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SINGAPORE: Singapore's gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) recorded a new high of S$7.13 billion in 2008 or 2.77 per cent of GDP, putting the country on track to achieving its target of 3 per cent by 2010.
The figures were indicative of the intensity of R&D activities in Singapore.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) gave the figures in its latest National Survey of R&D (2008).
The private sector increased its R&D spending by 20.9 per cent year-on-year from S$4.23 billion in 2007 to S$5.12 billion in 2008.
Much of the private sector growth was driven by manufacturing R&D activity, particularly in the electronics sector. R&D spending by the electronics sector in 2008 was S$3.04 billion, an increase of 39.3 per cent from S$2.18 billion in 2007.
Overall, GERD grew rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2 per cent from 2000 to 2008.
Manpower for R&D in both the public and private sectors had also increased steadily from 27,301 in 2007 to 27,841 in 2008. The private sector was the major employer, employing 59.6 per cent or 16,607 of all researchers in 2008.
The public research institutes reported an increase of 13.5 per cent in PhD numbers, from 1,286 PhDs in 2007 to 1,460 PhDs in 2008. From 2002 to 2008, overall R&D manpower grew at a commendable CAGR of 7.2 per cent.
Sales revenues generated from commercialised products and processes attributed to R&D done in Singapore increased by 31.5 per cent from S$16.4 billion in 2007 to S$21.5 billion in 2008.
The public sector registered a 10.6 per cent rise year-on-year in the number of primary patent applications, with 354 applications being filed in 2008 compared to 320 in 2007.
The private sector made 1,227 primary patent applications in 2008 compared to 1,415 applications made in 2007.
More than 1,000 organisations took part in the 2008 National R&D survey. They comprise private sector companies, government organisations, local institutions of higher learning and public sector research institutes.
Lim Chuan Poh, chairman, A*STAR said: "If you look at what is happening as a result of the financial crisis, a trend that is clear is a shift in demand to Asia. And Asia is now a much bigger, stronger market in relation to the West.
"And as we see this shift, we also notice a shift beyond the traditional shift in manufacturing or outsourcing of services. We are also seeing a shift of research activities to this part of the world. Quite clearly, the large companies are considering where to place their research and innovation activities. They are looking for certain preconditions.
"I think Singapore is well placed to capture a fair bit of this so-called shift in research and innovation activities, simply because we have built a very conducive business environment."
- CNA/ir/sc
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