SINGAPORE: Singapore needs to step up efforts to meet the
demand for PhDs in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the A*STAR scholarships awards ceremony
Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said Singapore must
produce more industry-relevant PhDs to meet industry
demands.
He said R&D must be associated with networks,
collaborations and a spirit of innovation and
enterprise.
These R&D efforts must also be sustained by a core
pool of top quality local talent.
A*STAR, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research,
has so far given scholarships to 1,000 students, including the 136
Tuesday.
They are currently pursuing R&D careers in Singapore
across various sectors.
A*STAR chairman Lim Chuan Poh said: "Even though these are
early days yet for our returned scholars, many of them have
distinguished themselves by having first author publications in
prestigious journals or patents to their names. A number of them
are already crossing over to industry.
Over time, they will develop and grow with some of them
becoming leaders in both public and private sector research and
contribute to the vibrancy of Singapore's R&D."
A*STAR also launched a new scholarship Tuesday - the
A*Star Undergraduate Scholarship which was awarded to seven
students.
- CNA/jm