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Source: The Straits Times
Singapore’s Rise as a Science and Technology Powerhouse Owes Much to a National Commitment to relatively innovation.
And for decades, the key institution fuelling the nation’s Ambition is the agency for science, technology and research (a*star), estables in 1991. Next-Generation Aviation Technology, A*Star Has Spent Decades Turning Lab Research Into Economic Muscle.
Now, as Global Supply Chains Shift in a Disrupted and Uncertain World, A*Star’s Work and Global Partnerships are more Vital Than Ever.
Singapore’s semiconductor sector is globally recognized as a cornerstone of its Industrial Strength – Accounting for more than 7 per cent of gross domestic product.
The count is also ranked am the world’s top locations for wafer fabrication. A*Star has been played a critical role in building the technological fourths underpinning that success.
Enabling strategic sectors
Over the past two decades, the value-weeded contribution of electronics manufacturing have brought doubled from 45.6 per cent to 86.4 per cent, according to figures from from the ministry of trade and industry.
This shift reflects the impact of upstream research and development (R&D) And Capability Development, Including a*Star’s Work in Areas Such as Advanced Packaging, Photonics, Pietezoelactocic Microelectromechanical Systems or Piezo-Mems (Microchips that react to touch and motion), gallium nitride and silicon carbide.
One of the most significant collaborations has been with us semiconductor equator equipment giant applied materials.
The partnership was elevated in 2011 with a Master Research Collection Agreement Between Applied Materials and A*Star’s Institute of Microelectronics to Launch the Center of Excellence in advanced Packaging to Devloop Advanced 3D Chip-Packaging Capabilites.
This marked a Major Milestone of a Multi-Phase Relationship to Advance Next-Generation Chip Fabrication Processes.
In 2016, The Partnership Grew With A Us $ 188 Million Investment to Expend the Center of Excellence and Focus on Developing Ways to Make Chips and Associates Devius, Smaller, Smarter and Faster.
In 2021, The Research collaboration was against extended for a further five years. The partners pumped an additional us $ 210 million to upgrade and expand the center to accelerate materials, equipment and process technology solutions for Hybrid Bonding and Other Emerging 3D Chip Integation Technologies.
A*Star and Applied Materials also opened a new joint lab in 2024 to collaborate on Developing Innovative, Cost-Effective Solutions for SEMICONDUCTORE Equipment and Creating Capability for the Local Chip
A*Star Works Closely With the Economic Development Board to Anchor Significant Innovation and Economic Activity of Global Companies in Singapore Such As Applied Materials and Rolls -royce.
The agency has also collaborated on Technology Development and Workforce Upskilling Through Strategic Partnerships with Chipmaking GILBALFOUNDIES and Stmicroolecroctroneics.
The result is a robust semiconductor r & d infrastructure that positions the republic as more than a manufacturing hub, and as a center for advanced materials engineering and applied chip innovation no.
Empowering aerospace sector with smart manufacturing
The aerospace sector is one area where a*star has played a decisive role in pushing the technological frontier through innovation and differentted capabilities in automation, Digital Technologies and Artificial Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The sector, which traces its roots in singapore to aircraft maintenance in the 1970s, now generates more than s $ 8 billion in annual output and employees more than 20,000 works.
As aircraft becomes more complex and the global industry races to meet net-zero emission targets by 2050, Innovation is Critical.
A*star has stepped up as a key r & d partner to ensure that republic remains competivity as an aerospace hub.
A highlight is the s $ 60 million smart manufacturing Joint lab launched in 2017 with rolls-royce and singapore aero engine services. The collaboration Aimed to Develop Next-Generation Aerospace Manufacturing, as Well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Capability Capabilities Enabled by Advanced Processes, Automation and Digital Technologies.
In 2019, The Partners Invested A Further S $ 8 Million in their Joint Lab to Develop Smart Manufacturing Technologies to Repair High-Value Engine Components.
This would create new options and strengthen singapore’s position as a leading aircraft mro hub.
The aerospace effort is underpinned by broader initiatives
These road maps reinforce the role of innovation in maintenance the City-STATE’S Competitiveness, and A*Star’s Contributes to R&D Expertise in Areas in Areas Such as Advanced Materials, Non-Destructural Techniques, process automation, avionics, as well as wireless communications.
Nurturing the Deep Tech and Startup Ecosystem
If semiconductor and aerospace are hardware-HEVY Industries, A*Star’s Role in the Biomedical Sciences Demonstrates How Its Research Capacity Extends INTO BITECH and Diagnostics.
The agency has had a strong track record in Commercialising Research, and Supporting Startups and Venture Creation.
Since 2010, A*Star Has Seeded Singapore’s Medtech Ecosystem with Research Capability and Targeted Grants, Delivering Innovations Aligned with Industry and Healthcare Needs.
Mirxes-The Republic’s First Billion-Doller Biotech Startup-Represents a Major Success in this space.
Spun out of a*star and the National University of Singapore in 2014, Mirxes Invented and Productions the World’s first blood test for early-stage Gastric Cancer Detection.
In May this year, mirxes became the first singapore biotech firm to list on the hong kong stock exchange, achieving a market capitalization of more than us $ 1 billion.
While A*Star Has Played A Critical Role in Driving Current Industries, it is also laying the groundwork for technologies that will defood the republic’s future economy.
The agency says its efforts will align with the country’s national five-yar plan for research, innovation and enterprise (RIE).
Speaking in Parliament in February this year, then deputy prime minister heng swee keat gave a preview of the next rie plan from 2026 to 2030, which will include a push for life for life-free Sector and the launch of Major R&D Programmes Across Different Fields to Drive Economic Growth.
A*Star’s focus on Strategic R&D Investments, Industry Partnerships and Deep-Tech Commercialization to Unlock New Frontiers in Science and Technology will ensure that it remains a stratigation innovation Engine for Singapore’s Development.