Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,

MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369

Tel: 837-9666

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am very pleased to be here this afternoon to officiate this year’s Defence Technology Prize Award Ceremony.

The tragic events in the United States on September 11 shocked the world. It has also reminded us of the need for continued readiness and vigilance in ensuring the security of Singapore.

Defence technology is vital to the security of Singapore. On the battlefront, defence technology plays a critical role as a force multiplier, giving us the crucial qualitative edge over potential adversaries. On the home front, it contributes to our ability to protect Singaporeans from unconventional threats.

Our early investments in Chemical-Biological Defence, Information Assurance and Protective Technologies have helped to provide us a certain level of assurance to defend Singapore against such threats. As new forms of unconventional attack become possible, our defence technology community must work closer together to assist MINDEF in dealing with this problem.

MINDEF values your vital contributions in ensuring Singapore’s security.

MINDEF awards the Defence Technology Prize each year to outstanding scientists and engineers who have made significant contributions to defence technology.

Over the years, MINDEF has been building up our defence technology capability in partnership with our local Science and Technology institutions, namely the Universities, Research Institutes and Defence Industry. Such partnerships enable MINDEF to tap the wider national talent pool, and ride upon their successes in academic or commercial research.

Furthermore, we recognize that each of our local institutions has its unique core competency. For example, the Defence Industry’s core competency is in the development and production of systems, the Universities specialize in upstream R&D, and DSO focuses on secret-edge R&D projects. Our Defence Science and Technology Agency manages the total R&D effort and makes the strategic tradeoffs in the manner we invest into various defence technologies.

By making well-placed investments that tap upon each institution’s core competency, we multiply the overall value we get for every dollar that MINDEF spends on defence technology.

MINDEF’s approach has always been to forge long-term, "win-win" relationships with our technology partners. Defence R&D is usually undertaken at the leading edge of science and technology. The stringent demands of defence research give our Singaporean scientists and engineers the opportunity to hone their skills. The transfer of the fruits of their efforts to commercial applications also has the potential to benefit our economy. I hope that the R&D opportunities that MINDEF provides will inspire our scientists and engineers to greater heights of technical innovation that is so vital to our national Science and Technology development.

MINDEF’s involvement with our local institutions is not limited to partnerships alone. Our defence technology capability rests primarily on our people and indigenous institutions. Where appropriate, we make investments in our local institutions to ensure that our partners continue to grow in strength.

MINDEF is committed to allocating resources and management attention to ensure that the network of people and institutions in the Universities, RICs and Defence Industry develop enduring capabilities to raise the overall level of our defence technology.

Singapore currently invests some 4% of her defence budget as a long-term commitment to defence R&D. In the year 2001, MINDEF’s commitment of $30 M into defence R&D projects with our local Universities and RICs, was five times our average investments over the previous few years. The R&D work being undertaken spans areas such as Protective Technology, Underwater Acoustics, Electromagnetics and Aeronautics. Besides R&D projects, MINDEF has also invested about $100M into the development of research facilities in our Universities, including the Wind Tunnel, EMC Center, Compact Range, TMSI and DMRI research facilities. Last year, MINDEF initiated the formation of Temasek Labs in NUS as a structured framework to align and synergize our R&D activities within the University. We hope to set up a similar arrangement with NTU in the near future.

In view of increasing collaboration between MINDEF and our local partners, we seek to provide greater recognition of the wide range and diverse nature of their contributions to our defence technology capability. MINDEF has decided that with effect from 2002, the Defence Technology Prize will be sub-divided into three award categories:

Firstly, the Defence Technology Prize Research and Development Award. The DTP R&D Award is for outstanding contributions in pioneering innovative R&D for Singapore’s Defence.

Secondly, the Defence Technology Prize Engineering Award. The DTP Engineering Award is for outstanding contributions in the delivery of highly complex engineering solutions and systems integration work for MINDEF’s acquisition programs.

Finally, the Defence Technology Prize Management Award. The DTP Management Award is for outstanding contributions in the management of defence R&D, and supply or maintenance leading to quantum improvements in defence sustainability.

It now gives me great pleasure to announce the Winners of the 2001 Defence Technology Prize.

This year, the Individual Award goes to Mr Tan Chee Seng, Centre Head for Radar Systems, DSO National Laboratories. Mr Tan has been instrumental in the build-up of our Radar Capability in DSO, and has led the development of advanced radar systems.

Five Team Awards are given to:

1. The New LST Integrated Program Management Team
2. The Air Logistics Department Integrated Systems Engineering Team
3. The SAR21 Team
4. A Classified Project from DSO
5. A Classified Project from DSTA and ST Aerospace.

I would like to congratulate and thank this year’s DTP winners for their excellent work and contributions towards Singapore’s defence capability. I would also like to pay tribute to the scientists, engineers and officers in the defence technology community for their vital contributions to Singapore’s defence capability.

Thank you.

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