Singapore's Biomedical Sciences Initiative Phase II

Singapore's Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Initiative Phase I (2000 to 2005) has made much progress in establishing a strong critical mass of basic science research talent and capability that is highly competitive in terms of research output and quality. It has also nurtured and trained a pool of local talent through various programmes such as scholarships, fellowships and attachments; created state-of-the-art research infrastructure, attracted a growing base of industry R&D laboratories and activities and substantially expanded the BMS sector's economic contribution. The BMS industry did exceptionally well in 2006. The manufacturing output grew strongly to S$23 billion in 2006 - an unprecedented 30.2% increase over 2005. Within a short span of six years, the manufacturing output has grown almost fourfold from the year 2000. As a result, the BMS industry accounted for 5% of Singapore's GDP in 2005.

Moving forward, Phase II of the BMS Initiative (2006 to 2010) will not only continue to invest in and further strengthen basic biomedical sciences research capabilities, but will also focus on building up a strong translational and clinical research capability to facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries from bench to bedside and from bench to industries. This will be done through developing a critical mass of human capital for translational and clinical research which is supernumerary to the clinical service needs of hospitals, by nurturing more clinician scientists, establishing flagship research programmes to attract top talent and generate cutting-edge research interests, developing investigational medicine capabilities and strengthening supporting enabling resources and regulatory frameworks. The major efforts in translation and clinical research would be strongly multidisciplinary, leveraging on the existing strengths in different disciplines from Biopolis, universities and hospitals, and will concentrate on diseases where we have comparative advantages.

To facilitate synergism and a concerted approach among the various ministries in driving Singapore's BMS development, a high-level Steering Committee on Life Sciences (SCLS) chaired by NRF Chairman, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, was established in June 2000. This SCLS will continue to oversee and support BMS Phase II.

Under the SCLS, the Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee (BMS Exco), co-chaired by Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Permanent Secretary (Health) Ms Yong Ying-I, will take on the role of coordinating and driving this effort.

Guided by the BMS Exco, and with a total budget of S$1.55 billion funding from NRF, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and A*STAR, the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) is tasked with the administration and implementation of grant calls to help realise the goals of making Singapore a centre for translational and clinical research.