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 2010 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 2010. This was an increase of 9.6% from S$2.3 billion in 2009. Business expenditure on R&D (BERD), an indicator of private sector spending in research, also grew by 6.0% from S$3.7 billion in 2009 to S$3.9 billion in 2010.  These statistics were reported in the latest National Survey of R&D 2010, 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 2009 to 2.14% in 2010. This was due to Singapore’s exceptional 13.9% GDP growth in 2010, which surpassed the growth in GERD. However, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of GERD from 2000 to 2010 remained high at 8.0%, 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 26,608 in 2009 to 28,296 in 2010 with the private sector employing 55.3% or 15,640 of all RSEs in 2010. From a base of 14,483 RSEs in 2000, the CAGR of RSEs grew a commendable 6.9% from 2000 to 2010. 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 2009 to 6,102 PhDs in 2010.  In addition, new PhD hires in the private sector grew by 7.8% from 1,275 in 2009 to 1,375 in 2010. 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, “2010 marks the end of the Science and Technology 2010 plan.  The Government’s sustained investment in 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 23,000 to more than 28,000, between 2006 and 2010.  Similarly, private sector expenditure during this period increased from S$3.3 billion to S$3.9 billion.

6. “Under the Research, Innovation & Enterprise 2015 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 public-private 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 1000 organisations participated in the 2010 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 http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Portals/0/media/RnD_Survey/RnD_2010.pdf.

 

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) 6826 6218

Email: adela_foo@a-star.edu.sg

 

Ms Ong Siok Ming

Senior Officer, Corporate Communications

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Tel: (+65) 6826 6254

Email: 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 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 www.a-star.edu.sg.

 

ANNEX A

GDP and GERD through the years

 

ANNEX B

RSEs through the years