Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the 2012 A*STAR Scholarship Award Ceremony on Wednesday 25 July 2012, 3:00PM, at Matrix Auditorium, Biopolis

Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR,

His Excellency Antony Phillipson, High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Singapore,

Her Excellency Amira Arnon, Israeli Ambassador to Singapore,

Scholars and parents,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon

Introduction

1. I am delighted to join you today for the 12th A*STAR Scholarship Award Ceremony. Since I last spoke on this occasion at the A*STAR Scholarship Award Ceremony in 2008, A*STAR has reached and crossed its target of giving out 1,000 scholarships in 10 years. The need for a pipeline of Singaporean PhD talent continues to be vital and I warmly congratulate this year’s scholarship award recipients. You now join the ranks of many before you to form the core of the research enterprise here and to help transform Singapore into a knowledge- based, innovation driven economy.

Talent is Key to Seizing Global Opportunities

2. Singapore is now in our 5th five year R&D plan, what we call the Research, Innovation and Enterprise or RIE 2015 Plan. The RIE 2015 was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2010 to bolster public and private R&D, expand innovation and enterprise efforts, and sustain the momentum of R&D talent development.

3. At the heart of this critical endeavour for Singapore is our scientific talent. Over the years, Singapore has built a robust and diverse community of 28,000 local and international scientific talent, hailing from many parts of the world. In R&D, we are increasingly seeing more business sector R&D activities in Asia - both from companies within and outside Asia. Many of these companies are also adopting open innovation strategy by seeking partnerships with public sector research organisations, universities, or hospitals. In this regard, I am happy to note that earlier this month, Singapore was picked by Chugai Pharmabody Research, over Cambridge UK and Cambridge Massachusetts in the United States, to base its operations in Biopolis. Chugai, one of the world’s leading antibody and genetic engineering firms, chose Singapore not only because of the business friendly environment but also because of the excellence of science as well as the richness and diversity of scientific talents here.

4. A similar sentiment was expressed by Mike Splinter, President & CEO of Applied Materials, who cited Singapore’s talent and scientific capabilities as one of the key reasons for the company’s decision to site its US$100million Centre of Excellence in Advanced Packaging in Singapore.

Nurturing a Core of Singaporean R&D Talent to Sustain the R&D Ecosystem 5. Right from the onset, Singapore has recognised that investment in R&D talent will enable us to develop a differentiating advantage that will keep our economy competitive in the long term. At the same time, we have also been cognizant of the value of diversity in creating a vibrant research and innovation landscape in Singapore.

6. A*STAR’s strategy, therefore, is to build a strong pipeline of some of the most capable and committed local R&D talent who will form the core of Singapore’s research community. This will then be complemented by a rich diversity of scientists and engineers from around the world. This will not only sustain and energise Singapore’s R&D ecosystem, but also ensure that the system is robust.

Greater Outreach and Expanded Opportunities for Talent

7. This year, two initiatives will help increase the outreach of A*STAR’s talent development effort. The A*STAR Science Awards, usually given out at Upper Secondary and Junior College levels to students who demonstrate strong aptitude in math and science, will be broadened to include students from the Polytechnics. Talented and committed polytechnic students will now be given opportunities to access the various R&D-related programmes under the award.

8. Similarly, there will be a more concerted effort to reach out to Singaporeans studying overseas to connect them with research attachment opportunities in A*STAR through the Research Attachment Programme for Overseas Singaporeans. This new programme is open to all Singapore Citizens who are currently pursuing an undergraduate or masters degree abroad – and who have a keen interest in doing a research attachment at A*STAR Research Institutes back in Singapore. This will complement the opportunities that are already available to Singaporeans studying in Singapore. 9. Together, the evolution of the A*STAR Science Award and the initiation of the Research Attachment Programme for Overseas Singaporeans will offer meaningful opportunities to those passionate about R&D and who are committed to furthering their studies in the field.

Clarion call to more Singaporeans to pursue PhDs in R&D

10. Apart from greater outreach, more pertinently, to encourage more young Singaporeans to pursue research as a career and out of their passion for science and discovery, A*STAR offers various scholarship and investigatorship programmes at different junctures of their academic and personal development. Talented Singaporeans can apply for A*STAR scholarships at post Junior College or Polytechnic level, after their Bachelors degree, or upon completion of their PhDs.

11. These scholarships offer aspiring young scientists the best education and training at top local and overseas universities around the world; where they may explore their research interests, realise their intellectual potential and build linkages with the international community.

Expanding Opportunities Through A Multitude of Career Paths

12. Already, more than 30% of A*STAR’s scholars and fellows have completed their PhD programmes and are advancing research in A*STAR laboratories, whilst building up their research portfolio and experience. With that vital post-PhD research experience gained in the Research Institutes, A*STAR’s PhD talent enjoy a broad and rich spectrum of career opportunities. These include scientific R&D, innovation, management and commercialistion of intellectual property, scientific leadership, education, and entrepreneurship at A*STAR. This flexibility allows them to maximise their potential in careers at universities, hospitals, industries and start-up enterprises that are closely interconnected with their scientific training. Moreover, the diverse professional routes of research, industry and others taken by deployed scholars often reinforce one another; leading to a cross-fertilisation of skills, experiences and expertise which is of long-term benefit to the R&D community.

13. A case in point is the industry route, where returning PhD Talent who wish to collaborate with industries, are encouraged to spend their first two years in a lab to establish their research portfolios. This prepares them for a fuller experience before joining their chosen industries. From 2006 to 2010, more than 1,000 A*STAR researchers, scientists and engineers were recruited in various capacities for industry needs. This flow of R&D talent into industry is a recognition by industry players of A*STAR’s commitment to select and nurture talent with the potential to advance R&D and innovation in companies setting up and growing their knowledge intensive activities in Singapore.

14. Procter and Gamble (P&G) for example recruited more than 10 A*STAR researchers as part of its $250 million innovation centre at Biopolis. Deployed scholars the likes of Tanu Kustandi and Natalia Chendrawati from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) have joined P&G’s innovation team. This is however just one of the many paths which are open to scholars and scientists at A*STAR. Scientific excellence remains an instrumental part of every scholar’s personal scientific career. Take Wong Chee Chung for example. A deployed A*STAR scholar, Chee Chung is now collaborating with hospitals for the betterment of medical treatment. Chee Chung began his research activities with the Institute of Microelectronics (IME). He continued his final year project with IME before joining as a full-time research staff upon graduation.

15. In August 2006, he was offered the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship and embarked on his postgraduate studies in NTU. Currently, he is the team engineer for a research project that aims to develop a cost-effective way to help physicians assess the effectiveness of treatments to cancer patients. The new test will allow more frequent tracking of a patient’s response to the prescribed treatment, enabling the physician to tailor dosages for radiation and chemotherapy. This research has wide-spread implications for the medical industry and can change how cancer is diagnosed and treated for generations to come. Chee Chung’s project has been deservedly nominated for the Asian Wall Street Journal Award 2012 among other prestigious honours.

16. Budding scientists like Chee Chung are not merely confined to industry collaborations or making waves on the new frontiers of medical research. The A*STAR scholarships have produced other young outstanding scientists who are developing their careers in the academic world. Melissa Fullwood received the NSS(PhD) scholarship in 2006 for her studies in Genomics at A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore. In late 2010, she became the first young Singaporean to win one of four Regional General Electric & Science Prizes for Young Life Scientists. She was until recently, a Lee Kuan Yew Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, where her research focused on using genomic technologies to understand cell death pathways activated by cell stress. Melissa’s latest appointment at Yale-NUS College will see her being a part of the faculty who will teach and inspire the next generation.

17. As you can see, the work of these two individuals are examples of the calibre of young Singaporean research talent; and clearly illustrate some of the growing opportunities available for PhD talent to develop their careers and contribute to Singapore. I believe that many who follow them are similarly well poised to do excellent research; and will do Singapore proud upon their return.

Conclusion

18. This may be a time of great challenges but it is also a time of great opportunities, for Singapore, for A*STAR, and for you – our future scientists. I have no doubt that, in time, you, like your predecessors, will carve a niche for yourselves in your chosen arena of scientific expertise and career, and contribute to both Singapore’s economy and society. My ministry will continue to work with A*STAR to promote collaborations between the researchers in the A*STAR research institutes, hospitals and universities, to generate better health outcomes for patients and help strengthen Singapore’s biomedical research landscape.

19. It is my greatest pleasure to congratulate all of you once again. You have done yourselves and your parents very proud. As you set out on your journey, do not lose your passion for achieving the extraordinary. Return emboldened from your experiences to make a difference to Singapore’s R&D landscape!

20. I wish you every success. Thank you