Attracting gYoung Talent into

EngineeringEngineeringDr Lim Khiang WeeDr Lim Khiang WeeExecutive Director

A*STAR Graduate Academy

21 Oct 2010

National R&D Framework (2006‐2010)

Cabinet

Ministry of Research, Innovation & 

Cabinet

Ministry of Trade EducationEnterprise Council (RIEC) & Industry

National Research Foundation (NRF)

Academic Research Fund (AcRF)

A*STAR EDB

Universities A*STAR Research Institutes

R&D Performers

Poly‐technics

Corporate LabsHospitalsSMART

CREATE

Research Institutes

Basic MissionOriented Research

Applied Industrial Research

Develop‐ment

EnterpriseBasic Investigator‐led Research

O Mi iO Mi iOur MissionOur MissionFostering worldFostering world class scientific research and talent forclass scientific research and talent forFostering worldFostering world--class scientific research and talent for class scientific research and talent for

a vibrant knowledgea vibrant knowledge--based Singaporebased Singapore

Chairman A*STAR

MD A*STAR

Joint  Biomedical  A*STAR  Corporate Science & Council Office

Research Council

Graduate Academy

pGroupEngineering 

Research CouncilCouncil

Other Scientific Services Outfits

•Biopolis Shared Facilities

Research Institutes (RIs)

BMRC has 7 RIs and 5 R h C ti

Commercialization Outfits

•Exploit TechnologiesE i t l Th ti•Biological Resource Centre

•National Breeding Centre•Singapore Tissue Network

5 Research ConsortiaSERC has 7 RIs.

•Experimental Therapeutics Centre•Industry Development Group (BMRC)•National Metrology Centre

•Computational Resource Centre

Group (BMRC)

A*STAR 3C St tA*STAR 3C Strategy

HumanCapital

Investing in Talent• To promote manpower training and development in S&T 

Creating a World Class Research Environment

• To undertake the promotion of S&T to increase public awareness 

and understanding

IntellectualCapital

Creating a World Class Research Environment• To promote the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology in Singapore through industry engagement and collaboration, R&D investment promotion, and active 

IndustrialCollaborating with Industry

, p ,commercialisation of its intellectual property,

IndustrialCapital • To direct and undertake mission‐oriented R&D in the areas of S&T

• To provide extramural R&D grants for the larger research community in Singapore

PhD Talent in the Workforce

• Number of RSEs in Singapore has grown at 7.5% since 2000

RSEs in Public & PhD RSEs in Public

• Number of RSEs with PhD has grown at 8.9% since 2000

700030000 Total RSEs 

= 25 745 in 2008

CAGR (Total): 7.5%Private Sector CAGR (PhD): 8.9%Total RSEs (PhD) = 6,147 (2008)

PhD RSEs in Public & Private Sector

61475637

5005

4575

40635000

6000

20000

25000 PhD

Masters

Bachelors

= 25,745 in 2008  6,147 (2008)

37913639

31113347

2000

3000

4000

10000

15000

0

1000

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

5000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20082000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Source: Annual National Survey of R&D in Singapore

Singapore’s PhD RSE Intensity - lowPhD Talent in the Workforce

Singapore’s PhD RSE Intensity is significantly below benchmark countries

GERD as % of GDP and PhD Researcher Intensity4.0

countries.

US (2005 approx)

Finland (2006)

Sweden (2005)3.0

3.5

E pe

r 1000

 

ent

US (2005 - approx)

Ireland (2006)

Taiwan (2006)1 5

2.0

2.5

searchers FT

Employme

Singapore (2007)Belgium (2005)

0 5

1.0

1.5

PhD Res

• Example: ~ Sweden has 26,100 PhD researchers out of 4.3 million workforce employment (in 2005)

0.51.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00

GERD as % of GDP

~ Singapore has 5,600 PhD researchers out of 2.7 million workforce employment (in 2007)(Source: OECD)

Enrolment in Engineering Disciplines in UniversityUniversity

Enrolment in

50,000

60,000Enrolment in UniversityFirst Degree Courses

•Enrolment in Engineering disciplines as first

30,000

40,000 Enrolment in UniversityFirst Degree Courses(Engineering)

disciplines as first degree course has declined over the

10,000

20,000

,past 5 years

0

10,000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Source: National University of Singapore

Nanyang Technological University

Singapore Management UniversitySingapore Management University

Enrolment in Engineering Disciplines in PolytechnicsPolytechnics

Enrolment in

60 00070,00080,000

Enrolment intoPolytechnic

•Enrolment in Engineering disciplines courses

40,00050,00060,000 Polytechnic

DiplomaCourses

disciplines courses has declined over the past 5 years in

10,00020,00030,000 Enrolment in

PolytechnicDiplomacourses

polytechnics

02005 2006 2007 2008 2009

(Engineering

Source: Singapore Polytechnic Nanyang Polytechnic

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Republic Polytechnic

Temasek Polytechnice ase o ytec c

A*STAR Graduate Academy’s Human Capital Development Programmes

Post doc le el • AIF

p p g

Post-doc level AIF• Post-

doc (AGS)

• NSS (PhD) •NSS (BS)( )

• S’pore Int’l Grad Award

Graduate & Undergraduate levels

•NSS (MBBS-PhD)• AGS •A*STAR Undergraduate Scholarship

S pore Int l Grad Award •A* Research Attachment Prog (PhD)• S’pore Int’l Pre-Grad Award

• A* JC Sc Award•A* Upper Sec Sc Award

JC, Secondary

•YRAP (Upper Sec-JC)•A*-MOE R&D attachment•H3 Research

Competitions:Outreach: Capability & Infrastructure Support

Capability & Infrastructure Support• Sciber Diver website• Teacher Attachment Programme• Scientists in schools• 4 Cluster S&T Centre

y& Primary

levels

Competitions:• A* Talent Search • S’pore Sc & Eng Fair • National Sci Challenge

Outreach:• RI Outreach Prog• Science Month• DNA Lab • Science in the Mall• Hooked on Science

• National Jr Robotics Competition• Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award• Sony Creative Sc Awards

Capability & Infrastructure Support• Sciber Diver website• Teacher Attachment Programme• Scientists in schools• 4 Cluster S&T Centre• Teacher Aide

• 4 Cluster S&T Centre• Teacher Aide• Meet the Scientists talks • Sony Creative Sc Awards

Building a Vibrant Community of Local Research Talent

A*STAR has nurtured a pipeline of 1,000 local PhD Talent since 2001

75% pursuing BS/PhD/post-doc training g g25% completed training and deployed

Multiple pathways & early career development for young PhDs

National Science Scholarship

P id t iti f d d t t di•Provides opportunities for undergraduate studies at some of the world’s finest universities in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering disciplines.

•Chance to work in some of the world’s renowned research institutes and learn from the best scientific minds.

Young Talent Awards

•A*STAR Science Awards and the Young Researchers Attachment Programme for Upper Secondary to Junior College students whoProgramme for Upper Secondary to Junior College students who demonstrate strong aptitude and interest in Math and Science.

A d i t it t i i i ht i t i tifi h•Awardees given opportunity to gain insight into scientific research through visits, attachments, workshops and talks by scientists and visiting Nobel Laureates.

A*STAR-MOE Research Attachment ProgrammeProgramme

• For JC 1 Level students• 4 – 5 week attachment programme in Nov/Dec exposing JC 1 students to

the R&D culture in A*STAR research institutes and stimulate their interest in Scienceinterest in Science

• Jointly organized by A*STAR and MOE

Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF)Fair (SSEF)

• Open to Secondary and Junior College students• Annual S&T research project organized by MOE, A*STAR &

Science Centre• Winners represent Singapore in the prestigious Intel International• Winners represent Singapore in the prestigious Intel International

Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in USA• 10th anniversary in 2010y

A*STAR Talent Search

• Open to Secondary and JC Students• Competition to seek out students with potential to excel in S&T research• Students will be interviewed by distinguished panel of judges, including

a Nobel Laureate as Chief Judgea Nobel Laureate as Chief Judge

National Science Challenge

Science gameshow on MediaCorp Channel 5 to promoteScience gameshow on MediaCorp Channel 5 to promote Science education & foster creativity

Viewership rating of more than 375 000 in 2010Viewership rating of more than 375,000 in 2010

Competitions & Outreach

– Sony Creative Science Award• Students exercise imagination and creativity to make toys that

f i b i i ifi i i l

Sony Creative Science Award

function on basic scientific principles

– National Junior Robotics Competition • Largest national robotics competition

– Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award• Organised by Tan Kah Kee Foundation to stimulate creativity and

innovative thinking among students

S i B k F ti l– Science Buskers Festival• Develops individual's communication skills through expressions of

science in creative manners.

Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award

Science Buskers Festival National Junior Robotics Competition

Science Outreach to Students & Public

M t th S i ti t• Meet the Scientist • Singapore Science Festival

& X-periment!S i i th M ll• Science in the Mall

Raising Awareness through the Media

Raising Awareness through the Media

The Straits TimesSpecial Report onSpecial Report on 31 July 2010

Fi f tFive page feature on the engineering profession, featuring cool innovations, research engineers and engineering g gchallenges and opportunities.

Thank youThank you