SINGAPORE TO INVEST S$3.7 BLN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Singapore government will be investing
S$3.7 billion in biomedical sciences research over the next five years.

This is 12 per cent more than that spent by the government for the 2006–2010
period, according to the republic's Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR) after the 15th Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council (BMS
IAC) meeting here Friday.

In a statement, A*STAR said the investment was a strong signal that
biomedical sciences research and development would remain 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 biomedical sciences research investment is part of the Research,
Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2015 fund of S$16.1 billion committed to
research and development for the next five years.

In line with the RIE2015 strategies, the biomedical sciences research
funding will support better integration of research performers across the
biomedical sciences research landscape, greater emphasis on translational and
clinical research and stronger focus on economic outcomes.

Singapore's deep capabilities in both basic biomedical sciences research and
translational and clinical research built up over the past 10 years lay the
foundation for it to move into more multi-disciplinary, multi-agency research
collaborations for greater economic and health impact in the next five years.

-- BERNAMA