SINGAPORE REPORTS GROWTH IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR R&D EXPENDITURE

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Magdalen Martin
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1 PRESS RELEASE SINGAPORE REPORTS GROWTH IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR R&D EXPENDITURE 1. Singapore reported a 7.4% growth in Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) from S$6 billion to S$6.5 billion in 21 as expenditure in both public and private sectors rose. Public expenditure on R&D (PUBERD) hit a new high of S$2.5 billion in 21. This was an increase of 9.6% from S$2.3 billion in 29. Business expenditure on R&D (BERD), an indicator of private sector spending in research, also grew by 6.% from S$3.7 billion in 29 to S$3.9 billion in 21. These statistics were reported in the latest National Survey of R&D 21, published today by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). 2. This growth in actual expenditure was not reflected in GERD as a percentage of GDP, which dipped slightly from 2.3% in 29 to 2.14% in 21. This was due to Singapore s exceptional 13.9% GDP growth in 21, which surpassed the growth in GERD. However, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of GERD from 2 to 21 remained high at 8.%, reflecting the nation s sustained growth in R&D. Annex A shows the year-on-year growth of Singapore s GERD and GDP. R&D Talent 3. Singapore s research talent pool continued to expand steadily. The total number of Research Scientists and Engineers 1 (RSEs) in the public and private sectors rose 6.4%, from 26,68 in 29 to 28,296 in 21 with the private sector employing 55.3% or 15,64 of all RSEs in 21. From a base of 14,483 RSEs in 2, the CAGR of RSEs grew a commendable 6.9% from 2 to 21. Annex B shows the year-on-year growth of Singapore s RSEs. 4. The demand for RSEs with PhDs remains strong as evidenced by the increase in PhD employment in both public and private sectors. The public sector reported an increase of 11.4%, up from 5,476 PhDs in 29 to 6,12 PhDs in 21. In addition, new PhD hires in the private sector grew by 7.8% from 1,275 in 29 to 1,375 in 21. The number of highly-skilled RSEs with PhDs is a key indicator of R&D talent. Comments on Survey Results 5. Prof. Low Teck Seng, Managing Director of A*STAR, said, 21 marks the end of the Science and Technology 21 plan. The Government s sustained investment in 1 RSEs comprise researchers who hold formal qualifications at the university degree level but exclude fulltime postgraduate research students.

2 research has helped attract talent and private investments to Singapore. This is reflected in the growth of the number of RSEs in Singapore from about 23, to more than 28,, between 26 and 21. Similarly, private sector expenditure during this period increased from S$3.3 billion to S$3.9 billion. 6. Under the Research, Innovation & Enterprise 215 Plan, the growth of our research talent will continue to be the cornerstone of our long-term R&D strategy. As global markets move to Asia, we will strengthen our efforts to forge close publicprivate partnerships with industry to facilitate commercialization from our R&D endeavours. Ultimately, our investment in R&D is to create more meaningful jobs and reap economic rewards for Singapore. Background 7. More than 1 organisations participated in the 21 National R&D Survey. They comprise private sector companies, government organisations, local institutions of higher learning and public sector research institutes. The full report can be downloaded at A*STAR s website at Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) For media queries, please contact: Ms Adela Foo Senior Officer, Corporate Communications Agency for Science, Technology and Research Phone: (+65) adela_foo@a-star.edu.sg Ms Ong Siok Ming Senior Officer, Corporate Communications Agency for Science, Technology and Research Tel: (+65) ong_siok_ming@a-star.edu.sg About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based

3 and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit

4 ANNEX A GDP and GERD through the years 35, 3, 25, 2, 15, 1, GDP (S$m) Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD S$m) 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 5, 2,

5 ANNEX B RSEs through the years 3, 25, RSEs PhD RSEs 2, 15, 1, 5,

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