The Straits Times, Jan 23, 1996
SPENDING on research and development (R&D) in 1994 grew 17.7 per cent to $1.2 billion over the previous year, while the sector's manpower pool also expanded 5.9 per cent to 11,400.
According to a survey by the National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) conducted last year, gross expenditure on R&D was 1.12 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP), with the private sector leading the growth.
The NSTB said the annual survey showed that "the R&D scene in Singapore is healthy and thriving".
Basic research accounted for 12.6 per cent of total R&D spending, in line with other newly industrialised economies such as Korea and Taiwan.
But Singapore's total R&D spending as a percentage of GDP still lagged those of Korea and Taiwan.
The manpower gap narrowed, with research scientists and engineers increasing to almost 42 persons for every 10,000 people in Singapore's labour force, from 40.5 in the previous year.
R&D work was dominated by applied research and experimental development which accounted for 38.5 per cent and 48.9 per cent, respectively, of total spending.
The private sector accounted for two-thirds of total R&D spending, growing at 19 cent to hit $736 million for the year.
Private sector spending had been growing at 21 per cent annually, above the overall national rate of 19 per cent over a 10-year period starting in 1984.
The bulk of the private sector's R&D spending was in the electronics segment, which led the pack in absolute terms and grew 14 per cent to $358.6 million. This was followed by the electrical sector with $48.1 million, up 138 per cent.
The fastest growing sector was pharmaceuticals, which rose 187 per cent to hit $15.5 million.
NSTB said the findings showed that a significant number of companies ploughed back their revenue into R&D, both in the manufacturing and services sectors.
More companies are also reaping the fruit of their investments, with 145 deriving more than a quarter of their revenue from local research, up 54 per cent over 1993.
The survey polled more than 450 organisations, including 16 government agencies, six higher-education institutions and five public research institutes over a five-month period starting last May.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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