S’pore, Canada team up to enhance S&T and innovation ties

Both countries identified four principles that will street ST&I enhancement efforts.

Singapore and Canada have agreed to enhance their ties in science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) in a recent bilateral meeting between Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and his counterpart Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng in Ottawa.

In a statement, the two countries said this move will be based on the following principles: 

• ST&I plays a fundamental role in fostering economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity; 
• Canada and Singapore lead complementary research, development and innovation areas; 
• International cooperation is mutually beneficial to both countries’ researchers and businesses.
• Canada and Singapore are working on strengthening their abilities in accelerating innovation translation, protecting intellectual property, commercialising emerging technologies, and boosting growth of domestic firms in regional and global markets.

To enhance bilateral cooperation, the two countries will work together in various areas like artificial intelligence, digital technologies, biotechnology and green technologies.

This will be implemented through partnerships that will convert advanced research into commercial applications, and facilitate increased access to research, technology, markets and talent, authorities said.

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The governments will also support international commercialization-oriented research and the development of projects and collaboration amongst small- and medium-sized businesses in mutually agreed sectors, including through promoting awareness of opportunities and partnerships between enterprises from both countries.

For research and innovation, Singapore and Canada will connect organisations and institutions, market-oriented networks, and agencies. Knowledge and best practices will be exchanged at the level of relevant ST&I entities, authorities added.

Aside from these, Singapore and Canada may set bilateral consultation mechanisms that will involve representatives from both countries to identify new opportunities, and coordinate implementation of relevant activities.