A*STAR Yearbook 2009/2010

Transcription

1 A*STAR Yearbook 2009/2010

2 Sparkles, the motif of this year's theme, represents the spirit of "Partnerships for Impact". Each sparkle represents an individual - an individual talent, an individual company, an individual institution. Every one of these shines with a light representing their promise and potential, but individually they can only stand as lonely lights in a bleak landscape. However, when these individual sparkles are brought together, they form a beautiful pattern. This represents the bringing together of individual strengths and capabilities to create a dynamic and vibrant whole, where the whole (the entire pattern) is certainly much greater than the sum of its parts (the individual sparkles). Contents 2 Why We Exist 3 Mission and Vision 4 Chairman s Statement 8 MD s Reflections 10 What We Are Doing Sustaining knowledge creation 13 BCI - Reading Minds, Changing Lives 14 3-D Brain Atlas - Unlocking the Mysteries of the Human Mind 16 SICS and the Epigen Consortium - The Puzzle of Nature vs. Nurture Growing Innovation Capital 20 The Aerospace Consortium - An Idea that Really Took Off 22 3D-TSV Consortium A New Dimension of Miniaturization 23 MEMS Small Ideas, Big Impact 24 ICON Engineering The Skin of Objects 25 HP Labs Singapore The Sky s the Limit for Cloud Computing 26 Fujitsu and A*STAR - A Two-Pronged Approach to Advancing Knowledge 28 GET-Up and COIs Giving Companies a Helping Hand 30 ETPL - Building Innovation Capital with 32 CIMIT Fostering Startups in Medical Technology 40 How We Are Doing 42 Year in Review 46 Highlights of Scientific Breakthroughs in a*star Research Institutes, Consortia & Centres 50 Highlights of Spin-off Companies and Commercialisation of a*star Technologies 52 International Linkages 56 A*STAR s Singapore Partners 58 Human Capital 59 Intellectual Capital 60 Industrial Capital 61 R&D Expenditure in Singapore 62 Who We Are 64 Board of Directors 66 A*STAR Senior Management 68 Leaders of Research Institutes and Consortia 70 Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council 73 A*STAR Graduate Academy International Advisory Panel 74 A*STAR Roll of Honour 76 Chairman s Honours List Nurturing and Developing Talent SCHOLARS: A Milestone Achieved 35 A*STAR Scholarship Programmes 36 Voices of A*STAR Scholars 38 Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Innovative Talent Training 39 T3M Midwives of Technology

3 Mission Fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. Vision A prosperous and vibrant Singapore built upon a knowledge-based economy Why We Exist

4 4 Chairman s Statement Chairman s Statement 5 Chairman s statement integrate for impact A*STAR is bringing together partners of different sizes from many different sectors to integrate for impact assisting the joining of forces to create powerful change. In the midst of the deepest global recession in decades, Singapore convened an Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) to fundamentally review our strategies and to chart new directions for the next 10 to 15 years. The focus was on sustainable, quality and inclusive growth. The ESC was formed in May 2009 and was supported by eight sub-committees. One of them, Sub-Committee 4 on Growing Knowledge Capital, was focused on the research, innovation and enterprise system in Singapore. The ESC announced its findings in February 2010 and all the recommendations were accepted by the government. The key thrust of the ESC s findings was to make skills, innovation and productivity the basis for sustaining Singapore s economic growth. This would then provide for growth across all sectors of society and bring greater prosperity to Singaporeans. As part of this thrust, Singapore needs to position itself as a vibrant and distinctive global city. Such a city, with an open and diverse culture, would be the best place to grow and reach out to a rising Asia, as well as a home that provides an outstanding quality of life. To support this, Sub-committee 4 recommended ways to make innovation pervasive as well as strengthen the commercialisation of R&D here. The specific recommendations include raising Singapore s Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) to 3.5% of GDP by 2015 through increased private sector R&D expenditures. At the same time, there will be a greater emphasis on innovation and commercialization of R&D through various innovation platforms that will enable the private sector companies to better leverage on the world class R&D capabilities in the public sector. Our aspiration is for Singapore to become a key global R&D hub as well as Asia s Innovation Capital. More recently, in line with the ESC s recommendations, the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) announced that it would commit S$16.1 billion to support the drive to develop the research, innovation, and enterprise landscape in Singapore. PM Lee Hsien Loong declared Singapore s long-term aim is to be among the most researchintensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economies in the world so as to create high-value jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans. Moreover, the country s R&D expertise would be harnessed to solve complex challenges facing both Singapore and the world.

5 6 Chairman s Statement Chairman s Statement 7 we want to expand the boundaries of collaboration to provide more opportunities for more complex multi-party multi-dimensional collaborations. With the recommendations of both the ESC and the directions of RIEC in mind, the mission of A*STAR is clear: A*STAR must continue to deliver world class impactful research in an increasingly diversified and competitive research landscape. A*STAR is well poised to do this. With a critical mass of world class scientists spanning a spectrum of disciplines from the biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, we are able to integrate our relevant capabilities synergistically to deliver a strong value proposition to our industry partners or to tackle significant national challenges. Indeed, our ability to integrate extends beyond A*STAR through our cooperative and collaborative links with the wider R&D community in the universities, the polytechnics and the hospitals as well as the other public sector agencies and our industry partners. This ability to Integrate for Impact at the Wholeof-Singapore level; our very international and English speaking environment; the ease of doing business here with our strong IP protection laws; our high quality of life; and also our connectivity to the rest of the world are what set Singapore apart from R&D hubs in Asia. Our differentiating advantages are especially critical now that businesses in general, attracted by the size, rapid growth and increased affluence of the Asian markets, are responding more specifically to the needs of the Asian consumers and markets. Singapore and A*STAR should take advantage of the growing interest in Asia and the shift towards an open innovation model to develop significant partnerships with the MNCs and foreign companies which are seeking to grow their R&D activities in Asia. One illustration of how A*STAR has done this successfully with the industry partners is the A*STAR Aerospace Programme. This groundbreaking programme brings together industry giants such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Honeywell Aerospace, SIA Engineering Company, and ST Aerospace, and A*STAR s research institutes in a consortium to collaborate on projects that will shape the future of the aerospace industry. The consortium facilitates collaboration in the pre-competitive space across many different dimensions: it sees traditional industry rivals such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce working together; it sees private commercial giants collaborating with public research institutes; it also sees global multinationals partnering local SMEs to strengthen the links in the supply chain. Another illustration is Roche s Translational Medicine Hub which was announced in early This is the first of Roche s TCR sites of this nature in the world and the company is prepared to invest 100 million Swiss francs or S$130 million over the next five years in two areas of research, namely, oncology and virology. Together with Roche, the Biomedical Sciences community created a platform that will enable the company to access the expertise of both basic scientists as well as clinician scientists/ investigators in the hospitals, universities, and research institutes. This makes it much easier for Roche s scientists to conduct multi-disciplinary translational research in a seamless way that will greatly accelerate the drug discovery and development process. More recently, GSK also announced the setting up of their Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Singapore which will also leverage the excellent public research infrastructure that we have put in place and organized to facilitate the rapid translation of research findings into novel healthcare solutions with both clinical and market impact. The formation of the Aerospace Programme, the setting up of the Roche Translational Medicine Hub and the GSK ACE are examples of the opportunities that are coming this way in the next decade or two. We have responded to the opportunities and we are learning from the experience at the same time. Our focus remains to do this in a quality win-win partnership. As we go forward, we will have to make adjustments and raise our game as we are operating in a very competitive landscape. The coming decade is a very promising and exciting one for Singapore and A*STAR. There are many opportunities out there and we are well positioned to seize them. However, we must always remember that we are in a good position because our greatest strength is our talent talent across the whole research, innovation and enterprise system. We must always seek to attract the best talent, invest in their development and create pathways and opportunities for them to realize their full potential. As long as we sustain this flow of the most capable and committed talent into and in the country, Singapore will become a key global R&D hub and Asia s innovation capital.

6 8 MD s Reflections MD s Reflections 9 MD s REFLECTIONs Research Hubs of Excellence Fusionopolis and Biopolis The research community continued to grow and flourish at the world-class research hubs at the Biopolis and the Fusionopolis. Many international corporate laboratories and renowned research centres have joined the community and entered into research collaborations with the A*STAR research institutes. The co-location of public and private laboratories in these two research hubs has offered rich opportunities to create a vibrant environment to push the frontiers of science and drive technological innovations. For example, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Fujitsu have set up full-scale research laboratories in the Fusionopolis to explore future concepts in data centre and cloud computing, and to develop the next generation of petascale scientific computing, respectively. Waseda University set up its first independent research operations overseas, the Waseda Bioscience Research Institute at the Biopolis. A*STAR organized its 2nd Scientific Conference at the Biopolis. During the Conference, the inaugural publication, A*STAR Research was launched. This publication presented high impact scientific findings from the A*STAR research institutes. Over 500 researchers from the research institutes participated in the Conference. A Community of Talent A*STAR has attracted many talented individuals from around the world it has scientific leaders, researchers, post-docs and PhD students from over 60 countries working in 21 research institutes, consortia and centres. As of Jun 2010, the total size of the A*STAR community was 4,085; comprising 223 at A*STAR HQ, and 3,862 scientists and researchers, technical and non-technical staff, and industry development and commercialization staff. This year, A*STAR announced its partnership with Stanford University Biodesign Programme and the EDB to establish a new training program called the Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Programme, which aim to train the next generation of Asian leaders to develop innovative medical devices to address Asia s growing healthcare needs. Members of the A*STAR community won many accolades in recognition of their excellent contributions to science and technology. A*STAR Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh was conferred two prestigious awards, the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa the highest award offered by Monash University, Australia, and the Fellowship of Imperial College, UK. Prof Miranda Yap, Executive Director of the Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) & Executive Director of the A*STAR Graduate Academy (A*GA), won the nation s highest honor for science and technology the President s Science and Technology Medal. Dr Li Haizhou from the Institute for Infocomm Research (I 2 R) was elected into the International Speech Communication Association Board, the largest professional organisation in the areas of speech communication, science and technology. Prof David Townsend from the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) was awarded the prestigious 2010 IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology medal for the design, commercial development and clinical implementation of the PET/CT scanner. The I²R Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) team led by Dr Guan Cuntai won the Annual BCI Research Award for their project Motor imagery-based Brain-Computer Interface robotic rehabilitation for stroke. Dr Jonathan Loh, an A*STAR scholar, won the Young Scientist Award and Singapore Youth Award for his research into the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms regulating embryonic stem cells and the direct reprogramming of human somatic cells, and outstanding achievements in science and technology, respectively. Dr Ng Huck Hui from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) was conferred the Medal of Commendation for Science and Technology at the Singapore Youth Awards 2010 for his accomplishments in science and technology. Dr Victor Tong from I 2 R won the National Youth Service Award for his ground-breaking research on custom design vaccines. Organisational Excellence A*STAR did well on its 3Cs strategy to develop Human Capital, Intellectual Capital, and Industrial Capital. The following research institutes were recognized: The Nanoelectronics Group from the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) won The Award for Leading, Educating & Nurturing Talent for providing a conducive environment for nurturing young researchers. The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) won the Most Valuable Partner Award as the RI which contributed the most to an industry partner through their collaboration. The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) were joint winners of the Patent Power Award for having the highest number of primary patents filed per budget dollar spent. The MedTech Manufacturing Initiative at SIMTech won the A*STAR Borderless Award for its excellent collaborative work across organizational boundaries. The Chilled Water Reduction Project team from the Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) won the Star Innovation Award for an initiative that resulted in substantial cost savings. Curiox-Biosystems Pte Ltd and Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd each won the Scientist-Entrepreneur Award for having successfully spun-off their research from their research institutes to industry. A*STAR continued to uphold high standards in organizational excellence. It won the Singapore Quality Class (SQC) STAR Award, the Public Service Milestone Award (Excellence in Public Service Awards), the Best Talent Development Strategy Award and the Hudson Award for Champion of HR at the 2010 HRM Awards. A*STAR s reputation as an Employer of Choice was affirmed in the JobsFactory Employer of Choice Survey 2009 (University Edition) where entry-level graduates ranked A*STAR #4 as an Employer of Choice, in a field of over 50 public sector organizations. A*STAR also won recognition for incorporating environmentallyfriendly features into its offices by being awarded the BCA Green Mark for Office Interior Award Gold PLUS. The quest for excellence never ends. A*STAR will continue to strive for the highest standards of performance by delivering impactful and relevant research, attracting the best talent, and focusing on efficient and optimal use of systems, processes and resources. This will ensure we remain on track to fulfill our mission to foster world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.

7 what we are doing

8 what we are doing 13 sustaining knowledge creation Innovation requires new knowledge new ways of looking at things, new ways of using things, new ways of making things. By fostering partnerships with local and global players, A*STAR helps to create new wells of knowledge and boost innovation. brain-computer interface Reading minds, changing lives Patients that suffer from ADHD and stroke can now get better by taking advantage of a technology that allows their minds to interface directly with machines. With the help of a brain-computer interface (BCI), such patients can now undergo treatments that practically rewire their brains, reducing the effects of these debilitating conditions. The BCI helps such patients by allowing their minds to have direct control over a machine. Patients who suffer from stroke can use the BCI to move a machine that, in turn, moves a cradle holding their immobile limb. By directing the movement of their arm in this manner, stroke patients can rebuild their damaged neural pathways and regain the use of their immobile limb. Patients who suffer from ADHD can use the BCI to play a computer game which rewards them for being able to enter into a state of deep concentration. In this way, they gradually forge the ability to pay attention for extended periods of time. To find such innovative uses of the BCI, Dr Guan Cuntai s team from I 2 R worked closely with local hospitals to discover the needs of stroke and ADHD patients. By studying the conditions that these patients suffered from and the kinds of rehabilitation these patients needed, Dr Guan s team was able to adapt the BCI and use it to devise treatments for these patients. The treatments have already seen a great deal of success in preliminary trials, and Dr Guan s continuing close collaboration with the hospitals enables him to improve and fine-tune his technology. Dr Karen Chua Sui Geok, Senior Consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, was responsible for conducting a clinical trial where Dr Guan s technology was used to help stroke patients. She said The results were quite promising with some patients recovering motor strength in their stroke affected arms comparable with manual robotic treatment. We re looking forward to seeing the results of the new trial with a new version of Dr Guan s machine. Said Dr Guan Cuntai, leader of the team, It s really gratifying to see something you ve worked so hard on to turn into a device that can really change the lives of people. Of course, we couldn t have succeeded without the help of our partners in the hospitals. They really gave us immense support to help find new and powerful ways to use the BCI. Dr Guan Cuntai

9 14 what we are doing what we are doing 15 Prof Nowinski (right) with his colleagues 3-D Brain Atlas Unlocking the mysteries of the human mind A model of the human brain, in all its complexity, right on one s computer screen. The interactivity this affords leads to a deep understanding of the wondrous organ that controls the workings of the human body, changing how doctors, surgeons, and scientists work on the brain. Though printed brain atlases have been available for almost half a century, this is the first time that a fully three dimensional (3-D), interactive model of the human brain has been made available. In performing such a feat of knowledge creation Dr Nowinski worked together with many partners, such as the University of Pennsylvania, the Singapore General Hospital, and the National University of Singapore. These valuable collaborators provided key knowledge and data to enable Dr Nowinski to come up with his revolutionary product. To create the revolutionary brain atlas, Prof Nowinski and his team took countless pictures of the brain using sophisticated imaging technology. They then painstakingly reconstructed a 3-D model of the human brain from these 2-D pictures, adding in labels of the brain s many structures along the way to create a tool that is invaluable to modern neuroscientific research and treatment. One way medical professionals are finding Prof Nowinski s brain atlas invaluable is the tremendous help it gives during surgery. Dr Yeo Tseng Tsai, a senior consultant neurosurgeon at the National University Hospital, said, Before we go into surgery, this software will give us a better idea of the arrangement of blood vessels which is very complicated. By helping neurosurgeons better understand the complex structure of the brain, the brain atlas helps to increase the success rate of brain surgeries. Said Dr Nowinski, For years surgeons and scientists have grappled with the difficulty of understanding the human brain in all its complexity. Our team helps scientists and medical professionals better understand this complex organ by creating the first-of-its-kind 3D interactive brain atlas.

10 16 what we are doing what we are doing 17 SICS and the Epigen Consortium The puzzle of nature vs. nurture Nature versus Nurture. To this day, the debate over how much of the diseases we suffer from and are likely to inherit is a product of our inherent genetic make-up or of the environment that we grew up in and live in. What s more, a better understanding of just how much of our lives is determined by our genes (and what isn t) may lead to a deeper knowledge of many common adult diseases such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. To settle the question, A*STAR s Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) joined up with the EpiGen consortium, the leading worldwide force in developmental epigenetics.. The founding members of the consortium were the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre in Southampton, the University of Southampton s Institute of Developmental Sciences, The Liggins Institute of the University of Auckland, and AgResearch Ltd (formerly the New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute). In joining the consortium, SICS and NUS bring capabilities which help to address problems like obesity and diabetes. Formed in 2006, the consortium works to understand the effect that the environment has on human development and figure out just how much influence the environment has on children growing up, and how this influence can predispose one to suffer certain types of diseases later in life. In fact, there is increasing evidence that factors in early development are major causes of obesity and type 2 diabetes, diseases which afflict many Singaporeans. By pooling its strengths with the abilities of the other consortium members, SICS hopes to discover new knowledge about these diseases that could lead to an impact on Singapore society. Says Prof Sir Peter Gluckman, leader of the Epigen consortium, We re delighted to have SICS and NUS onboard with us. We are still light years away from solving the puzzle of genetics and the environment, and this partnership is going to go a long way to teasing out clues to that puzzle. Prof Judith Swain, Executive Director of SICS and Lien Ying Chow Professor of Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in NUS, explains why SICS is so excited to be able to join the consortium. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring to the consortium experts in human development and chronic disease who have particular expertise in the Asian phenotype. We are pleased to be joining the founding institutions as members of Epigen. By understanding exactly how the environment influences disease, the consortium will help doctors and clinicians predict the risk of certain diseases and develop new drugs that may help retard or halt the progress of many of the health problems that Singaporeans now suffer from.

11 growing innovation capital Innovation Capital is the ability to translate ideas to the marketplace. By building up our Innovation Capital, we will be able to realise societal and economic benefits from our R&D investment.

12 20 what we are doing what we are doing 21 The Aerospace Consortium An idea that really took off The third cycle of the Aerospace consortium was launched in February With the selection and launching of six new projects, the consortium now runs a total of 16 projects. This year, six companies, including Bombardier, Honeywell Aerospace, and ST Aerospace, joined the consortium, bringing the total number of members to 17. Our technology programme is aimed at developing aircraft that are more comfortable, less expensive to own and operate, and more respectful of the environment, says Dr Fassi Kafyeke, Director Strategic Technology, Bombardier. Our participation in this Singapore SERC Aerospace Programme [also known as the Aerospace Consortium] is a further step in this direction. It is not hard to see why Bombardier chose to join the ranks of the Aerospace Consortium in April The consortium is arguably the world s first platform where traditional industry rivals collaborate on pre-competitive research. This groundbreaking consortium brings together industry giants such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell Aerospace, SIA Engineering Company, and ST Aerospace to collaborate with A*STAR s research institutes on projects that will shape the future of the aerospace industry. The local SMEs that are also part of the consortium fill up crucial links in the aerospace supply chain. By joining the consortium, Bombardier is taking advantage of an incredible opportunity to access the best expertise from both industry and academia. Like Dr Kafyeke, Dr Colin Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Addvalue Technologies Ltd, a local SME participating in the consortium, is another enthusiast of the opportunities afforded by the consortium. Through collaborating with other members and by tapping the rich R&D resources facilitated by A*STAR, we hope to proactively and directly contribute to the aerospace industry with innovative satellite communication solutions, he said. The Aerospace Consortium not only provides an exciting way for globally competitive companies to develop new capabilities in breakthrough areas of research, but also gives local companies a great opportunity to work with the leaders in the field. Local companies get the chance to demonstrate their value-add to global multinationals by filling up key component of the supply chain, thereby helping to anchor these commercial giants in Singapore. In the future, the pioneering Aerospace Consortium is planning to explore avionics an exciting area for the aerospace industry that has great potential for helping airplanes fly better, farther, faster, yet at the same time reducing the carbon footprint of planes through the electrification of aircraft systems. Eight projects have been selected for the next cycle of the consortium due to start next year, and work will begin in early 2011.

13 22 what we are doing what we are doing 23 3D-TSV Consortium A new dimension of miniaturization Imagine a device with the power of today s desktops, yet smaller and lighter than an iphone. Or a computer chip small enough to be embedded in your spectacles, yet powerful enough to compute an informative video overlay that tells you interesting information about what you are seeing. With the help of 3-Dimensional Through-Silicon Via technology, we may yet create chips even smaller, yet many times more powerful than today s microprocessors. 3D TSV is a critical technology that will enable the continued miniaturization, performance enhancement and energy efficiency of electronics devices such as smart phones, notebooks and e-readers, said Mr. Damian Chan, Director Electronics, EDB. This new technology literally adds a new dimension to microprocessor technology, as it will take the possibilities of computer chip miniaturization from 2-dimensions to 3-dimensions. Today, engineers and scientists are facing a crisis, as we are soon reaching the limits of current chip miniaturization techonology. That is why A*STAR, together with its partner agency EDB, have helped to create the 3-Dimensional Through-Silicon Via Consortium, a collaborative partnership between A*STAR s Institute of Microelectronics (IME), EDB, Singapore s semiconductor industry supply chain vendors, and MNCs, to push the boundaries of miniaturization and maybe even the limits of Moore s law. This platform for collaboration allows global MNCs, local enterprises, and A*STAR institutes to tap on each others strengths to innovate in this new field. Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, Executive Director of IME, said, The 3D TSV Consortium provides an ideal platform to integrate key companies across Singapore s semiconductor supply chain to co-develop next generation technology. By harmonising the capabilities of Singapore s local enterprises with those of the global MNC s, the consortium creates win-win partnerships that will enhance the competitiveness of Singapore s semiconductor industry. The consortium is also an excellent way to align academic expertise with industry needs to create a more harmonised research ecosystem, one that leverages on Singapore s whole-of-singapore approach to responsively integrate private sector expertise with public sector capabilities. In so doing, public R&D institutes can leverage on private sector expertise to find ways to bring their basic research findings to the market, and private sector enterprises can tap on the myriad of strengths of the public R&D institutes support multidisciplinary research. Either way, Singapore society stands to benefit from both a more robust economy as well as groundbreaking innovations in technology. MEMS Small ideas, big impact MEMS Microelectromechanical systems: tiny mechanical devices powered by electricity that have the potential to revolutionise nearly every aspect of modern technology. From printers, to cars, to cell phones, to cameras, to displays, MEMS is an enabling technology allowing the development of smart products. Much of today s consumer technology would simply not work without the use of MEMS. These tiny devices are found in gadgets such as game controllers to detect movement, in inkjet printers to deposit ink on paper, and in cars to facilitate proper airbag deployment. MEMS represents an extremely rich and fertile market with plenty of room for innovation. To take advantage of this, A*STAR and EDB created the Singapore MEMS Consortium. Started in April 2010, the consortium brings together top names like Seiko and NEC Schott to Singapore to work with our local research institutes and enterprises to create value in this rapidly growing field. Areas which the consortium will explore include finding ways for making MEMS devices more easily deployable, pushing the boundaries of MEMS innovation, as well as training expertise in MEMS-related technology. We are excited to co-create a MEMS platform and MEMS supply chain with IME, A*STAR and EDB particularly in Singapore as a fertile breeding ground for new technologies, said Dr. Raupach-Sumiya Joerg, President of NEC SCHOTT. Indeed, the consortium will allow MNCs to tap on the specialised knowledge of our local companies, as well as our local research institutes, to innovate breakthroughs in the field. What s more, our local enterprises form a significant portion of Singapore s manufacturing sector their participation in the consortium enables them to play a major role in supporting the MNCs. Likewise, our local SMEs will be able to work alongside global leaders in the industry, giving them a great opportunity to be at forefront of developments in MEMS technology as well as learn from their more experienced global partners. The MEMS Consortium will also enable Singapore to cultivate a strong local supplier base that will not only be competitive in Singapore but in the region and beyond. Professor Low Teck Seng, Deputy Managing Director (Research), A*STAR, said, A*STAR s science and engineering research institutes have deep expertise in a range of industry-relevant capabilities, for the design, fabrication, packaging and system level integration of MEMS sensors and actuators, which companies in the MEMS industry can readily tap. This [consortium] is an example of how A*STAR s research institutes can engage MNCs and local enterprises through R&D partnerships, technology development efforts, manpower training and outreach efforts.

14 24 what we are doing what we are doing 25 ICON Engineering the skin of objects HP Labs Singapore The sky's the limit for cloud computing By slipping into a new skin, everyday objects like walls, glues, and tables can acquire completely new properties. Think about better non-slip floors, glues that do not leave sticky residues, and tables and chairs that are anti- bacterial. Nanoimprint technology, or NIT for short, enables the creation of such innovation skins. With NIT, surfaces can be textured and designed at the nanometer level, enabling scientists to engineer to create synthetic surfaces that mimic the special properties of natural surfaces. For example, by copying the surface structure of a lotus leaf, scientists can imbue objects with new waterproofing properties. The Industrial Consortium on Nanoimprint (ICON) launched in August 2010 saw A*STAR s IMRE bringing together international companies from the US, Japan, and South Korea to a platform where research projects of common interests are carried out at a pre-competitive level but with specifications that are defined with direct inputs from the member companies. This research model helps companies adopt the technology into their products at an early stage and at a quicker pace. Prof Low Teck Seng, A*STAR s Deputy Managing Director (Research), and Executive Director, Science and Engineering Research Council said, A*STAR is keenly aware of our vast technological capabilities and the need for transferring these technologies to industry, which ultimately benefits the public at large. consortia are but one of the many avenues A*STAR uses to shorten the route, and timeframe, that our research takes to reach your homes. We were sold on the benefits of nanoimprint technology from the start and having a platform like ICON that helps put that technology into practice was all the convincing we needed to join the consortium, said Mr Tatsuo Shirahama, President of Innox Co Ltd, Japan, a founding member of ICON. Picture this: More flexible networks. Better and more reliable online services. No more worries about storage problems. Thousands of apps at the click of a mouse. Security problems a thing of the past. All these will be made possible with cloud computing - a technology which promises to revolutionise the way companies, businesses, and people relate and use computers and the Internet. To explore this new area of research and usher in a new age in computing, A*STAR embarked on a research partnership with computing giant Hewlett Packard to set up HP Labs Singapore in February This new research facility in Fusionopolis aims to create a new platform where both local and global enterprises can create new knowledge and add value to the economy. The lab is the seventh research lab set up by HP worldwide. Prof David Srovolitz, Executive Director, Institute of High Performance Computing, said I m really excited about the possibilities created by this partnership. Through this collaboration, A*STAR and HP will be able to work together to create exciting potential in the new landscape of cloud computing and help to usher in a next revolution in computing technology. HP Labs Singapore at Fusionopolis serves as a hub for open innovation in the region, fostering collaboration amongst HP s customer and partner communities to bring a variety of advancements to market. The research being driven out of HP Labs Singapore is engaged on a range of ambitious research projects to re-examine data center and application design principles to explore how future cloud computing needs will be met., says Dr Chris Whitney, director of HP Labs Singapore. Added Prof Srolovitz, This collaboration shows how public agencies can work together with private enterprise to explore revolutionary technologies that promise to change the way we interact with computers and data. This sort of win-win partnership is exactly the kind of cross-boundary synergy that we need as we move into the next decade.

15 26 what we are doing what we are doing 27 Fujitsu and A*STAR A twopronged approach to advancing knowledge Fujitsu is one of the many MNCs that have planted R&D facilities in Singapore to build on the country s expertise in research and development. In coming to Singapore, Fujitsu brings their expertise in two important areas to the country, creating diversity in the research landscape and providing opportunities for local companies to tap on the company s expertise. The two key innovations being explored by Fujitsu and A*STAR are Petascale Computing and Aptamers. Petascale computing provides computing power a million times more than what is widely available today and will be crucial to solving problems like environmental sustainability, disease prevention, and disaster recovery. Aptamers are molecules that will enable more effective and cheaper diagnosis of diseases. MNCs like Fujitsu are drawn to Singapore because Singapore not only has key capabilities in areas that are relevant to Fujitsu s interests, but the country also has the ability to integrate its strengths and abilities to offer global companies a comprehensive array of expertise. For example, in the area of aptamer technology, Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore will co-operate with institutions such as the Experimental Therapeutics Centre, the National University of Singapore, the National University Hospital, and the Cancer Science Institute to explore ways in which aptamers can improve the diagnosis of diseases such as dengue and prostate cancer. Fujitsu s collaboration with A*STAR represents our commitment to being part of an ecosystem that will enable Singapore to harness innovations in technology, with the aim of developing a world-class R&D hub for diagnostic aptamer research, said Mr Lawrence Wee, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd. Fujitsu s decision underscores Singapore s attractiveness as an R&D and innovation hub. In setting up its R&D facilities in Singapore, the company joins a growing ecosystems of enterprises such as Roche, Novartis, and Abbott that have set up shop in Singapore, Asia s Innovation Capital.

16 28 what we are doing what we are doing 29 GET-Up and COIs Giving companies a helping hand The researchers have contributed significantly to the development and localization of products for Resin & Pigment s key customers. Their work towards capability and technology development are key contributors to the successful start up of Resin & Pigment s new toll compounding business... more importantly, their work has helped Resin & Pigment clinch a business contract with ExxonMobil to be its first contracted compounder in Asia, products of which will be applied in automotives, SMEs are the backbone of Singapore s economy and are key creators of innovation. Companies such as Resin & Pigment, Winrigo, and Astoria have developed new in-house technologies that allow work to be done better, cheaper, and faster. Helping these companies become more competitive through equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge is part and parcel of realising A*STAR s vision: a prosperous and vibrant Singapore built upon a knowledge based economy. One key programme which A*STAR has inititated is GET- Up - Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrade (GET- Up). Through this programme A*STAR helps to contribute to increasing the competitiveness of local companies by partnering them to provide scientific expertise to help them leverage on the latest advances in technology and R&D. Under this programme, A*STAR researchers can be seconded to SMEs to help improve production processes, develop new products and strategies and develop technology roadmaps. Our research scientist and engineer from the Data Storage Institute was instrumental in the transfer of knowledge from Zygo, a world-renowned supplier of optical meteorology instruments. He was able to share the same technical language, which gained their confidence in CEI. If not for GET-Up, it would be very difficult for us to find an optics expert to do this. Our achievements have distinguished us in the industry and moved us up the value-chain, added Mr Tan Ka Huat, Managing Director of CEI Contract Manufacturing Limited. Other schemes under GET-Up allow SMEs to tap on A*STAR research institutes technical expertise and facilities to supplement their own capabilities. Since 2003, the GET-Up Programme has seen over 300 research scientists and engineers help over 300 SMEs increase their productivity and competitiveness. These collaborations have produced many successful results. One example is Resin and Pigment Pte Ltd, a supplier and manufacturer of color and engineering polymer compounds. In order to stay competitive, the company decided to adopt innovative processes and build technical and knowledge capabilities through R&D. Other companies that have benefitted from GET-Up include Winrigo, Kim Hiap Lee,and MediPurpose. COIs In April 2010, Singapore Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic have joined GET-Up as strategic partners. They will contribute expertise from their Centres of Innovation to help SMEs make an impact in today s exciting economy. These Centres of Innovation stand ready to help our local companies in areas ranging from Food Innovation, to Electronics, to Marine & Offshore Technology, and to Environment & Water Technology. The polytechnics will help our local companies in three main ways. First, researchers from the polytechnics Centres of Innovation (COIs) will be seconded to SMEs on a full-time basis to build up the SMEs research capabilities. Second, faculty from the COIs will provide consultation services to help SMEs develop their long-term plans to meet the needs of the market. And third, equipment and facilities at the COI will be made available for use by the SMEs. In the future, opportunities to extend GET-Up to other clusters of expertise in the polytechnics will also be explored. - Mr Alex Tan, Managing Director of Resin & Pigment.

17 30 what we are doing what we are doing 31 ETPL- Building innovation capital with industry To traverse the challenges of bringing technology from lab to market requires a concerted effort and commitment from industry partners who work closely together from the early days of conceptualization to shape the business strategy, leverage available avenues to garner funds and accelerate development. - Philip Lim, Chief Executive Officer, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL), the marketing and commercialization arm of A*STAR, helps researchers translate their lab discoveries into value propositions for the market. ETPL drives the whole process, from nurturing a pool of market-ready technologies for commercial applications, providing intellectual property (IP) portfolio management, to supporting budding technopreneurs from A*STAR s research institutes who wish to spin-off. Says Mr Philip Lim, Chief Executive Officer, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd, Exploit Technologies is happy to steer the way forward and catalyze the transition of good science to a commercially viable business. We look forward to working closely with our partners to bring A*STAR s technologies to market through creating viable start-ups. To date, ETPL manages a portfolio of close to 1260 active patent families, has granted about 300 licenses for A*STAR technologies and created a portfolio of 34 spin-off companies. Estimated business revenue to be generated by licensees from sales of products and provision of services using or incorporating A*STAR s technologies is projected to be over $550m. The total market value created through A*STAR startups amounts to about $210m. One of ETPL s recent successes is Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd (TBF). Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd One of ETPL s recent successes is Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd (TBF), is a spin-off from A*STAR s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), with a strong patent portfolio of 29 patents on transparent gas barrier technology, encapsulation and gas permeation measurement system. The technology know-how and expertise could provide a total barrier solution for flexible solar cell and flexible electronics device manufacturers. From the initial stages, ETPL played an active role to shape the business plan, raise funds and eventually start the company. In August 2009, TBF secured an investment from Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of US-based Applied Materials, Inc., which is a global leader in nanomanufacturing technology solutions. This strategic investment is a strong endorsement of A*STAR IMRE s technology and of TBF s long term development and marketing plans. Applied Ventures, LLC, invested in TBF to further develop and manufacture a new proprietary, moisture resistant films, which is able to significantly extend the lifespan of devices such as organic solar cells and flexible displays. The new film, based on technologies developed at IMRE and licensed from ETPL, is used to protect the moisture-sensitive organic materials of plastic devices from degradation, thereby meeting a critical need of the rapidly growing plastic electronics industry. The investment by Applied Ventures enables Tera- Barrier to move forward with commercialization plans into the flexible solar cells and printed electronics market. Tera-Barrier Films is in the process of securing product qualification and sample orders, and has strong subcontract partnerships in place for scalable production of high performance barrier films. We are excited to be able to bring to market a key enabling product that could help promote faster growth in our target markets. says Dr. Mark Auch, Chief Executive Officer, Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd.

18 32 what we are doing CIMIT Fostering startups in medical technology The aim of the Boston-based Centre for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among world class experts in medicine, science, and engineering, in concert with industry and government, and to rapidly improve patient care. The partnership between A*STAR and CIMIT aims to bring this spirit of collaboration and innovation to Singapore to create a vibrant Medical Technology ecosystem, one which encourages innovation in medical technology and provides the support needed to help startups turn promising prototypes into full-fledged commercial products. Medical technology refers to devices that are used to diagnose, monitor, or treat human diseases. Innovation in such devices may lead to machines that one day can instantly tell you whether your itchy throat was just a simple case of sore throat or something more sinister, or lead to the development of artificial organs that could save the lives of millions of patients who need urgent organ transplants. Under the A*STAR-CIMIT collaboration, engineers, clinicians and/or BMS scientists in Singapore will be able to work with clinicians in Boston to come up with engineering solutions that can be turned into medical technology devices. By collaborating with CIMIT s in-house team of experts who are experienced in facilitating the complex process of introducing technological innovations into healthcare, Singapore s innovators will be able to leverage on their capabilities and experience to learn how to better bring their promising inventions all the way from the lab to the market. The building of such knowledge in Singapore will go a long way to helping more and more local inventors set up companies to bring their inventions to market. Dr Tan Sze Wee, Programme Director for A*STAR MedTech Initiatives, said, The CIMIT-A*STAR collaboration provides a wonderful platform for Singapore s clinicians and scientists to learn techniques for innovation and invention. Equipped with these skills, our talent will be able to translate better the exciting ideas they have in their head into reality, producing innovations that fit our uniquely Singaporean context. Nurturing and Developing Talent People are the key drivers of innovation. By nurturing talent across the entire innovation value chain, A*STAR helps to create a pool of innovators and entrepreneurs to support Singapore s forward push.

19 34 what we are doing what we are doing SCHOLARS: A Milestone Achieved The Scholarship Award Ceremony 2010 was an exciting and inspiring affair. Not only did 136 of Singapore s future scientific leaders receive scholarship awards that enable them to study at prestigious overseas institutions, this year s ceremony also marks a particularly important milestone in A*STAR s scholarship journey: the 10-year scholarship drive has been successful in nurturing a pipeline of 1,000 scholars who will contribute in meaningful ways to the Singapore R&D scene. Nurturing talent in such great numbers can only bode well for Singapore s R&D scene. Prof Sir David Lane, A*STAR Chief Scientist, who has mentored nine scholars during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies as well as many others on their research attachments during his six-year stint here, is very excited about the quality of talent that will one day shape Singapore s scientific future. The A*STAR scholars whom I have had interactions with have displayed exceptional drive and eagerness to learn. With their calibre and the excellent opportunities available here, they are poised to make great contributions to science and to Singapore, said Prof Lane, testifying to the quality of talent of the scholars. A*STAR s talent nurturing programmes help to create a more vibrant, exciting, and innovative research environment in Singapore, adding value to other companies in Singapore. Pradip Mukerji, Center Director, Asia-Pacific R&D, Abbott, says Abbott is privileged to include among its many talented scientists Dr Low Yen Ling who earned her PhD under an A*STAR scholarship. The effort that A*STAR puts forth in attracting talented students to science-based careers has provided companies such as Abbott with a pool of young scientific leaders, who can continue to fulfill Abbott s pursuit of providing innovative healthcare solutions for people in every stage of life. Of the 1000 A*STAR scholars, 240 have already completed their PhD studies or fellowships. They are currently pursuing R&D careers in Singapore across various sectors, namely in A*STAR research institutes, universities, hospitals and industry. Multinational companies such as Abbott, Genentech, and Lilly, as well as local enterprises such as SPN International and Nanyang Optical, are among the growing pool of companies to tap the expertise of A*STAR scholars. A*STAR has a comprehensive range of schemes and programmes designed to nurture top talent and provide excellent opportunities for young and aspiring scientists to grow their interest and their passion for science. Talent plays a crucial and important role in Singapore s future R&D-based knowledge-driven economy, and these scholarship programmes benefit both the nation as well as give bright talents an opportunity to use their strengths to serve the nation. These scholarship programmes include: The National Science Scholarships (BS-PhD) provide opportunities for undergraduate and post-graduate studies at some of the world s finest universities in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering disciplines. The National Science Scholarship (MBBS-PhD) represents A*STAR s efforts in grooming students aspiring to be clinician-scientists into Singapore s next generation of leaders in translational medicine. The A*STAR International Fellowship provides PhD graduates with two years of fully funded post-doctoral training at top overseas laboratories to expand their research experience and learn new skills to advance their scientific careers. The AGS Post-doctoral Fellowship is a fully funded overseas post-doctoral fellowship awarded to conferred AGA(NUS/NTU) scholars. This fellowship allows AGS scholars to conduct post-doctoral research for up to two years at a leading overseas laboratory of their choice. The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), provides an opportunity for international students to pursue world class scientific research and PhD studies in National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and A*STAR Research Institutes. The A*STAR Research Attachment Programme (ARAP) is a collaboration between A*STAR and overseas universities to provide research opportunities at A*STAR Research Institutes and Consortia. The Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award (SIPGA) supports short-term research attachments for international students at A*STAR. It provides a unique opportunity for top overseas students to experience the vibrant scientific environment in A*STAR Research Institutes and Consortia. A*STAR also introduced a new scholarship programme this year, the A*STAR Undergraduate Scholarship (AUS). The AUS supports bright individuals with a keen interest in research for a Bachelor s degree in science or engineering at local universities. Upon graduation, scholars have the flexibility to pursue their PhD studies locally or abroad on A*STAR or other university scholarships. A*STAR Scholarship Programmes A*STAR scholars

20 36 what we are doing what we are doing 37 Voices of A*STAR Scholars Liang Kaicheng is an NSS(BS-PhD) scholar who has just graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Here, he talks about what interested him in the A*STAR scholarship, how the scholarship gave him opportunities that he would not have had otherwise, and what he is looking forward to after he completes his PhD studies. I applied for A*STAR because it offered the rare opportunity to be fully funded for an education that would prepare me for a career in scientific research. I was intrigued by a potential career which would exploit my strengths in quantitative sciences while never ceasing to challenge and surprise me. Research fits the bill perfectly, and, though I knew the road ahead would be long, I had no qualms in taking up the A*STAR scholarship. Liang Kaicheng Having completed my bachelors, I must say that I m really thankful to A*STAR for providing me with the rare privilege to study overseas. I ve been able to learn from some of the best professors and faculties in the world, but more importantly I ve made friends with people from countless countries and cultures, and experienced life like I ve never known it back home. Though I m glad to be back, I m looking forward to returning overseas for my PhD studies. At this point I can t really see where my advanced degree is taking me to, but I think I d like to be involved in both research at A*STAR as well as teaching in one of our local universities after I have graduated. I ve always enjoyed teaching, and I think spending time with inquisitive and motivated students would certainly help inspire my research career as well. Low Yen Ling Working in industry is only one of the many career choices that are open to A*STAR scholars. Dr Low Yen Ling is happy to be working as a Clinical Scientist in Abbott Asia-Pacific s Nutrition Research & Development department. Here, she talks about how her PhD training benefited her immensely, and why she chose to work in industry. Getting the A*STAR scholarship to pursue a PhD has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me, in both the public and private sectors. The PhD training not only involved learning a specialized field of research but also trained me to think analytically, systematically, and critically. So the PhD training equipped me with skills that will serve me well for both a research career or an administrative career. In my case, I chose to pursue a research career. My postdoctoral training at A*STAR has been very valuable in sharpening my research skills and helping me build my professional network with researchers in both the local and international community. Through A*STAR s collaborations with industry, I also had the opportunity to gain exposure from the work in the private sector and learn about their research and needs. The research training I have received and my knowledge of the local and regional research environment and networks with the scientific community are all attributes that industry needs and values highly. I am really grateful for A*STAR s training, as it has given me a headstart for my job in the private sector and my transition has been very smooth. Professor Ho Han Kiat received an Overseas Graduate Scholarship from A*STAR in 2000 (initially under EDB scholarship) to pursue doctoral studies in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Washington. Han Kiat is currently an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore. Here, he talks about what motivates him in research, and why he chose academia. Research as a career is like no others. In other professions, the pursuit of knowledge is the mean to an end. But in research, the pursuit of knowledge is an end in itself. It is what the career is all about! I chose this path because I wanted a job that would allow me ask questions where answers may not be readily available, and in so doing, push the frontiers of knowledge. It is exciting to know that I m working on problems that help in the fight against diseases that at present have no effective treatments. My work gives people hope - I guess that s what motivates me when I hit the inevitable wall and have to find some way around or over it. I joined academia because I not only wanted to do research but I wanted to teach as well. Teaching is very fulfilling because it gives me the opportunity to touch people s lives, to inspire them to share my dreams, and perhaps someday, to take these dreams beyond where I can take them by myself. I m really happy that A*STAR gave me the opportunity to pursue my dreams, and I d like to encourage others, especially my students, to seek out opportunities to contribute in whatever area they feel passionate about. Ho Han Kiat

21 38 what we are doing what we are doing 39 Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Innovative talent training T3M Midwives of Technology The Singapore-Stanford Biodesign (SSB) programme is about nurturing the next generation of Asian medical technology innovators in Singapore and training talent to fill up key links in the innovation and enterprise value chain. An integrated collaboration between Stanford University, the Economic Development Board of Singapore and A*STAR, the program is modelled after the established Biodesign programme at Stanford University and aims to offer multidisciplinary training that encompasses the entire value chain of medical technology innovation. The SSB programme will provide a fellowship for four fellows each year to undergo six months of training at Stanford University and six months of training in Singapore. Promising talents will be trained to determine real world clinical needs and find ways to meet those needs by developing new medical device technologies and bringing concepts to the prototype or proof-of-concept stage. The fellows will come from different disciplines namely engineering, medicine and business which represent key segments in the process of inventing, developing, and commercialising innovative medical devices. What s more, the SSB programme will also launch a graduate module on medical technology innovation in partnership with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. The course seeks to expose students to the technology transferring process and give them a broad education in key concepts needed in all links of the innovation value chain. In doing so, young Singaporeans will become equipped with the knowledge that will allow them to participate at any point along the innovation process. Dr Anthony Tang, one of the 2011 Stanford- Singapore Biodesign Fellows said, It is an amazing opportunity and privilege to be in the first ever group from Singapore to be sent to Stanford under the Singapore-Stanford Biodesign programme. Continued Dr Tang, As Singapore is keen on developing its expertise in medical technology, it is all the more exciting to be able to contribute to this endeavour, or even be in the process of setting up Singapore s own workshops and workbenches for like-minded individuals brimming with new innovative ideas. The opportunities look very promising after completing this one-year programme, and I for one cannot wait to get started! The Traineeship in Technology Transfer Management (T3M) is Singapore s programme to groom technology transfer professionals who will play a key role in helping to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions. The programme s core objective is to provide training in technology transfer management to meet the needs of both the public and private sectors. By pooling its resources together with Singapore s Workforce Development Agency and the local polytechnics, A*STAR s Technology Transfer Network has created a rigorous course consisting of projects, seminars and on-the-job training to expose trainees to broad areas in technology, business, policy and law. Graduates of the programme are fully qualified to become entrepreneurs, investors, patent agents, lawyers, industry analysts or consultants key players in the innovation and enterprise value chain. Ms Tan Ying Xuan, a T3M graduate, said The T3M Programme has given me an introduction to the entire technology transfer process and provided me with an unique opportunity to obtain a helicopter view of the internal and external operation of ETPL. In addition, the projects that I have completed has given me invaluable experience and deepened my understanding of the complexity involved in making technology into a business. Added Ms Eunice Teo, a fellow T3M programme graduate, The T3M program allows me to evaluate and manage invention portfolios, oversee patent prosecution, negotiate licensing agreements and periodically review cooperative research agreements already in place. Part of the technology transfer process involves the prosecution of patents which is overseen by the national Patent and Trademark Office. Part of the program allows me to coordinate between technology users and developers, between researchers and manufacturers, which is an important element of technology transfer. What the graduates find most valuable about the programme is the interaction these young, aspiring professionals get to have with like-minded peers, brilliant scientists, and savvy investors. This helps them build up a deep understanding of what the needs across the whole innovation and enterprise value chain are. As Ms Eunice Teo said, The delightful portion in this program is the interaction and network opportunities I ve gained between the scientists, industry players and the tech transfer family from the onjob-training (OJT) component. Ms Teo is currently working with A*STAR s Exploit Technologies to shape the future of innovation in Singapore. The first batch of 16 trainees received their Professional Certification on 29 th Sept They produced their own graduation video to describe their exciting learning journey which is featured on the website

22 How we are Doing

23 42 How we are doing How we are doing 43 Year in Review July talented young people received the National Science Scholarships (NSS) or A*STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS) for BSc and PhD studies in top universities locally and around the world. Another 21 exceptional talent were awarded the A*STAR International Fellowships (AIF) or A*STAR Graduate Scholarships (Post-doctoral Fellowships) to pursue post-doctoral training at worldclass laboratories overseas. A*STAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) to jointly offer A*STAR scholars the opportunity to explore a career in academia under the A*STAR Academia Pathways schemes. These included the Joint Appointment Scheme (Research and Academic Dual Career Track), the Secondment Scheme (Academic Track) and the Adjunct Appointment Scheme. A*STAR hosted visits by the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, His Excellency Hoang Trung Hai and the Director- General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Dr Francis Gurry. Dr Victor Tong from I 2 R won the National Youth Service Award for his ground-breaking research on custom design vaccines. August2009 In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, A*STAR Chairman, Mr Lim Chuan Poh, discussed A*STAR s talent strategy and research direction for the year, highlighting how Biopolis and Fusionopolis were in the position to do something truly transformational in research. Two teams of engineers from I 2 R won the Institution of Engineers Singapore Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2009 for their R&D work titled Advancing the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technologies and Unleashing Underutilised Spectrum for Sustainable Future Communications respectively. Dr Lu Shijian from I 2 R and his team member from NUS beat 35 other research groups from around the world to clinch the first place in the 2009 Document Image Binarization Contest (DIBCO 2009) organised by Greece s National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos and held in Spain. September2009 A*STAR Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh was conferred the highest award offered by Monash University, Australia the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa, for his contributions to science and technology in Singapore. At the President s Science and Technology Awards 2009, Prof Miranda Yap, Executive Director of Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) & Executive Director of A*STAR Graduate Academy (A*GA), was honoured with the President s Science and Technology Medal. The medal was presented by President S R Nathan. A*STAR signed a MOI with Waseda University to foster closer ties through scientific collaborations and student exchange at the opening of Waseda Bioscience Research Institute in Singapore (WABIOS) Waseda University s first independent overseas research operations. Dr Li Haizhou from I 2 R was elected into the International Speech Communication Association Board, the largest professional organisation in the areas of speech communication, science and technology, for a four-year term. A*STAR hosted visits by a delegation led by Russia s First Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency Igor Shuvalov, and Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, Prof John Beddington, respectively. October2009 November2009 December2009 The Kilo Laboratory under the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), was officially opened by Chairman of A*STAR, Mr Lim Chuan Poh. It is the first of its kind pilot-scale research facility in Southeast Asia. More than 500 researchers from A*STAR s biomedical and science and engineering research institutes participated in the 2 nd A*STAR Scientific Conference held at Biopolis. During the conference, the inaugural A*STAR Research publication and the revamped A*STAR corporate website were launched. The Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), KK Women s and Children s Hospital and NUS jointly launched Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO), a major, long-term study of pregnant mothers and their foetuses as well as infant children in Singapore. GUSTO aims to find ways to prevent the onset of diseases such as diabetes and obesity. At the 14 th Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council (BMS IAC) meeting, A*STAR announced that $36m would be pumped into new programmes to give Singapore s growing medical technology industry a greater push. The new programmes included the collaboration between A*STAR and Centre for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) in Boston, USA, and A*STAR s Biomedical Engineering Programme. Dr Lim Khiang Wee, Executive Director of the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), was appointed Executive Director of A*GA with effect from 1 Nov Scientists from GIS, led by Dr Liu Jianjun, successfully created a fine genetic map of the Han Chinese the largest ethnic population in the world that provided valuable information on its population structure and evolutionary history, and which could contribute to the design and interpretation of genetic studies of human diseases among the population. A*STAR hosted visits by the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Matti Taneli Vanhanen, and a delegation from the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) led by the President of YÖK, Prof Dr Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, respectively. The National Survey of R&D 2008 reported increased R&D intensity in R&D expenditure reached S$7.13 billion or 2.77% of GDP, which was a 12.4% increase from the GERD of S$6.33 billion in A*STAR announced that the appointments of Mr Philip Lim Feng as Chief Executive Officer of ETPL and Mr Tan Gee Paw as Chairman of ETPL with effect from 1 Dec 2009 and 1 Jan 2010 respectively. Researchers at IME developed a rapid and sensitive integrated system to test for specific cardiac biomarkers in blood, which could cut sample preparation and analysis time from the typical 6 hours to just 45 minutes and thus save precious time for medical intervention. An international consortium led by GIS successfully mapped the range of genetic diversity in Asia and traced the genetic origins of Asian populations. The findings, published in top journal Science, could further the understanding of migratory patterns in human history and contribute to studies on genetics and diseases. A*STAR hosted a visit by the French Minister for Competitiveness, and Services, Mr Luc Rousseau.

24 44 How we are doing How we are doing 45 Year in Review January2010 IHPC and Fujitsu announced their R&D partnership to jointly develop advanced applications technologies for the next generation of scientific computing known as petascale computing. This also involved the installation of Fujitsu s supercomputer, the most powerful in Southeast Asia, at A*STAR s Computational Resource Centre in Fusionopolis. A*STAR and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, announced the first bilateral Joint Call for Proposals in the areas of sustainable development and healthcare, wellness & ageing. Separately, A*STAR and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), the French National Research Agency, announced the first bilateral Joint Call for Proposals in the areas of nanotechnology and information communication science & technologies. A*STAR announced its partnership with Stanford University Biodesign Programme and the EDB to establish a new training program called Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Programme, which would train the next generation of Asian leaders to develop innovative medical devices to address Asia s growing healthcare needs. This programme was officially launched by Chairman of A*STAR, Mr Lim Chuan Poh, President of Stanford University, Prof John Hennessy and Managing Director of EDB, Dr Beh Swan Gin. February2010 The Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) subcommittee on Growing Knowledge and Innovation Capital, co-chaired by Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and Dr Jan-Anders Karlsson, CEO of S*BIO, presented the sub-committee s recommendations at the ESC Media Conference chaired by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance & Chairman of ESC, on 1 Feb. The recommendations to enable Singapore to achieve the goal of establishing itself as Asia s Innovation Capital included: increasing the total expenditure for R&D to 3.5% of GDP by 2015, sustaining knowledge creation, growing innovation capital, and attracting and developing talent in research, innovation and enterprise. In conjunction with the Singapore Airshow, A*STAR organised the first Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum. Themed, The Next Decade Technology Strategies for the Aerospace and their Impact, the forum brought together thought leaders from industry giants to discuss and exchange views on the latest technologies and industry trends. ICES entered into a collaborative project with EADS, a global leader in aerospace and defence, to investigate the conversion of algae oil to kerosene for jet fuel. This collaboration is a follow up on the Master Research Collaboration Agreement signed by EADS and A*STAR in Feb A*STAR hosted visits by the Mayor of Grenoble and President of the Group of Mayors of French Cities, Dr Michel Destot, and the CEO of Foundation of Research Science and Technology, Mr Murray Bain, respectively. March2010 A*STAR was ranked the seventh most prolific agency in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of annual research output, according to the Nature Asia-Pacific Publishing Index. SIMTech announced its collaboration with Sweden s Linkoping University to pursue research on environmental technologies focused on remanufacturing, clean production technology processes and industrial symbiosis. ICES became a strategic partner of InForm (Integrating Nanomaterials in Formulation), a 1.7 million EU funded project on formulation science research led by the University of Manchester in UK. A*STAR and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) jointly awarded $2m in research grants under the Strategic International Cooperative Programme to three teams of researchers, each jointly led by a Singaporean and a Japanese. The teams would collaborate on projects in the strategic areas of Physical Materials and Devices, and Photonics and Nano-Optics. A*STAR hosted separate visits by Mr Koji Omi, Founder and President of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum; and Prof Aaron Ciechanover, Winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2004, Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor and a member of the NRF Scientific Advisory Board. April2010 The Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) and Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), entered into strategic partnerships with Italy s Siena Biotech S.p.A. to develop therapies for treating cancer and bone diseases respectively. This is the fifth major collaboration between A*STAR and research centres and universities in Italy. The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) announced the launch of the Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) Consortium to bring together 8 MNCs and local enterprises from the MEMS supply chain in public-private sector research collaboration to grow the MEMS industry in Singapore. Four Centres of Innovation (COIs) in local polytechnics will come onboard A*STAR s Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) programme to help more local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) upgrade their R&D capabilities to stay competitive in this economy. A*STAR hosted visits by the President of Rice University, Prof David Leebron, and the Director of Proctor & Gamble Co. and former President of Mexico, Dr Ernesto Zedillo, respectively. may2010 Imperial College London honoured Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, by appointing him a Fellow of the College. Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd. and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) jointly announced the official opening of a new research facility in Singapore, Fujitsu Laboratories & R&D Division of Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd. A*STAR and the UK s Medical Research Council (MRC) announced that they have jointly awarded S$4.5m in grants to six collaborative research projects in infectious diseases such as gastric flu, hepatitis B, dengue fever and tuberculosis. The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) has constructed the world s thinnest metal lines, at 7-nanometre or about 14,000 times thinner than the average human hair. These tiny structures allow faster access to data when used to connect components in a processor. A*STAR hosted a visit by the German Minister of Economics and Technology, Mr Rainer Brüderle. June2010 Year in Review I²R Brain Computer Interface (BCI) team receives the top prize at International Annual BCI Research Award, beating sixty other international entries to secure the award. A*STAR scholar Dr Jonathan Loh and GIS scientist Dr Ng Huck Hui received awards from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean at the Singapore Youth Awards (SYA) 2010 for their outstanding achievements in Science and Technology (S&T). Dr Pantelis Alexopoulos was appointed as Executive Director of Data Storage Institute (DSI) and Professor Andy Hor as Executive Director, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE). A*STAR hosted visits by the President of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Dr Tamotsu Nomakuchi, the First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Singapore Honorary Consul General in the Czech Republic, Mr Martin Plachý, and the German Federal Minister of Education and Research (BMBF), Her Excellency Prof Dr Annette Schavan, respectively.

25 46 How we are doing How we are doing 47 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. Engineering and nanotechnology Materials and Chemistry World s first tri-continuous mesoporous silica Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) developed the world s first tri-continuous mesoporous material, a structure which was previously only predicted mathematically. Named IBN-9 after the research institute, this novel material is by far the most complex mesoporous nanostructure to have been synthesised in real-life, and could be applied to important areas of chemistry and biology, such as catalysis, separation processes and drug delivery. This research was published in Nature Chemistry. World s first controllable molecular gear A team of scientists from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) invented the world s first molecular gear that could be rotated under control. Marking a new frontier in nanotechnology, the construction of this 1.2nm gear not only surpassed current molecular rotors and gears, but also demonstrated that it might one day be possible to create and manipulate complex machines at the nanoscale level. The research was published in Nature Materials. The scientists are currently using this atom-scale research to develop new methods to interconnect single molecule logic gates or atomic scale circuits at atomic scale precision. Breakthrough design of efficient modulation codes for data storage systems Researchers from the Data Storage Institute (DSI) developed a systematic methodology for constructing efficient modulation codes for data storage systems. The error correction capabilities of these codes could achieve efficiencies within a few tenths of a percent of the theoretical maximum, and could overcome all the drawbacks of existing art code design technologies. The new codes could also correct any type of error events in the system and thus increase the storage capacity of discs (eg, Blu- Ray disc) by 20%, as well as facilitate easy hardware implementation. A patent for this technology has been filed in several countries including the USA, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. Dr Patrick Lo (left) and his team at IME Data communication at the speed of light Researchers from the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) successfully realised high performance silicon photonics devices using standard manufacturing processes, which would enable fabrication of these state-ofthe-art devices at very low cost. Silicon photonics, a technology that promises to transmit data at the speed of light, is set to revolutionise the way we communicate. Renowned Fortune 500 companies and innovative start-ups in the USA have leveraged on IME s expertise in silicon photonics to develop their next generation silicon photonics products, so as to get a head start in the upcoming optoelectronics market. In 2009, IME was invited to present its work on silicon photonics at the prestigious IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting. This work was also published in top journals including Applied Physics Letters, IEEE Electron Device Letters, Optics Express and Photonics Technology Letter. New way to bond copper surfaces on silicon Researchers from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) developed a new technology that allowed copper surfaces on silicon to be bonded at room temperature and without vacuum, thus shortening the manufacturing process and significantly lowering cost. This innovation, which avoided the need for under bump metallization, enabled bonding to be achieved in 30 seconds. The resulting bond strength also exceeded 50 MPa, a figure significantly higher than those obtained by conventional methods of bonding. A patent has been filed for this technology, which could potentially be applied to 3-D integrated circuit and systems, hybrid MEMS/NEMS, systemin-package and large component bonding in many industries. New process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons A team of researchers from the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) and Mitsui Chemicals invented an effective method for producing aromatic hydrocarbons from methane and other lower hydrocarbons, using a novel transition-metal-supported crystalline metallosilicate catalyst. The use of this catalyst, which gives a consistent and high yield of benzene for long periods, could lead to the development of cheaper and more environmentally friendly processes for making benzene, toluene and xylenes. These hydrocarbons are essential feed stocks for many petrochemicals, plastics and materials eg, polyester fibers for clothing, polycarbonate resins for CDs and DVDs, and polystyrene foams for insulation. ICES has applied for patents for this novel technology. Understanding unusual metallic transport in oxides Researchers from the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) demonstrated that hexagonal palladium cobalt dioxide and platinum cobalt dioxide had unique properties that could be exploited for use in thermoelectric materials in energy storage and cooling systems. They showed that these oxides had strong in-plane conduction while maintaining low conductivity and a large thermopower in the c-axis, which made them good models for studying electron transport in unusual systems such as bulk materials. These findings, which were published in Physical Review Letters, provided new directions for thermoelectric materials research, and might also be useful in probing the fundamental limits of conventional transport theory in metals.

26 48 How we are doing How we are doing 49 Genetics, cell biology and disease Breakthrough method to study 3D whole genome mapping Scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) developed a breakthrough technology, known as ChIA- PET (Chromatin Interaction Analysis using Paired End Tag Sequencing), that provided an effective method for studying gene expression and regulation while taking into account the complexities of the 3D structure of the genome. Applying their technology to cancer research, the scientists discovered that extensive oestrogen receptor-α-bound long-range chromatin interactions in the human genome were the primary mechanism involved in regulating oestrogen-mediated gene expression in breast cancer cells. These findings, which were published in the top scientific journal Nature, could lead to the development of highly specific anti-hormone treatments in breast cancer. New insights into gene that helps maintain youthful skin A team of scientists from the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and their colleagues in Germany discovered that mutations in the PYCR1 gene caused wrinkly skin syndrome, a rare genetic condition which resulted in premature skin ageing. They located the defective gene on chromosome 17 of patients who, at a young age, displayed signs of premature ageing. They also uncovered specific mutations in the gene that led to conditions associated with ageing, such as loose skin, loss of bone density, hip dislocation and cataract. This research involved collaborations with over 15 hospitals and research centres in 13 countries. It was published in Nature Genetics. Discovery of gene that regulates cell death in liver disease Scientists at the Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) discovered how the gene Fasapoptosis inhibitory molecule (FAIM) protected both immune and liver cells from apoptosis, or programmed cell death. By functioning as a key switch in Fas-mediated apoptosis, FAIM could be turned on or off to prolong or shorten cell survival, thus making it a good target for drug intervention. This function of FAIM could potentially be applied to lifethreatening conditions such as liver cirrhosis, where cell survival is vital, or in cancer, where induction of tumour cell death may be critical. The findings were published in the top-tier scientific journal Cell Death and Differentiation. Discovery of key protein that curbs inflammation Scientists from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) identified the protein, WIP1, as the molecular brake to curb severe inflammation in the body. As such, sepsis, the severe inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection which commonly afflicted patients in ICU, might soon be less life threatening. In their landmark paper published in Nature Cell Biology, the team highlighted that WIP1 played a critical role in suppressing the activity of NFkB, a signalling molecule known to be involved in triggering inflammation, and in keeping NFkB levels within a safe range. In so doing, WIP1 would minimise the extent of inflammatory response that could lead to septic shock and subsequent death of patients. Potential protein target for diabetes treatment Researchers from the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) discovered that the protein synaptotagmin-7 was a regulator of both calcium-dependent insulin and glucagon secretion and that it could be a possible new target for diabetes treatment. They found that absence of the synaptotagmin-7 gene resulted in a 40-50% reduction of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and near complete loss of calcium-dependent glucagon secretion in mice. This research was published in top journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Journal of Physiology. As synaptotagmin-7 is a positive regulator of insulin secretion, the researchers are currently examining various modifications of this protein that could potentially increase its efficiency in triggering insulin secretion and make it an attractive drug target. Synaptotagmin-7 expression in glucagonsecreting cells Translational and clinical science Brain-computer interface (BCI) based robotic rehabilitation for stroke patients Researchers from the Institute for Infocomm Research (I 2 R) developed a motor imagerybased brain-computer interface (BCI) robotic rehabilitation system, which could guide stroke patients towards recovery after long-term disability. This technology significantly improved the recovery of limb movement in patients under clinical trials. For their outstanding and innovative research done in the field of brain-computer interfaces, the work by the I 2 R team was ranked among the Top Ten BCI Projects by Wadsworth Centre in the US, out of 60 high quality projects submitted from around the world. Muscle factor as promising target for treating diabetes and obesity Scientists from the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS) discovered that myostatin, a factor long known to control muscle development, also played a critical role in energy production in muscle by regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The strong influence myostatin had on the way energy was handled after a meal, and its effect on the sensitivity of muscle to insulin and changing fat metabolism, made it a particularly promising target for treatment of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. The scientists are currently screening small molecular inhibitors of myostatin that have potential to be commercialised. Novel and effective immunisation method against malaria parasite Scientists from the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and their colleagues in the Netherlands and France developed a novel and effective immunisation method against the life-threatening malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This would allow the human immune system to direct its response to eliminate the parasite in the liver at an earlier stage of its life cycle. Their findings, which could contribute significantly to the development of an effective vaccine for this infectious disease, were published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

27 50 How we are doing How we are doing 51 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. Niometrics develops high performance network traffic analysis engine Niometrics Pte Ltd, a spin-off from A*STAR s Institute for Infocomm Research ( I2 R), is developing and producing a range of new security products and services built around CUB4 a next-generation, highly accurate network traffic recognition engine. Niometrics designs with the constantly changing information security landscape in mind and its products use automated protocol learning and a flexible software design to stay ahead of the market as new protocols and risks emerge. Developed by I 2 R and licensed from Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL), CUB4 can detect more than 4,000 protocols, services and applications. This is a four-fold improvement over existing products in the market. The new engine also allows corporate users to detect IT policy violations and perform fine-grained analysis for potential threats without enforcing unnecessarily strict blocking policies. Knorex creates unique knowledge discovery platform Knorex Pte Ltd, a spin-off from I 2 R, has created a service-oriented knowledge discovery platform to provide seamless access to meaningful information for enterprise users. Knorex s technology, called Knorex Lumina, aggregates, mines and integrates disparate silos of information by searching from public and proprietary data sources, as well as structured information assets such as compound libraries and project databases. It also automatically categorises search results into meaningful groups and customises them to users requirements. The portfolio of semantic technologies that constitute Knorex Lumina was developed by I 2 R and licensed from ETPL. Rhapsody Biologics creates versatile personalised peptide vaccine platform Rhapsody Biologics (S) Pte Ltd has capitalised on discoveries made at A*STAR s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) to create a unique and versatile Personalised Peptide Vaccine (PPV) platform. The company, a spin-off from SIgN, is developing the world s largest validated database of vaccine peptide epitopes that can be applied to predict and optimise peptide vaccines for use at an individual and population level. This unique technology was developed by a team of SIgN researchers and licensed from ETPL. Rhapsody Biologics is currently in talks with two major pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines based on their PPV platform. Tera-Barrier Films commercialises moisture-resistant films for plastic electronics Tera-Barrier Films Pte Ltd, a spin-off from A*STAR s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), secured an investment from Applied Ventures, LLC1, to develop and manufacture a new proprietary, moisture resistant film that could significantly extend the life span of devices such as organic solar cells and flexible displays. The new film, based on technologies developed at IMRE and licensed from ETPL, is used to protect the moisture-sensitive organic materials of plastic devices from degradation, thereby meeting a critical need of the rapidly growing plastic electronics industry. The technology may also be used in the manufacture of flexible, lightweight and cheap electronics such as disposable or wrap-around displays, identification tags, low cost solar cells and chemical- and pressure-sensitive sensors. 1 Applied Ventures, LLC is the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc.

28 52 How we are doing How we are doing 53 International LinkageS A*STAR is forging partnerships across the globe with research institutes and industry. This contributes towards Singapore s efforts to establish itself as a global research hub and Asia s Innovation Capital - an international and dynamic hub for research, innovation, and enterprise. NoRth America Canada BC Cancer Agency MaRS Bombardier United States of America National Science Foundation Binghamton University, State University of New York Brigham and Women s Hospital/ Harvard Medical School California Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University Centre for Integration of Medicine and Integrative Technology CONNECT, University of California San Diego Cornell University Global CONNECT Massachusetts Institute of Technology Medical University of South Carolina Northwestern University Office of Technology Alliances, University of California, Irvine Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Rochester Institute of Technology St Jude Children s Research Hospital Stanford University The Brigham and Women s Hospital The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Air Products and Chemicals Inc Applied Biosystems Boeing Compass Technology Company Ltd Corning Incorporated GT Industrial LLC Co IPG Photonics Johnson and Johnson Larta Institute, Los Angeles Lightwire Inc MediaCart PhotonIC Corporation Pratt & Whitney Roche NimbleGen Seagate Technology International Silicon Quest Tango Systems Inc Technology Transfer Tactics The Procter & Gamble Company Hewlett Packard South America Mexico Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México National Institute of Genomic Medicine Europe Austria EVG Group Belgium Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research University of Mons-Hainault GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA European Council Information, Society and Media Directorate General Finland Tekes VTT Technical Research Centre Silecs Oy France Agence Nationale de la Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique European Synchrotron Radiation Facility Institut Curie Université Joseph Fourier Alcatel-Lucent Humalys L Oreal Vivalia

29 54 How we are doing How we are doing 55 Germany Freie Universitaet Berlin German Mouse Clinic Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research University Hospital Rostock BASF Corporation Bosch Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Carl Zeiss Vision International Infineon INI-GraphicsNet Rösler Siemens Medical Solutions Siemens Water Technologies Hungary National Office for Research and Technology Semmelweis University Vichem Chemie Research Ltd Ireland National University of Ireland, Galway Italy European Institute of Oncology European School of Molecular Medicine FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Regione Lombardie University of Milanno-Bicocca Accent S.P.A Siena Biotech Netherlands Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Utrecht University University Medical Center, Utrecht European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company Philips Shell Hydrogen BV Poland Ministry of Science and Higher Education Poznan University of Medical Sciences Spain International Centre for Numerical Methods for Engineering, Spain Sweden Karolinska Institutet Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research Swedish Knowledge Foundation Vardal Foundation Radi Medical Systems A.B. Switzerland Cytos Lonza Physical Logic - Bio Research Pte Ltd United Kingdom Formulation Science & Technology Group of Royal Society of Chemistry Imperial College London Medical Research Council United Kingdom University of Cambridge University of Dundee University of Manchester University of Oxford University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of West of England Warwick Manufacturing Group, the University of Warwick Bodycote GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Limited Imprimatur Capital Rolls Royce Fuel Cells Systems Ltd Rolls-Royce Group Sonatest Limited Middle east Israel Bar-Ilan Israel Institute for Biological Research Maradin Technologies Ltd Asia China Cancer Center Sun Yat Sen University Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ministry of Science and Technology Shanghai Jiao Tong University Tianjin University Zhejiang University Cancer Institute Zhujiang Hospital AAC Acoustic Technologies Holdings Inc Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Shanghai Sinyang Semiconductor Materials Co Ltd ShanghaiBio Corporation SiFotonics Technologies Co Ltd (Hong Kong) Sino-American Tianjin SmithKline & French Labortories Ltd India Granules India Ltd Japan Japan Science and Technology Agency Kurume University National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology RIKEN Waseda University Asahi Glass Co Ltd Fujikura Ltd Fujitsu Asia Fujitsu Limited Hitachi Asia Ltd Hitachi Cable Ltd Kajima Corporation Kyodo International Inc Mitsubishi Electric Corp Mitsui Chemicals Inc NEC Corporation NEC SCHOOT Components Corp Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd Nitto Denko Panasonic Electronics Devices Co Ltd Seiko Instruments Inc Shinogi & Co Ltd Sumitomo Bakelite Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd Tokyo Chemical Co Unisantis Electronics (Japan) Ltd Korea Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences Korea s Institute of Machinery and Materials Samsung Electron-Mechanics Co.Ltd Taiwan Victrex PLC Australia & New Zealand Australia Australian Academy of Science Australian National University Monash University Murdoch University Queensland University of Technology University of Melbourne University of New South Wales BioChip Innovations Pte Ltd Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd New Zealand Liggins Institute, University of Auckland New Zealand Health Research Council University of Auckland Auckland UniServices Ltd AUT Innovation and Enterprise Industrial Research Limited WaikatoLink Ltd

30 56 How we are doing How we are doing 57 A*STAR's Singapore Partners DSO National Laboratories Duke-NUS Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Ministry of Education and Schools Ministry of Health Nanyang Polytechnic Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technopreneurship Centre National Heart Centre National Neuroscience Institute National University Hospital National University of Singapore Ngee Ann Polytechnic Norvatis Institute for Tropical Disease Public Utilities Board Republic Polytechnic Science Centre Singapore Singapore Eye Research Institute Singapore General Hospital Singapore Management University Singapore Polytechnic Tan Tock Seng Hospital Temasek Polytechnic Tropical Marine Science Institute - NUS Addvalue Technologies Advago (Singapore) Pte Ltd Advanced Technologies & Regenerative Medicine, LLC Alignment Tool (Singapore) Pte Ltd AMTEK Precision Technology Pte Ltd ASM Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd Astoria Consulting Pte Ltd Aurigin Technology Pte Ltd Austrianova Singapore Pte Ltd Avanstrate Asia Pte Ltd Aventis Pharma Manufacturing Pte Ltd Azimuth Technologies Pte Ltd BASF South East Asia Pte Ltd Becton Dickinson Bioventure BioMerieux Brightlite Systems Pte Ltd Cadbury Enterprises Pte Ltd Cardinal Health Singapore 225 Pte Ltd Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd Chemic Industries Pte Ltd Ciba Specialty Chemicals Industries (Singapore) Pte Ltd Component Technology Pte Ltd Croda Singapore Cubic Micro Design Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd Delphi Automotive Systems Singapore Pte Ltd Delta Optics Technologies Pte Ltd Disco Hi-Tec Singapore Pte Ltd Dou Yee D-SIMLAB Technologies Pte Ltd Dyamed Biotech Pte Ltd Dystar Singapore Pte Ltd EADS Innovation Works Singapore EADS Singapore Pte Ltd Ecospec Global Technology Pte Ltd Electro Scientific Industries EPCOS Pte Ltd ETLA Ltd EVVO Media Finisar Corporation GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte Ltd GlucoStats System Pte Ltd HealthSTATS International Pte Ltd Ibiden Singapore Pte Ltd icognitive Pte Ltd IDI Laser Services Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Innobrace Orthodontics Pte Ltd Intelligent Chip Connection Pte Ltd Invista (S pore) Pte Ltd Kim Hiap Lee Co Pte Ltd Kinergy Ltd LanTroVision (Singapore) Ltd Liang Huat Aluminium Industries Pte Ltd Lilly Singapore Centre for Drug Discovery Magnequench Neo Powders Mediacorp Technologies Pte Ltd Merck & Co Inc Mitsui Chemicals Asia Pacific Monetary Authority of Singapore Motorola Nanomaterials Technology Nanyang Optical Co Pte Ltd National Instruments Singapore Pte Ltd Nepes Pte Ltd Nitto Denko (Singapore) Pte Ltd NXP Semiconductors Singapore Pte Ltd Olympus Pacific Forest Products Pte Ltd PBA (Singapore) Pte Ltd PGK Media Philips Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, DAP Pidilite Innovation Centre Pte Ltd Qtech NanoSystems Pte Ltd Quantum Precision Instruments Asia Pte Ltd Refinery Media Resem Technologies Pte Ltd Rhodia Asia Pacific Pte Ltd RISIS Rofin-Baasel Singapore Rohde & Schwarz Systems and Communications Asia Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd Rolls-Royce PLC SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd Schering-Plough Limited Schlumberger Oilfield (Singapore) Pte Ltd SG Molecular Diagnostics SIA Engineering Company SiMEMS Pte Ltd Singapore Asahi Chemical & Solder Industries Pte Ltd Singapore Manufacturers Federation Singapore Technologies Kinetics Solves Innovative Technology Pte Ltd Sony Electronics (Singapore) Pte Ltd ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) Stamford Tyres International Pte Ltd STATS ChipPAC Ltd Sumitomo Bakelite Singapore Pte Ltd Sunny Instruments Singapore SysEng Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd Tru-Marine Pte Ltd Unigold International Pte Ltd United Microelectronics Corp United Test and Assembly Center Ltd Veredus Laboratories Vestas Technology R&D Singapore Wangi Industrial Co Pte Ltd Zentek Technology Zheng Guang Fa Pte Ltd

31 58 How we are doing How we are doing 59 Human Capital Intellectual Capital

32 60 How we are doing How we are doing 61 Industrial Capital R&D Expenditure in Singapore

33 Who we are

34 64 Who we are who we are 65 Board of Directors Prof Kiyoshi Kurakawa Science Advisor to the Cabinet for Science and Technology, Japan Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Japan Prof Sir Alex Markham Professor of Medicine University of Leeds Mr Ng Cher Pong Deputy Secretary (Policy) Ministry of Education Mr Lim Chuan Poh Chairman, A*STAR Prof Tan Chorh Chuan Deputy Chairman, A*STAR President, National University of Singapore Ms Yena Lim Managing Director, A*STAR Mr Ng Wai Choong Deputy Secretary (Policy) Ministry of Finance Mr Ong Boon Hwee Chief Operating Officer Singapore Power Ltd Lord Ronald Oxburgh Chairman, House of Lords Select Committee on Science & Technology Dr Sydney Brenner Scientific Advisor to A*STAR Chairman Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Cricks-Jacobs Center The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA Prof Sir George Radda Chairman, BMRC, A*STAR Chairman, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, A*STAR Prof Charles Zukoski Chairman, SERC, A*STAR William and Janet Lycan Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Mr Quek Tong Boon Chief Defence Scientist/ Chief Research & Technology Officer, MINDEF Dr Moncef Slaoui Chairman, Research & Development GlaxoSmithKline Prof Tan Eng Chye Deputy President (Academic Affairs) & Provost National University of Singapore Prof Bertil Andersson Provost, Nanyang Technological University Dr Beh Swan Gin Managing Director, Economic Development Board Mr C Richard (Dick) Kramlich General Partner and Co- founder, New Enterprise Associates Mr Andrew Tan Kok Kiong Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency, Fellow, Centre for Liveable Cities, Ministry of National Development Ms Padmasree Warrior Chief Technology Officer, Cisco Systems Dr Tadataka Yamada President Global Health Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Updated as of Sept 2010)

35 66 Who we are who we are 67 A*STAR SENIOR MANAGEMENT Mr Lim Chuan Poh Chairman, A*STAR Prof Tan Chorh Chuan Deputy Chairman, A*STAR President, National University of Singapore Ms Yena Lim Managing Director, A*STAR Prof Sir David Lane Chief Scientist, A*STAR, Chief Scientist,Cancer Research UK Prof Low Teck Seng Deputy Managing Director (Research), A*STAR, Executive Director, SERC, A*STAR Mr Teoh Yong Sea Deputy Managing Director (Corporate Planning & Administration Division), A*STAR Dr Sydney Brenner Scientific Advisor to A*STAR Chairman Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Cricks-Jacobs Center The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA Prof Sir George Radda Chairman, BMRC, A*STAR Chairman, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, A*STAR Prof Charles Zukoski Chairman, SERC, A*STAR William and Janet Lycan Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Prof Edward Holmes Deputy Chairman, Translational and Clinical Sciences Group (BMRC), A*STAR, Executive Chairman, National Medical Research Council Prof Lee Eng Hin Executive Director, BMRC, A*STAR DR LIM KHIANG WEE Executive Director, A*STAR Graduate Academy Mr PHILIP Lim Chief Executive Officer, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd MR SURESH SACHI General Counsel, A*STAR We thank Mr Boon Swan Foo, former Executive Chairman, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd, Prof Chong Tow Chong, former Executive Director, Science and Engineering Research Council, and Prof Miranda Yap, former Executive Director, A*STAR Graduate Academy, for their service. (Updated as of Sept 2010)

36 68 Who we are who we are 69 LEADERS OF RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND CONSORTIA BMRC SERC Dr. Frank Eisenhaber Director, Bioinformatics Institute Prof Miranda Yap Executive Director, Bioprocessing Technology Institute Prof Edison Liu Executive Director, Genome Institute of Singapore Dr Pantelis Alexopoulos Executive Director, Data Storage Institute Prof Lye Kin Mun Executive Director, Institute for Infocomm Research Dr Keith Carpenter Executive Director, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences Prof Jackie Ying Executive Director, Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Prof Birgitte Lane Executive Director, Institute of Medical Biology Prof Neal Copeland Executive Director, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Prof David Srolovitz Executive Director, Institute of High Performance Computing Prof Andy Hor Executive Director, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering Prof Dim-Lee Kwong Executive Director, Institute of Microelectronics Prof Judith Swain Executive Director, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences Prof Sir George Radda Chairman, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium Prof Philippe Kourilsky Chairman, Singapore Immunology Network Dr Lim Ser Yong Executive Director, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology Dr Alan Colman Executive Director, Singapore Stem Cell Consortium Prof Colin Blakemore Chairman, A*STAR-Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership DR ALEX MATTER Chief Executive Officer, Experimental Therapeutics Centre (Updated as of Sept 2010) We thank Prof Chong Tow Chong, former Executive Director, Data Storage Institute, Dr Lim Khiang Wee, former Executive Director, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, and Mr Steven Tan, former Director, National Metrology Centre, for their service. (Updated as of Sept 2010)

37 70 Who we are who we are 71 BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Sir Richard Sykes Chairman, UK Stem Cell Foundation Dr John Bell Regius Professor of Medicine University of Oxford (UK) Sir Leszek K Borysiewicz Vice Chancellor University of Cambridge (UK) Dr Sally C Davies Director General for Research and Development, Department of Health (UK) Dr Peter Gruss President Max Planck Society (Germany) Dr Helen Hobbs Director, Eugene McDermott Center Human Growth and Development University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (USA) Dr Sydney Brenner Scientific Advisor to A*STAR Chairman Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Cricks-Jacobs Center The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA Dr Suzanne Cory President, Australian Academy of Science Professor, Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medicine Research (Australia) Dr Jack E. Dixon Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA) Dr William N. Kelley Professor of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine (USA) Sir Paul Nurse President The Rockefeller University (USA) Dr Anthony Pawson Distinguished Scientist Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital (Canada) Dr Harriet Wallberg- Henriksson President Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) Dr Tadataka Yamada President, Global Health Programme Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA) Dr Rolf Zinkernagel Professor Emeritus Department of Pathology University of Zurich (Switzerland) (Updated as of Sept 2010)

38 72 Who we are who we are 73 Emeritus Members A*STAR Graduate Academy International Advisory Panel Dr David Baltimore Member, BMS IAC ( ) Robert A. Millikan Professor of Biology California Institute of Technology (USA) Dr Samuel Barondes Member, BMS IAC ( ) Director Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry University of California, San Francisco (USA) Dr Alan Bernstein Member, BMS IAC ( ) Executive Director Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise (USA) Dr Colin Blakemore Member, BMS IAC ( ) Chairman, A*STAR - Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership (Singapore) Sir Philip Cohen Member, BMS IAC Director & Royal Society Research Professor Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit University of Dundee (UK) Dr Stanley N. Cohen Member, BMS IAC ( ) Professor of Genetics and Professor of Medicine Stanford University (USA) Dr Leland Hartwell Member, BMS IAC ( ) President & Director Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center (USA) Dr David I. Hirsh Member, BMS IAC ( ) Executive Vice President for Research Columbia University (USA) Dr Philippe Kourilsky Member, BMS IAC ( ) Chairman, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) Chair of Molecular Immunology College de France (France) Dr Richard Lerner Member, BMS IAC ( ) President The Scripps Research Institute (USA) Dr Susan Lindquist Member, BMS IAC ( ) Member, Whitehead Institute Professor of Biology, MIT (USA) Dr Paul A. Marks Member, BMS IAC ( ) President Emeritus Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (USA) Dr John Mendelsohn Co-Chairman, BMS IAC ( ) President, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (USA) Dr Alan Munro Member, BMS IAC ( ) Former Master of Christ s College University of Cambridge (UK) Sir Keith Peters Member, BMS IAC ( ) Chairman, Global Medical Excellence Cluster (GMEC) Senior Consultant, Glaxo Smith Kline (UK) Sir George Radda Member, BMS IAC ( ) Chairman,Biomedical Research Council (Singapore) Chairman, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium Emeritus Professor of Molecular Cardiology, Oxford University Dr John Reed Member, BMS IAC ( ) CEO Sanford- Burnham Medical Research Institute (USA) Dr John Shine Member, BMS IAC ( ) Executive Director Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Australia) Dr Axel Ullrich Member, BMS IAC ( ) Director Molecular Biology Max Planck Institute for Biochemie (Germany) Dr Hans Wigzell Member, BMS IAC ( ) Professor Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) Chairman Professor Sir Keith Peters Emeritus Regius Professor of Physic, University of Cambridge, Senior Consultant, GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Members Professor Dame Ann Dowling Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Head of the Department of Engineering, Chairman of the University Gas Turbine Partnership University of Cambridge Professor Mary A. Ritter Pro-Rector for Postgraduate and International Affairs, Imperial College London Deputy Chairman Professor Judith Swain Executive Director, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, Lien Ying Chow Professor of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego Professor Urban Lendahl Professor of Genetics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet Professor William B. Russel Arthur W. Marks 19 Professor of Chemical Engineering, Dean of the Graduate School, Princeton University Professor Sir John O Reilly Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University Professor Tuviah Ehud (Ed) Schlesinger David Edward Schramm Professor and Department Head, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (Updated as of Sept 2010)

39

40 76 Who we are who we are 77 Chairman's Honour List We recognise our scholars who have excelled academically this past year. Chua Kunting (Eddie) Carnegie Mellon University (Physics) Chuah Meng Yee (Michael) Carnegie Mellon University (Mechanical Engineering) Foo Min Hui Francine Imperial College London (Physics) An Jingzhi Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Amrik Singh Bhullar Imperial College London (Electrical & Electronic Engineering) Cai Wuhan Desmond Cornell University (Electrical & Computer Engineering) Goh Simin Shermin Imperial College London (Chemistry) Ho Wee Teck William University of Wisconsin - Madison (Chemical Engineering) Jiang Ling Fan Imperial College London (Chemistry) Chee Jing Yee Cornell University (Physics) Chen Hanrong Cornell University (Physics) Chen Niangjun University of Cambridge (Computer Science) Khoo Jun Yong University of Oxford (Physics) Koh Guangyong University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Engineering Physics) Kwek Swee Sen University of Wisconsin- Madison (Medical Microbiology and Immunology) Chen Weiyan Serene Imperial College London (Chemistry) Cheng Jian Wei Jayce University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Materials Science & Engineering) Chew Jing Ming Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Lau Hiu Yeung Johns Hopkins University (Cell & Molecular Biology) Lee Linus Stanford University (Physics) Lee Phin Peng Brown University (Biomedical Engineering) Chew Wei Leong Duke University (Biology) Chia Yurong Eugene Imperial College London (Chemistry) Chou Shijie Nigel Duke University (Biomedical Engineering) Lee Qian Yi University of Michigan- Ann Arbor (Biomedical Engineering) Lee Yao Ting Lennon Columbia University (Electrical Engineering) Lee Yin Jin University of Wisconsin - Madison (Chemical Engineering)

41 78 Who we are who we are 79 Lee Yunqin Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Leong Zhidong Cornell University (Physics) Liew Ming Jie Gerald Brown University (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Seh Zhi Wei Cornell University (Materials Science & Engineering) Sim Jingwei University of Cambridge (Medicine (pre-clinicals)) Tan Haihan University of Cambridge (Natural Sciences (Biological)) Lim Jing Shan University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Biology) Lim Kah Hian Daryl University of Michigan- Ann Arbor (Electrical Engineering) Liu Yun Johns Hopkins University (Biology) Tan Hong En Imperial College London (Physics) Tan Ming Wang Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Tan Siah Hong Johns Hopkins University (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) Ng Jia Wei Desmond University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Chemical Engineering) Ng Jian Duan Johnathan University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Chemical Engineering) Ng Sheng Rong University of Cambridge (Natural Sciences) Tan Yan Ling, Shireen University of Cambridge (Medicine (pre-clinicals)) Tan Yan Ming Nicholas Brown University (Chemistry) Tang Xin Zi University College London (Biomedical Sciences) Ng Songyu University of Wisconsin- Madison (Biomedical Engineering) Oon Hong Wen Jeremy University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Physics) Pua Khian Hong University of Wisconsin- Madison (Biochemistry) Tay Jun Jie Ian Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Ten Jyi Sheuan University of Oxford (Engineering Science) Thian Ming Rue Dickson University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Physics) Qiao Yuan Bryn Mawr College (Chemistry) Quek Zhan Fan University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Mechanical Engineering) Seah Kang Yee Imperial College London (Chemistry) Wang Tianyi Imperial College London (Biomedical Engineering) Wang Yang Cornell University (Biological Engineering) Wee Lei Caroline Cornell University (Biological Sciences)

42

43 1 Fusionopolis Way, #20-10 Connexis North, Singapore Tel: Fax: