Facts and Figures - Singapore Economic Development Board

Facts and Figures

Singapore is amongst the world’s most prolific research locations with 1.41 papers per 1000 people (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007).
Singapore’s population comprises three key Asian ethnic groups – Chinese (75 per cent), Malays (14 per cent), Indians (9 per cent). This presents an ideal base for companies and scientists to develop innovative solutions and therapies for the regional and global markets.
English, the language of science, is the medium of instruction in schools, and most Singaporeans are bilingual in English and their respective Asian mother-tongue (Mandarin, Malay or respective Indian language). Singapore thus presents an ideal location to forge and drive strategic scientific collaborations in Asia.
Singapore hosts cosmopolitan research teams in both public-sector research institutes and corporate R&D labs. The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, for example, houses more than 100 researchers from 18 nationalities.
Singapore’s MerLion Pharmaceuticals made it to FierceBiotech’s 2007 industry listing of biotechnology companies to watch worldwide. It is the first Asian company on the annual roll of top emerging companies since the inaugural awards in 2003. In December 2007, the company received the “Best Company in an Emerging Market” award at the annual Scrip awards in London.
Companies can leverage Singapore’s pro-business environment to commence operations within short lead time. It takes 15 minutes to register a business online, 3 weeks to receive approval for clinical trials, and 24-36 months for a manufacturing facility to be operational

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