Committee of Supply (COS) Debate 2017

Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), Mr S Iswaran announced that A*STAR will move towards more flexible and multi-disciplinary programmes, as part of its transformation effort that will bring R&D innovations to industry more quickly, and in a more targeted and collaborative manner.

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Trade and Industry, Ms Sim Ann elaborated on the enhanced OTR and Tech Access Initiative, which were announced during Budget. SMS Ms Sim Ann also mentioned that the government will add a one-stop Tech Depot to the SME Portal by the second quarter of 2017, to improve companies’ access to technology and digital solutions. The Tech Depot will comprise A*STAR’s ready-to-go (RTG) technologies and IMDA’s pre-qualified Infocomm and Media (ICM) solutions.

Minister of State (MOS) for Trade and Industry, Dr Koh Poh Koon announced that A*STAR will establish two Model Factories at A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (A*STAR SIMTech) and the A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (A*STAR ARTC), to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore’s manufacturing sector. These Model Factories will allow companies to experience the technologies first-hand in a learning environment, without affecting their existing business operations; and to collaborate with stakeholders to test-bed and jointly develop innovative solutions for their processes.

• Straits Times: More support for start-up scene here
• TODAY: More flexibility in regulations to help businesses
• Lianhe Zaobao: Model Factory to allow companies to trail advanced technologies before adoption
• Berita Harian: Model Factories to support SME on technology needs
• Berita Harian: Flexible policies help companies to generate growth, jobs

• Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), Mr S Iswaran
• Senior Minister of State, Trade and Industry, Ms Sim Ann
• Minister of State, Trade and Industry, Dr Koh Poh Koon