Gov't seeks to put up 20 R&D centres, hire 200 research scientists

It forms part of government's goal to help the energy and chemicals sector.

The government said it is eyeing to help the energy and chemicals segment in the market by boosting research and development (R&D) centres and employ more experts in the field.

At the three-day Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific 2022 held at Singapore Expo, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat launched the enhanced Industry Transformation Maps, which included boosting the energy and chemicals segments.

To help the sector grow, it will partner with A*STAR research institutes and the Institute of Higher Learnings, "including through the Sustainable Polymer Division at A*STAR’s Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment."

Under the ITM, it will put up 20 R&D and innovation facilities and employ 200 "incremental research scientists and engineers" from 2021 to 2030. It also seeks to raise $173m in business expenditure on research and development in 12 years starting in 2018.

More low carbon

The energy and chemicals ITM also has a two-pronged strategy that will support the decarbonisation of the sector whilst pushing for a green economy.

Singapore will also encourage R&D in low-carbon technologies and sustainable products through several programmes.

"For example, the Singapore Energy Centre is a consortium founded by Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, and companies like ExxonMobil to co-develop energy solutions for low carbon transition," read the statement.

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With all these plans, the industry is seen to post a manufacturing value-added growth of 3% every year to $14.2b by 2025.