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Singapore's R&D expenditure hits new high

• QX179R

  23 Dec 09, 13:21

  Singapore's R&D expenditure hits new high of S$7.13b

  SINGAPORE: Singapore's gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) recorded a new high of S$7.13 billion in 2008 or 2.77 percent of GDP, putting the country on track to achieving its target of 3 percent by 2010.

  The figures were indicative of the intensity of R&D activities in Singapore.
  
  The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) gave the figures in its latest National Survey of R&D (2008).
  
  The private sector increased its R&D spending by 20.9 percent year-on-year from S$4.23 billion in 2007 to S$5.12 billion in 2008.
  
  Much of the private sector growth was driven by manufacturing R&D activity, particularly in the electronics sector.
  
  R&D spending by the electronics sector in 2008 was S$3.04 billion, an increase of 39.3 percent from S$2.18 billion in 2007.
  
  Overall, GERD grew rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2 percent from 2000 to 2008.
  
  Manpower for R&D in both the public and private sectors had also increased steadily from 27,301 in 2007 to 27,841 in 2008. The private sector was the major employer, employing 59.6 percent or 16,607 of all researchers in 2008.
  
  The public research institutes reported an increase of 13.5 percent in PhD numbers, from 1,286 PhDs in 2007 to 1,460 PhDs in 2008. From 2002 to 2008, overall R&D manpower grew at a commendable CAGR of 7.2 percent.
  
  Sales revenues generated from commercialised products and processes attributed to R&D done in Singapore increased by 31.5 percent from S$16.4 billion in 2007 to S$21.5 billion in 2008.
  
  The public sector registered a 10.6 percent rise year-on-year in the number of primary patent applications, with 354 applications being filed in 2008 compared to 320 in 2007.
  
  The private sector made 1,227 primary patent applications in 2008 compared to 1,415 applications made in 2007.
  
  More than 1,000 organisations took part in the 2008 National R&D survey. They comprise private sector companies, government organisations, local institutions of higher learning and public sector research institutes.
  
  - CNA/ir