The National R&D Agenda for Singapore outlines five strategic thrusts:

• Intensify national R&D spending to achieve 3% of GDP by 2010;
• Identify and invest in strategic areas of R&D;
• Fund a balance of basic and applied research within strategic areas;
• Provide resources and support to encourage private sector R&D; and
• Strengthen linkages between public and private sector R&D.

Singapore is committed to invest in R&D as a driver for economic growth and as the foundation for our long-term competitiveness. The NRF coordinates public investments in R&D across multiple R&D performing agencies, in order to achieve the vision of transforming Singapore into a vibrant S&T hub, with R&D contributing significantly to a knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economy.

Towards this end, NRF will:

• Coordinate the research of different agencies within the larger national framework in order to provide a coherent strategic overview and direction;
• Develop policies and plans to implement the five strategic thrusts for the national R&D agenda;
• Implement national research, innovation and enterprise strategies approved by the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) and allocate funding to programmes that meet the NRF’s strategic objectives; and
• Provide secretariat support to the RIEC.

To achieve the above objectives, NRF has developed the following strategies:

• Promote R&D through a top-down and bottom-up approach; and
• Attract, develop and nurture R&D talent through building strong linkages with the world’s top research universities.