAR to
develop smart grid and distributed energy solutions. This was announced at
the groundbreaking ceremony of the Experimental Power Grid Centre
(EPGC), the smart grid research facility on Jurong Island by Guest-ofHonour, Mr Ravi Menon, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade & Industry.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) announced a collaborative partnership
with Stanford University to develop silicon nanowire based circuits that were
inspired by the brain. This artificial system, organised like the biological
nervous system, promised to drive the future of humanoid robots and pave
the way for a generation of supercomputers that could perform highly
complex decision-making for gaming and defense technologies.
A*STAR hosted separate visits by the following:
 Her Excellency Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation
 Delegation led by Mr Michitaka Nakatomi, President of the Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO)
 Three-member Chinese delegation led by Mr Xu Chaoqian, Deputy
Director-General, Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology
(MOST)
 Mr Yan Li, Mayor of Suzhou, China
Aug 2010
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) received a shot in the arm with
the launch of the new SME Manufacturing Excellence (S.M.E) Programme
developed by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
(SIMTech). The S$2 million programme aimed to help SMEs in the
manufacturing sector raise their productivity through process innovation.
The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and the Institute
of High Performance Computing (IHPC), together with Economic
Development Board, International Enterprise Singapore and SPRING,
launched the Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint (ICON) to help
enterprises reap the rewards that nanoimprint technology (NIT) offered.
ICON would enable industry partners to gain first-hand access to the
advanced nanoimprint developments in A*STAR and work jointly with
A*STAR on projects to develop new products and applications.
Organised with the support of the Singapore National Commission for
UNESCO and in partnership with A*STAR, the L‘Oréal Singapore For
Women in Science National Fellowships 2010 honoured three exceptional
women in science for their contribution to material sciences. Dr Low Hong
Yee, a Senior Scientist from the Institute of Materials Research and
Engineering (IMRE), was one of the three recipients.
A*STAR hosted separate visits by the following:
 Mr Ji Jianye, Mayor of Nanjing, China
 Mr Zhao Xiaojiang, Vice Mayor, Nanjing, China
 Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Paduka Azmansham bin Pengiran
Mohamad, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence, Brunei
 Delegation of Members of Parliament (Japan) led by Mr Takeaki
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Sept 2010
Matsumoto, Lower House Chairman of the Standing Committee on
Rule and Administration
Professor Yang Wei, President of Zhejiang University, China
Professor Thomas Magnanti, President of Singapore University of
Technology and Design
Nine innovative technologies from A*STAR‘s research institutes with the
potential to bolster Singapore‘s green buildings and construction industry
were on display at BEX Asia 2010. This included A*STAR‘s eco-friendly
halogen and toxic gas-free flame retardant and fire-proof additive that
prevented the spread of fire by forming a blanket of solid material at low
temperatures.
Molecular Diagnostic (MDx) licenses developed by A*STAR research
institutes such as Dengue/Chikungunya Multiplex Detection Kits and
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Detection Kit were acquired by AITBIOTECH
Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based company.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the Government‘s plan to
allocate S$16.1 billion for research, innovation and enterprise activities for
the period of 2011-2015. This was a 20 per cent increase over the S$13.55
billion committed in the previous tranche. The increased outlay is an
indication of the Government‘s continued commitment to R&D as a long-term
strategy to transform Singapore into an innovation-driven and knowledgebased economy.
In the same month, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, also
announced that S$1.35 billion of the budget would be allocated under the
Industry Alignment Fund to fund projects, bringing together public sector
R&D performers with industry players to work on projects with industry
relevance. This was aimed at promoting closer collaboration with industry in
order to accelerate economic outcomes from Singapore‘s R&D activities.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) and A*STAR signed a three-year Master Research
Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) to jumpstart P&G‘s innovation expansion
in Singapore and strengthen P&G‘s R&D presence in Singapore. This
agreement came ahead of the opening of P&G‘s new Innovation Center,
which was expected to be completed by late 2013.
Professor Chong Tow Chong, the Provost of Singapore University of
Technology and Design and former Executive Director of A*STAR‘s Science
and Engineering Council, was the recipient of the 2010 President's Science
and Technology Medal (PSTM) at the 2010 President‘s Science and
Technology Awards (PSTA) Ceremony. The 2010 President‘s Science
Award (PSA) was presented to Professor Yoshiaki Ito from the Cancer
Science Institute (CSI) and A*STAR‘s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
(IMCB), and Professor Wong Tien Yin from the Singapore Eye Research
Institute (SERI), Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and National
University Health System (NUHS). The 2010 President‘s Technology Award
was conferred onto a team of research engineers from A*STAR‘s Institute of
Microelectronics (IME) for their work in silicon photonics.
A*STAR hosted a visit by Mr John Whitehead, Chief Executive and
Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury, and his delegation.
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Oct 2010
Professor Low Teck Seng and Dr Raj Thampuran took up appointments as
the Managing Director of A*STAR and Executive Director of the Science and
Engineering Research Council (SERC) respectively.
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with leading global and local industry partners and small and
medium enterprises to jointly explore and collaborate on a research
consortium on Interactive TV technologies. The industry partners included
Sumitomo Electric Networks, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation,
and Network For Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Executive Committee announced at the
15th Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council (BMS IAC) meeting
that the Government would be investing S$3.7 billion in Biomedical Sciences
research for the period 2011 – 2015. This 12% increase over the investment
by the Government for the period 2006 – 2010 was a strong signal that BMS
R&D remained a priority in Singapore‘s long-term strategy to boost its
economic competitiveness, achieve sustained growth and establish the
country as Asia‘s Innovation Capital.
The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) launched
the Nanotechnology in Manufacturing Initiative (NiMI) to explore nanomaterials for industry applications and address challenges in the adoption of
nanotechnology for manufacturing. Thirteen multinational corporations and
small and medium enterprises in the areas of coating, instrumentation,
materials, clean energy, testing, inspection and certification participated in
the initiative to exploit new market opportunities in the global nanotechnology
market, which would be worth more than US$2.4 trillion in 2015.
A*STAR hosted visits by:
 Mr Conor Lenihan, Minister of State for Science, Technology,
Innovation and Natural Resources, Ireland
 Madam Professor Ma Dexiu, Party Secretary and Chairperson of the
University Council of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China
 18-member delegation of Higher Education Leaders from Estonia
Nov 2010
Professor David Townsend, Professor Dim-Lee Kwong and Dr Tony Quek
were honoured at the opening of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) at Solaris@Fusionopolis. Professor David Townsend was
honoured for being bestowed the prestigious 2010 IEEE Medal for
Innovations in Healthcare Technology, Professor Dim-Lee Kwong for winning
the 2011 IEEE Frederik Philips Award which would be presented to him in
December 2011, and Dr Tony Quek for winning two Best Paper Awards in
2010.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and A*STAR jointly launched a
new PhD programme focusing on human immunology and immune
regulation. Under this novel partnership, NTU‘s School of Biological
Sciences and the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) would offer a
comprehensive, world-class PhD training programme to local and
international aspiring scientists.
A team from the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) took top honours for
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the Known-item-Search (KIS) task at National Institute and Standards
Technology TRECVID Conference 2010, beating 49 participating global
teams and emerging best among teams such as National University of
Singapore (NUS), Carnegie Mellon University, City University of Hong Kong
and Dublin City University.
Professor Lam Kong Peng, Scientific Director of the Bioprocessing
Technology Institute (BTI), became the first Singaporean to be honoured
with the Arthur Kornberg Memorial Award by the Asia Pacific International
Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN) based in Seoul, Korea. The award by
one of Asia's key organisations for research in molecular biology and
biotechnology is given to promising scientists who have demonstrated
excellence in research relevant to the needs of humanity.
The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and 10
European Union (EU) research organisations entered into a collaboration to
build a single molecule processor chip. The groundbreaking project, dubbed
Atomic Scale and Single Molecule Logic Gate Technologies (ATMOL), would
establish a new process for making a complete molecular chip that would
help to increase computing power significantly while taking up only a small
fraction of the space required by today‘s standards.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) announced a collaborative partnership
with Stanford University to develop nanoelectromechanical (NEM) relay
technology to enable ultra-low power computation. NEMS-based integrated
circuits are ideal for a wide range of emerging green electronics solutions as
they eliminate leakage power, one of the leading sources of power
consumption in today‘s scaled devices.
A*STAR hosted a visit by a Chinese delegation led by His Excellency Xi
Jinping, Vice President of the People‘s Republic of China.
Dec 2010
The Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), National University of
Singapore, National University Health System (NUHS) and SingHealth
embarked on five separate collaborative research projects with Bayer
HealthCare Singapore, a subsidiary of Germany-based Bayer AG. The
investments from Bayer amounted to S$14.5 million and were aimed at
improving early diagnosis and treatment outcomes of cancer patients.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and local start-up Ney-Li Pte Ltd
entered into a collaboration to develop breakthrough technologies for green
devices. The collaboration leverages IME‘s integrated circuit design
expertise and Ney-Li‘s market and application knowledge in power
conversion.
The Singapore-Stanford Biodesign (SSB) Program Office awarded two
doctors and two engineers the inaugural Singapore-Stanford Biodesign
(SSB) Fellowships, which would equip them with innovation and
entrepreneurship skills to tackle today‘s healthcare issues.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign entered into a research collaboration to discover a way
for improved nanosensor stability and device reproducibility, and to take the
technology a decisive step closer to commercialisation.
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A*STAR‘s 2009 National Survey of R&D revealed that Singapore‘s public
expenditure on R&D (PUBERD) was an unprecedented S$2.3 billion or
0.87% of GDP in 2009. This was a 15.4% increase in PUBERD from S$2
billion in 2008, despite the 3.1% shrinkage in Singapore‘s GDP from 2008 to
2009. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of PUBERD from 2000 to
2009 was 8.2% — an indication of the Government‘s strong commitment to
R&D.
A*STAR and Switzerland‘s Cytos Biotechnology Ltd jointly announced the
extension of their existing collaboration for the development of a virus-like
particle (VLP) based Influenza vaccine. Under this revised agreement,
A*STAR would engage Cytos to develop, manufacture and supply A*STAR
with a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade investigational vaccine
candidate for a human proof-of-concept study in Singapore.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and University of Washington‘s (UW)
Department of Electrical Engineering announced that they would be jointly
developing a parallel assembly technique to accurately and efficiently
assemble ultrathin chips. This project would be funded by the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an agency of the United
States Department of Defense.
A*STAR hosted a visit led by His Excellency Banri Kaieda, Minister of State
for Science and Technology Policy in Japan.
Jan 2011
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) and Exploit Technologies (ETPL)
signed a R&D agreement with Huawei to jointly develop new areas of
infocomm technologies in Singapore that would have strategic, tactical or
commercial potential for global markets and the infocomm industry in
Singapore in the near future.
A team of researchers from the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R),
creators of the highly successful Dance!3D system, was awarded at the
World Technology Summit and Awards 2010 in New York.
Local SME, KAI Square Pte Ltd (KAI Square), signed a licensing agreement
with Exploit Technologies (ETPL) to commercialise a ―black box‖ platform for
automobiles, a move that would help it enter the US$3 billion global DVR
market.
A*STAR hosted a visit by Professor Duong Ngoc Hai, Vice-President of
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
Feb 2011
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) entered into the second phase of
an R&D agreement with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
(CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier (UJF) and the National University of
Singapore (NUS) for their joint laboratory in Singapore known as the Image,
Pervasive Access Lab (IPAL). This new phase saw two additional members Université Pierre et Marie Curie and Institut Telecom into the agreement.
The Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and VIVALIS, a French
biopharmaceutical company, announced the discovery of two new fully
human monoclonal antibodies which could battle Chikungunya, a disease
that had no available vaccine or specific treatment. The international team of
scientists, coordinated by Dr Lucile Warter of SIgN, published their
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groundbreaking discovery in the Journal of Immunology.
Western Digital entered into an agreement with the Data Storage Institute
(DSI) to collaborate on the development of advanced head, media and hard
drive system design.
A*STAR hosted separate visits by the following:
 His Excellency Dr Heinz Fischer, Federal President of the Republic of
Austria
 The Honourable Mr Glen Murray, Minister of Research and
Innovation, Ontario, Canada
 Mr Martin Donnelly, Permanent Secretary of UK Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
 His Excellency Mr Meng Jianzhu, State Councillor of the People‘s
Republic of China
 Five-member delegation from the New Zealand Defence Technology
Agency
 Eight-member delegation from the National Science Technology and
Innovation Policy Office in Thailand
Mar 2011
More than 30 international experts on biofuels converged on Singapore for
the Keystone Symposium on Biofuels conference, jointly organized by
A*STAR and Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology.
The Italian FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) and A*STAR
launched the IFOM-p53Lab Joint Research Laboratory for cancer research
in Singapore. The IFOM-p53Lab Joint Research Laboratory would focus on
new targeted therapies and would leverage the combined knowledge and
technological expertise of the two agencies to accelerate the transfer of
scientific findings from the laboratory to clinical practice.
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and ELTA Systems Ltd. (ELTA), a
electronic defence systems company wholly owned subsidiary of Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI), inked an agreement to design and develop a
novel through-silicon via (TSV) substrate technology for multi-chip module
packaging. The aim was to develop new applications in multi-chip modules in
radar, communication, and electronic warfare systems.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS IN A*STAR RESEARCH INSTITUTES,
CONSORTIA & CENTRES
Below are some examples of discoveries and innovations made by teams of scientists from
research entities under A*STAR’s Biomedical Research and Science and Engineering
Research Councils.
Biomedical Sciences
Scientists led by GIS and Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre identified genes
associated with the development of a form of throat cancer
Scientists from Singapore, China and the USA led by Dr Liu Jianjun, from the Genome
Institute of Singapore (GIS), and Professor Yi-Xin Zeng, President of the Sun Yat-Sen
University Cancer Centre, identified three new susceptibility genes in a genome-wide
association study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a form of throat cancer, which
involved more than 10,000 subjects. Published in Nature Genetics, the findings advanced
the understanding of the important role played by host genetic variation in influencing the
susceptibility to NPC.
IMB scientists uncovered the trail behind growing too old, too soon
Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) scientists, led by Professor Alan Colman and Professor
Colin Stewart, collaborated with the University of Hong Kong‘s Department of Medicine to
produce the world's first human cell model of progeria. Progeria is a disease resulting in
severe premature ageing in one in four to eight million children worldwide. This human
progeria model allows the group to trace and analyse the distinctive characteristics of
progeria as it progresses in human cells. Previously, only mouse models of the disease were
available. Their findings were published in the prestigious scientific journal, Cell Stem Cell.
IMCB scientists discovered how PRL-3, a protein, played a key role in tumorigenesis
and cancer metastasis
A team of scientists led by Dr Zeng Qi from the Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology
(IMCB) made a discovery about how PRL-3, a protein that played a key role in
tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis, was regulated in the body by PCBP1. Dr Zeng,
together with her collaborator, Dr Leah Vardy from Institute of IMB (IMB), also found that
PCBP1 impeded the translation of PRL-3 mRNA. Their discovery, published in the leading
journal Cancer Cell, shed light on the role of PRL-3 in cancer and suggested possible ways
to prevent metastasis, arguably the most pernicious and harmful aspect of the disease.
Researchers revealed genetic link to infectious disease susceptibility through largescale study
Researchers from A*STAR, the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and National
University Health System (NUHS) identified new genetic variants that could increase the
susceptibility to several infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and malaria. With a
greater understanding of the role of the gene implicated, findings could one day lead to
better therapies and vaccines.
SIgN and Novartis Discover Breakthrough Drug Against Malaria
Scientists from the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) led by Dr Laurent Renia made a
breakthrough concerning a drug that was effective against malaria. Their work, carried out
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with industry leader Novartis, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, and The Scripps
Research Institute, was published in top scientific journal, Science. The discovery and
validation of the new drug, spiroindolone NITD609, was timely in the face of emerging
strains of drug-resistant malaria.
Physical Sciences and Engineering
DSI Researcher among pioneer investigator of Fano Resonance in Plasmonic
Nanostructures and Metamaterials
Professor Boris Lukiyanchuk, from the Data Storage Institute (DSI), was among the pioneers
investigating Fano resonance in plasmonic materials and metamaterials. Results of his
investigations, together with complimentary studies of distinguished groups from Rice
University, Houston, USA, Imperial College London and University of Southampton, UK and
also from the University of Stuttgart, Germany were presented in their review paper in
Nature Materials.
I2R Known-item-Search (KIS) technology took top honours at US standards annual
TRECVID conference
A team from the Institute for Infocomms Research (I2R) managed to obtain the top scores
beating 49 participating global teams and emerging first in the Known-item-Search (KIS) task
at National Institute and Standards Technology TRECVID Conference 2010, revealing its
capabilities in content-based analysis of and retrieval from digital video via open, metricsbased evaluation. The final 15 teams included teams from the National University of
Singapore (NUS), Carnegie Mellon University, City University of Hong Kong and Dublin City
University.
Researchers from IME behind new bedside tool for faster treatment of heart patients
The researchers from A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) developed a novel
microfluidic system for rapid and sensitive detection of rare circulating endothelial progenitor
cells (EPC). The microfluidic system could be used as a bedside tool for point-of-care
diagnostics to assist clinicians to perform in-depth studies to uncover new potential health
implications of EPC levels, to monitor the efficiency of drug therapy or to help cardiologists
prescribe suitable treatments for heart patients with clogged arteries.
IMRE uncovered a new and revolutionary approach to preparing hydrogels for
engineering and biomedical applications
A team from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) developed a new
and revolutionary approach for preparing hydrogels, a network of polymer chains that were
biocompatible, biodegradable and easily moulded into various shapes and sizes. The main
advantage of this novel approach lay in its ―living‖ property that could create a controlled in
situ gelling system to produce tailor-made hydrogels with the desired structures and
properties for a new range of biomedical applications. Their work was published in the
Journal of the American Chemical Society, one of the leading journals in Chemistry.
Scientists from SIMTech discovered new laser technology process with high potential
for making security watermarks
A team of scientists at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)
discovered a new process for direct patterning in sub-surface of stainless steel using
Nd:YAG laser pulses that could be used to enhance the security in the automotive,
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aerospace and military sectors. The laser markings which would be completely invisible,
would have a high potential to be applied in the prevention of counterfeiting by making
security watermarks in high value components. The scientists‘ work received endorsement
by Frost & Sullivan as one of the emerging laser technologies.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF SPIN-OFF COMPANIES AND COMMERCIALISATION OF A*STAR
TECHNOLOGIES
Below are some examples of spin-off companies from A*STAR’s research entities that are
delivering innovative products built on technologies developed in A*STAR laboratories.
AITBiotech acquired Molecular Diagnostic License for Multiple Pathogens Detection
and Swine Flu Mutation Surveillance.
AITBiotech Pte Ltd of Singapore acquired several Molecular Diagnostic (MDx) licenses from
Exploit Technologies (ETPL) that were developed by research institutes under A*STAR. The
assays include Dengue/Chikungunya Multiplex Detection Kits and Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis Detection Kit. All these detection kits are used with real-time Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR) detection system manufactured and distributed by major international Life
Science companies like Applied Biosytems, BioRad and Strategene. These assays were
developed by a Senior Research Scientist Masafumi Inoue and his team from the
Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC).
D-SIMLAB selected as a 2010 Red Herring Global Top 100 Tech Startup
D-SIMLAB, a spin-off company from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
(SIMTech), was selected as a 2010 Red Herring Global Top 100 Tech Startup. The
company, founded by Dr Peter Lendermann, Mr Gan Boon Ping and Dr Nirupam Julka in
2006, had been gaining significant traction in the Aerospace industry through D-SIMSPAIR,
a software suite for managing component support contracts in a multi-airline, multi-station
network.
iTwin received the Frost &Sullivan New Product Innovation Award
iTwin, a spinoff company from the Institute for Infocomms Research (I2R), received the 2010
Asia Pacific Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award in the Wireless Data
Communication Device Market for reinventing the traditional USB drive by providing simple
and secure remote file access. The award is presented each year to the company that has
demonstrated measured excellence in a new, innovative product or product line within its
industry.
Niometrics received the Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award for Network
Traffic Analysis Solutions.
Niometrics licensed from Exploit Technologies (ETPL) a next-generation, highly accurate
traffic recognition engine, developed by the Institute for Infocomm Research (I 2R). The
licensed technology, codenamed as CUB4, is a home-grown, high-performance, softwarebased traffic analysis engine. Niometrics was awarded the 2010 Asia Pacific Frost &
Sullivan New Product Innovation Award for Network Traffic Analysis Solutions by leading
growth consulting company Frost and Sullivan.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRY
Below are examples of some new partnerships that A*STAR established with leading local
and global establishments and industry players.
Partnerships with industry
A*STAR - Fujitsu
Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd. and A*STAR jointly announced the official
opening of a new research facility in Singapore, Fujitsu Laboratories & R&D Division of
Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd, to drive research for diagnosis of cancer and diseases. As Fujitsu‘s first
bio-medical focused research facility in the South East Asia region, the laboratory is part of a
comprehensive ecosystem which partners universities and research institutes with industryrelevant capabilities that will further strengthen Singapore‘s status as Asia‘s research and
development (R&D) hub. Fujitsu will be working with A*STAR on the development of
aptamer technology for diagnostics application and business development trials
A*STAR - Huawei
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) and Exploit Technologies (ETPL) entered into a
R&D agreement with Huawei to co-develop new areas of infocomm technologies in
Singapore. Under the agreement, I²R and ETPL would work with Huawei on a number of
technology-focused R&D activities that would have strategic, tactical or commercial potential
for global markets and the infocomm industry in Singapore in the near future.
MEMS Consortium
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) announced the launch of the Micro-ElectroMechanical-Systems (MEMS) Consortium to bring together eight MNCs and local
enterprises from the MEMS supply chain in public-private sector research collaboration to
grow the MEMS industry in Singapore. The members include: Coventor, Inc., EPCOS PTE
LTD (A Group Company of TDK-EPC Corporation), GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Intellisense
Software Corp., NEC SCHOTT Components Corporation, Seiko Instruments Inc., Systems
on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte. Ltd. (SSMC) and Tango Systems, Inc.
A*STAR - P&G
Procter & Gamble (P&G) and A*STAR entered into a strategic partnership to jumpstart
P&G‘s innovation expansion in Singapore and strengthen P&G‘s R&D presence in
Singapore. This Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) signed by the two
organisations comes ahead of the opening of P&G‘s new Innovation Center, which is
expected to be completed by late 2013. The three-year MRCA would build on the existing
cooperation between P&G and A*STAR which began in 2006 and set the stage for more
cutting-edge market innovations.
A*STAR - Western Digital
Western Digital announced the establishment of an R&D centre in Singapore which would
leverage the local talent pool and expertise of research organizations, such as the Data
Storage Institute (DSI) and universities in the development of advanced hard drive
technologies. The company also entered into an agreement with DSI to collaborate on the
development of advanced head, media and hard drive system design.
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Partnerships with leading research institutes and universities
A*STAR - CNRS - UJF - NUS
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), a research institute of A*STAR, entered into the
second phase of a research and development (R&D) agreement with Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier (UJF) and the National University
of Singapore (NUS) for their joint laboratory in Singapore known as the Image, Pervasive
Access Lab, or IPAL. This next phase also marks the addition of Université Pierre et Marie
Curie and Institut Telecom as new parties to the agreement.
A*STAR - Stanford University
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of A*STAR, entered into a
collaborative partnership with Stanford University to develop silicon nanowire based circuits
that are inspired by the brain. The quest to come up with an artificial system organised like
the biological nervous system promised to drive the future of humanoid robots and pave the
way for a generation of supercomputers that can perform highly complex decision-making for
gaming and defense technologies.
A*STAR - Stanford University
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of A*STAR, announced a
collaborative partnership with Stanford University in USA to co-develop
nanoelectromechanical (NEM) relay technology to enable ultra-low power computation.
NEMS-based integrated circuits are ideal for a wide range of emerging green electronics
solutions as they eliminate leakage power, one of the leading sources of power consumption
in today‘s scaled devices.
A*STAR - NTU
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and A*STAR jointly launched a new PhD
programme focusing on human immunology and immune regulation. Under this novel
partnership, NTU‘s School of Biological Sciences and A*STAR‘s consortium, Singapore
Immunology Network (SIgN), will jointly offer a comprehensive, world-class PhD training
programme to local and international aspiring scientists from 2011.
A*STAR Institute - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of A*STAR, and the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) entered into a research collaboration focused on
identifying and defining the ground rules for the systematic optimisation of nanowire sensor
design as well as the techniques for batch fabrication. The resultant discoveries will pave the
way for improved nanosensor stability and device reproducibility — taking the technology a
decisive step closer to commercialisation.
A*STAR - University of Washington
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of A*STAR and University of
Washington‘s (UW) Department of Electrical Engineering entered into a research
collaboration to develop a parallel assembly technique to accurately and efficiently assemble
ultrathin chips; a three-dimensional (3D) Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) high
density capacitor with increased energy storage for portable systems; and a microsensor
that detects human dehydration levels.
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OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR
This year, Singapore celebrates 20 years of S&T planning and investment. Since the first
five-year S&T plan was launched in 1991, Singapore‘s R&D landscape has grown in
strength and diversity. The investment in R&D by the Singapore government remained
despite the global economic crisis of 2008-2009, and has positioned Singapore well to seize
the opportunities opening up in Asia today.
The Singapore government remains committed to its investment in research and innovation,
which are key pillars in its economic strategy. Chairman of the Research, Innovation and
Enterprise Committee (RIEC), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, announced in September
2010 that $16.1 billion will be allocated to support research, innovation and enterprise for the
next five years (RIE2015). The government will seek to leverage the investment to grow the
Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) to 3.5% by 2015. Singapore‘s long-term aim is to be
among the most research-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economies in the world,
in order to create high-value jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans.
$6.39 billion of the RIE2015 budget has been allocated to A*STAR. As Singapore‘s primary
mission-oriented research agency, A*STAR is committed to achieving the government‘s
RIE2015 goals through supporting research with economic outcomes that will sustain
Singapore‘s key economic clusters, as well as capture growth through emerging industries.
A*STAR will continue to be at the forefront of scientific excellence, and lead in innovative
R&D that are aligned to industry needs. For the MNCs, A*STAR will integrate its capabilities
across the disciplines for a concierge approach to attract and anchor MNC activities in
Singapore. For local enterprises, A*STAR will continue to gear them for growth, through
upgrading their technological capabilities and hence their ability to offer better products and
services. In addition, A*STAR will aim to provide a supportive ecosystem to seed surprises
that may come in the form of enterprising startups and spin offs from our research
community.
A*STAR‘s impact on industry will also encompass increased efforts to commercialise
research outcomes. As such, budget allocations for Exploit Technologies (ETPL), A*STAR‘s
commercialisation arm, will be increased to support more technology transfer activities such
as patenting, licensing, and gap funding. In addition, a new multi-agency IP Intermediary has
been established to help local enterprises source for or acquire useful IP or technologies so
as to expand their innovation capacities and improve their businesses.
A*STAR‘s next phase of talent development is to develop itself as a global nexus for local
and international scientific talent, so as to create a unique, vibrant and multidisciplinary
environment for innovation to thrive. A*STAR will continue to train and develop a pipeline of
local scientific talent, while diversifying our talent pool through international programmes
aimed at attracting scientists and students from non-traditional talent sources. For many of
A*STAR‘s scholars returning to Singapore from their studies from 2011 onwards, A*STAR
will embark on focused career development efforts that will help provide them with a
rewarding and fulfilling career in their chosen paths.
A*STAR‘s strategies for the next five years will help Singapore truly realise its vision of
becoming Asia‘s Innovation Capital.
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