SINGAPORE: Singapore's creative media industry is set to receive a boost, with the global creative media education provider, SAE Group, opening a multi-million dollar training institute in the city-state.

The investment is targeted at the growing local sector, which has attracted big names such as Lucas Films to the country.

Industry players said the investment is timely as more education services are needed to train and nurture local talent.

When looking at a good car design, manufacturers from Japan, Germany and the US are often the first that come to mind. But industry players are hoping that this will soon apply to Singapore, when it comes to the creative industry.

Experts estimated that the creative media industry in Singapore is already gaining an international reputation, and doubling in size annually.

The SAE group, which is the first global practical audio engineering school, hopes its new training institute will be able to help sectors such as audio, multimedia, animation, and digital film production. It hopes that its new facility will boost local talent, and encourage investment in the sector.

Tom Misner, founder, SAE Group said: "We must train people here that are able to work creatively and stay here working. And how you are going to do that is ... by getting projects to this country and then get those people to create their own projects.

"You also need the facilities here which are not quite here yet and you also need the staff facilities here so it is on the right track, it just takes time."

Students gearing up to enter the industry believe that the opportunities for them are growing.

For example, Poh Li Ting, a final-year student in recording arts with an internship at MIT and recordings for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra under her belt, said the number of opportunities for young graduates is growing with the industry.

"I think there are definitely more choices for students right now. And with the choices available and with the technology, they definitely have more choices in terms of what career they want to pursue in the media industry," she said.

Experts said that affordability and advancements in technology is making it easier for individuals to set up home studios, which is expected to foster a new generation of creativity in Singapore.

- CNA/sc