Excellencies
Ministers
Chairman, A*STAR
Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council members
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am very pleased to be here this evening to officiate at the official launch of the Biopolis.

Biopolis was conceived as the cornerstone of a much broader vision to build up the Biomedical Sciences industry in Singapore.

Biopolis represents a vision to establish the entire value chain of Biomedical Sciences activities in Singapore – from research and development to manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

In doing so, the Biomedical Sciences industry would generate economic wealth for Singapore, create jobs for our people and improve human health and quality of life.

The Biomedical Sciences industry is a large and global industry.

In Singapore, the sector contributed $9.7 billion in manufacturing output and $6.5 billion in value-added in 2002.

It employs more than 7,000 workers.

Today, six of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Singapore to produce active ingredients or finished drugs for the global markets.

There is a growing base of research activities from companies such as Eli Lilly, Novartis, ES Cell International, MerLion Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson and Siemens Medical Instruments.

The Biomedical Sciences industry is keenly competitive.

Survival is dependent on the ability to generate new and innovative products from research and development.

Hence, R&D is an imperative investment.

On average, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries plough back 20% of their revenue into R&D.

Singapore must ensure we have the right talent and conducive environment in order to capture a share of this knowledge-intensive growth industry.

We must develop and nurture our own world-class scientists, attract top international talent, and create a vibrant infrastructure for scientific talent and industry to thrive.

The concept of Biopolis as a focal point for biomedical scientific talent and research in Singapore took shape in March 2001.

We discussed the concept extensively with local partners, companies and our international advisors.

After much deliberation, we made the decision to proceed with this strategic initiative for the long-term interest of Singapore.

Biopolis has three principal objectives:

First - to be a focal point for scientific talent.

To attract top talent to do world-class research in Singapore, and to serve as fertile training ground for undergraduate and graduate students.

This magnet of talent is the single most crucial element for the biomedical industry to grow.

Second - to integrate and synergise the capabilities and resources of A*STAR’s research institutes and to encourage cross-disciplinary research.

And Third - to bridge the private sector and public sector research work by creating an environment that fosters exchange of ideas and close collaboration.

Such close interface between researchers from industry and scientists from research institutes will accelerate the translation of new discoveries to marketable products.

Multi and cross disciplinary collaboration is a key element of modern R&D.

While electronic technology has facilitated long-distance communication, there is no adequate substitute for the physical proximity of scientists to foster cross-fertilisation of ideas.

Biotechnology talent and activities across the world are increasingly clustered in major hubs.

These include Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Research Triangle Park@North Carolina in the US, the East of England centred around Cambridge in the UK, and the Medicon Valley between Sweden and Denmark.

In Singapore, the density of biomedical research talent and activities at Biopolis is an important and powerful competitive advantage.

We are encouraged by the keen interest shown by local and international companies and leading scientific organisations in the development of Biopolis.

Much has been written about Biopolis, in the local media, and international media like New York Times, Science, Nature, New Scientist and amongst the scientific community.

Some commentators have written about the concept.

Others have talked about the remarkable pace of development.

Indeed, for 20 months from the Biopolis groundbreaking on 6 December 2001, JTC and its partners worked intensively to bring the blueprints to reality.

It is not merely the speed at which JTC physically developed Biopolis, but also the tightly integrated efforts of multiple agencies in executing the conceptual initiatives that have impressed our foreign counterparts and visitors.

This first signature development of One-north is no ordinary cluster of industrial buildings nor commercial office space.

It houses specialised, purpose-built laboratory space for biomedical research.

Some key features include shared scientific equipment and resources, specialised research facilities and services, a shared biomedical library, ICT Utility-on-Tap and District Cooling System.

Beyond cold hard lab space, Biopolis also presents a softer environment designed for community interaction and synergy.

Interconnected buildings, recreational and childcare facilities, as well as food and beverage outlets will be introduced in phases, creating the work, live, play and learn environment that has been envisaged for One-north.

While JTC built this physical infrastructure over the last 20 months, the Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of A*STAR Chairman, Philip Yeo, actively laid the foundations for critical component elements of the knowledge infrastructure.

A*STAR has over the last two years established new institutes with core capabilities in genomics, bioinformatics, and leading-edge bioengineering and nanotechnology.

A*STAR has also consolidated and strengthened capabilities in molecular and cell biology and in bioprocessing technology.

These will attract and support companies in the pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotechnology and healthcare services sectors.

Already companies such as Merck, Genelabs Diagnostics, Roche, NimbleGen Systems, Karo Bio and Inhibitex are collaborating with our institutes on the development of diagnostics, testing of therapeutics, pilot scale-ups of biologics under good clinical manufacturing practice.

A*STAR will also be developing capabilities in newer areas such as translational medicine.

A*STAR is actively training clinician scientists who understand both medical challenges and the potential of basic research in searching for scientific solutions.

This will also encourage basic scientists and clinicians to work closer together.

Such new initiatives to bridge basic sciences and clinical medicine will speed the translation of scientific advances into better medical treatments and improved quality of life.

The critical element of biomedical R&D talent has risen sharply over the last two years.

Our pro-local and pro-foreign policy has enabled us to build a cosmopolitan research community with a good diversity of top international and local talent.

The pipeline of local talent is now robust, with more than 220 A*STAR biomedical scholars and fellows pursuing training in fields such as Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Immunology, Medical Chemistry and Oncology at top universities.

The undergraduate student intake for the biological sciences has also increased.

Notably, the talent pool is also being enriched through cross-disciplinary interactions between computer scientists, engineers and doctors with researchers in the biomedical sciences.

A sound and ethical framework for biomedical research is important for Singapore to conduct internationally credible research.

In this respect, the Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) under Prof Lim Pin has engaged in careful review of international practice on major issues such as human stem cell and human genetics research, and consulted extensively with scientific, religious and community groups.

The BAC has provided the government with invaluable recommendations that we have deliberated upon and decided to adopt as guidelines governing both public and private sector research.

Similarly, the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animals Research has developed draft guidelines governing the use of animals in medical and scientific research after extensive study.

Feedback received from its public consultation has been reviewed and the committee is at the final stages of completing the guidelines.

Biosafety issues are also currently under review by the government and legislation will be introduced to ensure high standards in laboratories throughout Singapore.

Like the international community, we will have to grapple with new issues in ethics, safety and governance that will arise with the rapidly advancing science.

This evening’s launch of Biopolis is an exciting watershed for Singapore’s biomedical sciences sector.

It is significant that the launch of Biopolis is marked not by the completion of physical buildings in Phase I, but by the move-in of the first tenants at Biopolis.

The pioneer batch of A*STAR scientists settling into the Genome Institute of Singapore and the Bioinformatics Institute represents the seeding of Biopolis with research talent.

More talent will be infused into Biopolis.

The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Johns Hopkins Singapore, as well as A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology will be moving into Biopolis over the next six to nine months.

I am also pleased that there will be a community of younger start-up companies such as Paradigm Therapeutics and Vanda Pharmaceuticals carrying out innovative biotechnology research here.

Biopolis will create knowledge-intensive jobs – with some 2,000 research scientists in both private and public research outfits in Phase I.

Another 2,000 scientists will join the community when Biopolis expands.

The R&D work at Biopolis represents the apex of our biomedical efforts, where new discoveries and knowledge will be created.

These knowledge generators at Biopolis will energise other downstream activities in healthcare delivery and in the production of pharmaceutical products and medical devices for the global market.

These will provide skilled jobs and generate high-value economic activity for Singapore.

This evening’s audience reflects an exciting local and international mix of scientists, clinicians, engineers, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, lawyers, journalists, CEOs and leaders in the public and private sector.

It is a snapshot of the diversity of talent that will be integrated and synergised to make Singapore a vibrant global player in the biomedical sciences arena.

We are building our human capital, intellectual capital, industrial capital and supporting infrastructure in the biomedical sciences for the long term.

I would like to thank our International Advisory Panel, the Ministerial Life Sciences Committee, the Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee as well as key leaders and members of the public sector, industry and scientific community for sharing in our common vision and working to make the Biopolis a reality.

I look forward to deepening our invaluable partnership as we launch Biopolis and embark on an even more exciting phase of growth.

Thank you.

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