This news article from Bernama is a good knock on Malaysia's thinking cap of the many MNC and GLC on the importance of the R&D and a good reminder to all the universities and research institutions in this country:
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December 23, 2008 15:06 PM
Singapore Closer To Becoming R&D Powerhouse
SINGAPORE, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Singapore spent S$6.3 billion on research and development (R&D) last year, putting the republic closer to establishing itself as an R&D powerhouse.
The republic's overall expenditure on R&D last year increased by 26.5 percent compared to the 2006 spending of S$5.01 billion, announced the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) that conducts the annual national survey of R&D in Singapore.
The agency said the unprecedented year-on-year increase by 26.5 percent was a significant jump from the 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in 2006.
As a percentage of GDP, the gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) rose from 2.31 percent in 2006 to 2.61 percent last year.
A*STAR said with GERD at 2.61 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), Singapore's R&D intensity was above the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) average (2.26 percent in 2006) and Germany (2.53 percent in 2006), and was approaching that of the United States (2.68 percent in 2007).
However, the agency said Singapore still lagged behind R&D intensive economies such as Finland (3.41 percent in 2008), Sweden (3.63 percent in 2007), Japan (3.39 percent in 2006) and South Korea (3.22 percent in 2006).
The agency also said the private sector spent more than the public sector in R&D last year when it spent S$4.23 billion compared to the latter's expenditure of S$2.1 billion.
A*STAR said the manufacturing sector, particularly the electronic industry continued to drive the growth in private sector R&D, accounting for S$2.98 billion or 70.5 percent of total private sector R&D expenditure.
Singapore's research talent base also expanded last year when the total number of researchers grew by nine percent from 25,033 in 2006 to 27,301 last year, with the private sector employing 59 percent of all researchers, the agency added.
It also said the number of reported patent applications had shown steady increase with a compound annual growth rate of 11.8 percent from 2000, adding that there were 1,739 patent applications last year.
-- BERNAMA
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This also happens in Singapore as reported in The Star. Mind you, this entry is not on Singapore bashing but to share with you that no matter how canggih the country can be, a few but rather significant glitches may still occur:
Tuesday December 23, 2008
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - More than 100 passengers stranded for six hours on the world's largest ferris wheel were being evacuated and given medical treatment in Singapore after the attraction ground to a halt on Tuesday.
The Singapore Flyer stopped working after a short circuit in one of the wheel's motor drivers cut its power supply, a company spokeswoman said.
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The Singapore Flyer observation wheel seen in this November 30, 2008 file photo. (REUTERS/Tim Chong) |
There were 173 people, including many tourists, trapped inside the huge tourist attraction.
The wheel started turning again more than six hours later and passengers were ushered into ambulances, a Reuters witness said.
The spokeswoman for the Flyer said the stranded passengers were given water and food throughout their ordeal.
Standing at a height of 165 metres (541 feet), the Flyer started operations in the city state in February and is 30 metres (98 feet) taller than the London Eye.
It has 28 bus-sized capsules attached to a circular frame 150 metres (492 feet) in diameter. Each capsule can accommodate 28 people.
The Flyer is part of Singapore's drive to boost tourism revenues.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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