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First Australia-Singapore Joint Strategic Dialogue on Innovation and Science

26 August 2016

Canberra, Australia



CO-CHAIRS’ SUMMARY
Photos from the Joint Strategic Dialogue


1. The first Australia – Singapore Joint Strategic Dialogue on Innovation and Science was held on 26 August 2016 in Canberra, Australia.

2. The treaty-level Cultural Agreement Between Australia and Singapore (1975) promotes development of the bilateral relationship, including science and technology.

3. The dialogue also complements the broader Australian-Singaporean government agenda outlined in ‘Project 2025’ agreed at the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee in Singapore on 22 August 2014 and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore, announced on 29 June 2015.

4. The meeting was co chaired by Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary, Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and Professor Low Teck Seng, Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation of Singapore. The meeting was attended by officials of innovation and science departments, agencies and institutions of Australia and Singapore. The agenda and the list of delegates are at Annex I and Annex II, respectively.

5. The Co-Chairs welcomed representatives and emphasised the strategic direction of Australia – Singapore science, technology and innovation (STI) cooperation and the importance of enhancing this cooperation for national development and sustainable prosperity in Australia and Singapore.

6. Both sides reviewed recent developments in their STI policies, and the resulting opportunities for increased collaboration. Enabling greater collaboration through improved mobility and knowledge exchange was also discussed. This was followed by presentations and discussions on STI cooperation priorities in the mutually identified focus areas of data science, marine science, and research infrastructure. 

7. Australia and Singapore identified other existing areas of innovation and science collaboration and proposed potential areas for future collaboration.

8. The First Joint Strategic Dialogue will be followed in 2016-17 by joint workshops on data science and marine science collaboration.

9. Both sides decided to convene the second Joint Australia – Singapore Joint Strategic Dialogue in Singapore in about two years. The venue and the time of the next meeting will be announced through diplomatic channels.

10. It is proposed that the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Innovation and Science will be signed during the Singaporean Prime Minister’s visit to Australia scheduled for late 2016.

Signed in Canberra on the twenty sixth of August of the year two thousand and sixteen (2016).

For the Government of Australia

(signed: Glenys Beauchamp)
For the Government of the Republic of Singapore

(signed: Professor Low Teck Seng) 


Witnessed in Canberra on the twenty sixth of August of the year two thousand and sixteen (2016).

For the Government of Australia 

(signed: Allaster Cox)
For the Government of the Republic of Singapore

(signed: HE. Kwok Fook Seng)

 

ANNEX I - AGENDA

1ST AUSTRALIA-SINGAPORE JOINT STRATEGIC DIALOGUE 
ON INNOVATION AND SCIENCE
9.00 AM – 1.00 PM, Friday 26 August 2016
Shine Dome, Acton, Canberra 
Item Agenda Item Time Speakers

Coffee and tea on arrival 9.00 - 9.10 Co-Chairs introduction and private discussion
1 Welcome and introduction by Co-Chairs 9.10 - 9.20
1.1 Opening address (Australia) 9.10 - 9.15 Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary of Industry, Innovation and Science
1.2 Opening address (Singapore) 9.15 - 9.20 Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO, National Research Foundation 
2 Strategic direction of bilateral science, technology and innovation (STI) cooperation 9.20 - 9.50
2.1 Overall STI policy developments
2.1.1 Presentation: STI policy in Australia, Australia’s innovation and science landscape
9.20 - 9.30 Mr Gino Grassia, General Manager, Science Policy, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
2.1.2 Presentation: STI policy in Singapore - RIE2020 9.30 - 9.40 Professor Low
2.1.3 Questions and discussion 9.40 - 9.50
  • Secretary Beauchamp 
  • Professor Low
2.2 STI Cooperation Priorities 9.50 - 11.35
2.2.1 a) Joint presentation on Data Science  9.50 - 10.10
  • Ms Cheryl George, Group Leader, Government and Stakeholder Relationships, Data61, CSIRO
  • Professor Tim White, Research Director, President's Office, Nanyang Technological University
  b) Open discussion on Data Science 10.10 - 10.20
  • Secretary Beauchamp 
  • Professor Low
Morning Tea 10.20 - 10.35
2.2.2 c) Presentations on Marine Science  10.35 - 10.55
  • Professor Wong Sek Man, Director, Tropical Marine Science Institute,  National University of Singapore
  • Professor Peter Steinberg, Director and CEO, Sydney Institute of Marine Science 
  • Ms Emma Luke, International Partnerships Advisor, Australian Institute of Marine Science
  d) Open discussion on Marine Science 10.55 - 11.05
  • Secretary Beauchamp 
  • Professor Low
2.2.3 e) Presentation on Research Infrastructure 11.05 - 11.25
  • Ms Ditta Zizi, Branch Manager, Research and Higher Education Infrastructure, Research and Economic Group, Department of Education and Training
  • Mr Weylin Tang, Deputy Director (Programmes), National Research Foundation
  f) Open discussion on Research Infrastructure 11.25 - 11.35
  • Secretary Beauchamp 
  • Professor Low
3 Innovation and Science Collaboration: Other Identified Areas 11.35 - 12.00
3.1 Singapore's Proposals 11.35 - 11.40 Professor Low
3.2 Australia's Proposals 11.40 - 11.45 Secretary Beauchamp
3.3 Open discussion on other potential areas of collaborations 11.45 - 12.00
  • Secretary Beauchamp 
  • Professor Low
4

Closing remarks

  • Sign Co-Chairs' Summary
  • Next Steps
  • Official Photographs
12.00 - 12.10  
4.1 Closing remarks (Australia) 12.00 - 12.05 Secretary Beauchamp 
4.2 Closing remarks (Singapore) 12.05 - 12.10 Professor Low
Lunch 12.10 - 1.00






ANNEX II - DELEGATIONS

Australian Delegation

Ms Glenys Beauchamp, Secretary, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Dr Gino Grassia, General Manager, Science Policy Branch, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Ms Sarah Brown, Manager, International Strategy Section, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Mr Andrew Ford, Assistant Manager, International Strategy Section, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Ms Jo Prasad, Senior Policy Officer, International Strategy Section, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Ms Rose Filipovic, Graduate, International Strategy Section, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Dr Will Howard, Assistant Manager, Office of the Chief Scientist

Mr Allaster Cox, First Assistant Secretary, South-East Asia Maritime Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ms Yvonne Green, Assistant Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ms Philippa Dawson, General Manager, Trade, Austrade

Ms Ditta Zizi, Branch Manager, Research and Higher Education Infrastructure, Research and Economic Group, Department of Education and Training

Mr Justin Withers, Director, Policy and Integrity, Australian Research Council

Dr Tony Willis, Executive Director, Research Programs, National Health and Medical Research Council

Professor Peter Steinberg, Director and CEO, Sydney Institute of Marine Science

Ms Cheryl George, Group Leader, Government and Stakeholder Relationships, Data61, CSIRO

Mr Nigel Warren, General Manager GLOBAL, CSIRO

Ms Juliet Bell, Executive Manager, International, CSIRO

Ms Emma Luke, International Partnerships Advisor, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Ms Nancy Pritchard, Director, International Programs and Awards, Australian Academy of Science

Dr Margaret Hartley, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Dr John Wellard, Policy Director, Research and Innovation, Universities Australia

Dr Tony Peacock, Chief Executive Officer, Cooperative Research Centres Association



Singaporean Delegation

Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO, National Research Foundation

His Excellency Mr Kwok Fook Seng, High Commissioner of Singapore to Australia

Mr Tang Weylin, Deputy Director (Programmes), National Research Foundation

Professor Tim White, Research Director, President's Office, Nanyang Technological University

Professor Russell Gruen, Vice-Dean, Research and Professor of Surgery, Nanyang Technological University

Associate Professor Sun Aixin, Assistant Chair (Admissions and Outreach), School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University 

Dr Kristen Sadler, Research Director (Strategy and Biosciences), Nanyang Technological University

Professor Philip Liu, Vice President (Research and Technology), National University of Singapore

Professor Wong Sek Man, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

Associate Professor Dong Jin-Song, School of Computing, National University of Singapore 

Dr Serena Lay-Ming Teo, Deputy Director (Research), Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore

Mr Nicolas Ang, Centre Director (Australia and New Zealand) Global Operations, Economic Development Board

Ms Charlene Chan, Second Secretary (Political), High Commission of Singapore in Australia

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