Murdoch University and its research centre, Singapore Centre for Research in Innovation, Productivity and Technology (SCRIPT), bring together Health and Biomedical Science experts to discuss and debate over “The Future of the Biomedical Sector in Singapore: Trends, Talent and Technology”.
Positioned as a “reality check” following the announcement of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 (RIE2020) Plan in January, which allocated S$4 billion funding for research and development (R&D) in Health and Biomedical Sciences, this panel discussion seeks to examine the gaps and challenges that may impede on Singapore’s vision to be a world-class biomedical hub. It also takes a hard look at the biomedical sector’s ecosystem in Singapore to understand where it stands in relation to more established bioscience clusters such as Korea and Taiwan.
The panellists comprise researchers, clinicians and educators including: Professor Lim Seng Gee, Professor at Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore; Associate Professor Lim Tock Han, Deputy Group CEO (Education & Research), National Healthcare Group Singapore; and Assistant Professor Sue-anne Toh, Clinical Director, Regional Health System Planning and Development, National University Health System Singapore. They shared their experience at the frontline of R&D work, and talent mentorship.
Mr Teo Cher Hwa, Deputy Director, National Health Innovation Centre, also joined the panel to provide his insights on the commercialisation of innovative technologies and services from the medtech and biopharma fields to improve healthcare delivery and patient care.
In Singapore through the invitation of Murdoch University, Dr Chris Smith, a Consultant Medical Microbiologist at University of Cambridge, lent understanding on how Singapore compares with the development of the sector in the United Kingdom and Europe in general.
Associate Professor Peter Waring, Singapore Dean, Murdoch University, said, “We believe the insights from the think-tanks at this panel discussion will add value in getting the sector to consider how we can push boundaries to make Singapore’s Health and Biomedical Science sector more robust. Murdoch University and SCRIPT are committed to contribute to Singapore’s R&D ecosystem and innovation drive. We will continue to explore avenues to facilitate for exchange between foreign and local experts, and bring together the public and private sectors, and academia to create value through research.”
The panel discussion is made possible through the support of Kaplan Singapore. “Kaplan is proud to support our university partner, Murdoch University, and warmly welcomes Dr Chris Smith. We are pleased to sponsor this panel discussion, as it is a rare opportunity to engage with well-respected Health and Biomedical Science practitioners, and hope that, through this, we can do our part to share and enhance knowledge with the community at large,” said Mr Stephen Li, Senior Director, Business Development and University Relations of Kaplan Singapore.
The panel discussion was attended by industry practitioners, researchers and clinicians from organisations such as A*Star and National Healthcare Group, and educators and life sciences students from the public tertiary institutions.
