Prime Minister,
Minister for Trade and Industry,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good afternoon to all of you and welcome to the Launch of A*STAR’s Commemorative Publication.
A Cause for Celebration
This year, Singapore celebrates 20 years of national science and technology planning and development and A*STAR celebrates our 20th Anniversary. The A*STAR Commemorative Publication was commissioned early last year as a way to mark this milestone in our S&T journey. Through research and interviews with pioneers and the many people involved, the year-long book project sought to uncover the story behind Singapore’s S&T development. As historical details and insightful anecdotes were unearthed, it was soon clear that the book would become an important record of Singapore’s progress in science and technology, encapsulating our efforts over more than two decades.
We are especially honoured to have Prime Minister as our Guest-of-Honour to address us and launch the book. Pertinently, in 1991, PM in his then capacity as the Minister for Trade and Industry launched the National Science and Technology Board and announced the inaugural National Technology Plan. The NSTB and the National Technology Plan set the wheels in motion for subsequent five-year S&T plans and shaped our investments in R&D over the following two decades. These investments in R&D were especially relevant for the future of Singapore at a time of increasing globalisation and economic competition.
Today, we are gathered not just to celebrate the launch of a book but the cumulative impact of Singapore’s concerted S&T efforts. At the same time, we are also recognizing the many people who have contributed to this success.
A nod to Pioneers, Scientific Leaders and Friends of A*STAR
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the pioneers and members of the scientific community who have contributed to this journey. Whether as research scientists and engineers, administrators or council or Board members at our public or private sector research entities, you have played a critical role to lay the foundation for Singapore to become a global R&D hub.
We are delighted to see so many of you here today. I would like to make a special mention of some pioneers present such as Professor Ang How Ghee and Professor Choo Seok Cheow, both are former Chairmen of the Science Council of Singapore. The Science Council was established back in 1967 to push for national advancement in science and technology. Aside from advising the government on matters related to S&T and assisting the government in the development of scientific capabilities, the Science Council also spearheaded the development of the Science Centre as part of our early outreach efforts to bring S&T to the public, particularly, the younger generation.
We are also honoured to have two former Chairmen of the National Science and Technology Board here with us: namely, the first Chairman Mr Lam Chuan Leong and the second Chairman Mr Teo Ming Kian. The National Science and Technology Board was set up to develop Singapore into a research hub in selected fields of S&T.
The responsibilities of this new statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry included identifying new fields of research and nurturing the scientific manpower for Singapore to enhance our economic competitiveness.
The third Chairman of the NSTB is Mr Philip Yeo who unfortunately is overseas. As Chairman of NSTB from 2001, Mr Yeo oversaw the consolidation of the science and engineering research institutes under the Science and Engineering Research Council, and the transition of NSTB into A*STAR in early 2002. In the process, Philip Yeo also oversaw the growth of the Biomedical Research Council and the associated research institutes. He personally recruited many of the top international scientists to help Singapore jump start our biomedical sciences initiative. His most enduring contribution is likely to be the initiation of the A*STAR scholarship schemes that attracted many young Singaporeans to pursue careers in research to form the core of Singapore’s research enterprise over time.
I would now like to mention a very special guest in our audience today. Mrs Lee Kum Tatt, the wife of the late Dr Lee Kum Tatt, the first Chairman of the Science Council. Dr Lee Kum Tatt, who was also the First Chairman of SISIR, was one of Singapore’s earliest home-grown PhDs and also the brains behind the gold-plated RISIS Orchids. It is fitting that Mrs Lee is here as the late Dr Lee initiated the gold orchid project to fulfil a promise he made to her during their courting days in 1955. RISIS also happened to be SISIR spelt in reverse to acknowledge the start up investment put in by SISIR in this endeavour. RISIS is now one of Singapore’s most iconic gift.
Let me now acknowledge the many scientific leaders, especially the founding directors of research institutes for their enormous contributions to put Singapore and A*STAR on the world R&D map. Many of them brought years of experience and, in effect, lent S&T credibility to Singapore during our nascent years.
They include:
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Professor Chris Tan. Chris was a professor of medical biology and medical biochemistry at the University of Calgary and well-known for his research on interferon before he came to Singapore. He became the Founding Director of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in 1987. For over a decade, he was the face of biomedical research in Singapore.
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Still on biomedical sciences, we have Professor Edison Liu who came in the next wave as part of the biomedical sciences initiative to found Genome Institute of Singapore. Others that followed as founding directors include Prof Jackie Ying, Professor Miranda Yap, Prof Sir George Radda, Professor Philippe Kourilsky, Professor Lam Kong Peng, Prof Judith Swain and Professor Birgit Lane.
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While on biomedical sciences, there is one other person that deserves special mention, Dr Sydney Brenner who is not here today. He was there right from the beginning. He was instrumental in getting Singapore to invest in biomedical research with the setting up of IMCB and the subsequent BMS initiative. And he is still inspiring scientists here with his deep insights of science and research.
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For the physical sciences and engineering, we have Dr Bill Chen. Bill was an experienced AT&T Bell Lab scientist, and had also been one of the international advisers who had helped Taiwan to build up its semiconductor industry. He founded the Institute of Microelectronics in 1991. We then had one of our own, Professor Low Teck Seng from NUS to found Data Storage Institute. Teck Seng is now the MD of A*STAR. Other founding directors include Dr Frans Carpay, Professor Shih Choon Foong, Professor Lawrence Wong, Dr Keith Carpenter and Professor Lam Khin Yong.
By and large, they all share one thing in common. They all shared in the vision for the S&T efforts in Singapore and were excited by the opportunity to play a part during the critical start up phase. Many of these founding Directors are still around especially for the newer biomedical research institutes while others have laid the foundation for younger leaders to step in to build on where they left off. Much of what we have today are a result of their leadership and vision.
In addition, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the many scientists, engineers and the non-scientific staff who have been or are still part of this enterprise and S&T journey. R&D is a human enterprise. It is the scientists and engineers who make the breakthrough discoveries, inventions and innovations. It is the non-scientific staff who lent them the support necessary for them to do what they do best.
On behalf of A*STAR, I would also like to thank the wider community of research partners both in Singapore and beyond and our industry partners for their collaboration, cooperation and support over the years. I am gratified that many see us as a valuable partner. In Singapore’s R&D endeavour, A*STAR will continue to take the lead to forge impactful collaborations with multiple parties from industry to universities and hospitals. Singapore is small enough for us to be able to coordinate and integrate our efforts where necessary to do what is best.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge Mr Teoh Yong Sea, DMD A*STAR, for leading the team to produce this book and Ms Lee Geok Boi, for authoring it. I would also like to thank I2R for inspiring the book cover design, SIMTech and Zephyr Silkscreen for fabricating the special edition slipcase, as well as the many people from the A*STAR family and our partners from the public sector organisations for making this publication possible through their assistance and support.
Thank you very much.
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