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A*STAR pushes the frontiers of science and deep tech while ensuring that innovation drives meaningful, real-world outcomes for Singapore and Singaporeans.
As Singapore commemorates 60 years of nationhood, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) stands at the forefront of the country’s transformation into a globally competitive innovation economy.
Since its establishment in 1991, A*STAR has played a central role in shaping industries, advancing scientific discovery, and growing the capabilities that underpin Singapore’s economic growth and national resilience.
“Singapore has established excellent basic research capabilities, and made steady progress in translational research, advancing industry research activities, anchoring companies, and supporting the growth of tech startups.”
Beh Kian Teik
Chief Executive Officer
A*STAR
From pioneering efforts in semiconductors and biomedical research to championing deep tech and artificial intelligence (AI), A*STAR’s long-term investments in science and innovation have helped seed new industries and ensure Singapore stays ahead of global disruption.
“A*STAR’s mission has always been to turn scientific excellence into innovation for national and global impact, supported by top research and entrepreneurial talent,” says Beh. “Our role today continues to ensure that research translates into innovation and economic outcomes – new industries, breakthrough products, and better livelihoods.”
Today, strategic sectors such as manufacturing, semiconductors, and biomedical sciences – all areas in which A*STAR has played a foundational role – contribute over 30 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product and employ more than 500,000 workers.
These sectors also form the building blocks of Singapore’s future economy, ensuring long-term competitiveness and opportunity for future generations.
“We support global companies looking to anchor research and development (R&D) here and guide local enterprises in scaling up through technologies like AI, automation, and sustainable materials,” says Beh.
“Our partnerships with local institutes of higher learning are also key to amplifying impact – from joint research and innovation to nurturing scientific talent,” says Beh. “By combining strengths, ultimately we help turn bold science into national outcomes – economic growth, health resilience, and a future-ready workforce.”
A*STAR has built an ecosystem that fosters both basic research and industrial translation with an eye toward real-world relevance. Its success stems from aligning long-horizon scientific work with evolving national needs and global technology trends.
“We bridge science with application by co-developing solutions alongside companies – from joint labs to start-up support from lab to market,” says Beh.
One of the agency’s strongest contributions has been in semiconductors, where it has developed national capabilities in advanced packaging and power electronics, such as gallium nitride (GaN) technologies. Its 300mm packaging pilot line is a national asset supporting next-generation chip development and integration.
“These capabilities have helped global companies like Applied Materials and GlobalFoundries anchor cutting-edge R&D activities in Singapore – supporting high-value job creation and reinforcing our position in the global semiconductor supply chain,” Beh adds.
In biomedical sciences, A*STAR’s years of foundational research in RNA biomarkers enabled companies like Mirxes to launch diagnostics manufactured in Singapore that are now used worldwide. These breakthroughs demonstrate how homegrown science can scale globally while contributing to national health resilience.
Similarly, A*STAR’s Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab with Rolls-Royce and Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL) integrates technologies such as AI and robotics into aerospace engine maintenance – cutting turnaround time, boosting operational efficiency and productivity, as well as creating spillovers for local companies across the supply chain.
“By ensuring research translates into production lines, hospitals, and global markets, we help drive economic growth, improve healthcare outcomes, attract investments, and create meaningful, future-ready jobs for Singaporeans,” says Beh.
Beyond global multinationals, A*STAR has placed a strong emphasis on uplifting the domestic business landscape, particularly small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). These companies make up more than 99 per cent of Singapore’s registered firms and employ about 70 per cent of the national workforce.
A*STAR supports local SMEs in three key ways:
“By working shoulder-to-shoulder with local enterprises, A*STAR helps make deep tech more accessible so that even resource-constrained companies can innovate, compete globally, and create good jobs for Singaporeans,” says Beh.
Singapore’s ambition to be a global node of technology and innovation is supported by a fast-growing deep tech ecosystem – and A*STAR sits at its core.
“We bring together research, talent, and infrastructure to build a coherent deep tech ecosystem,” says Beh. “Through our tech translation units and enterprise arms, we provide support from ideation to incubation, helping ventures secure their first customer or investment.”
This includes initiatives such as the Diagnostics Development Hub, which helps local firms translate diagnostics into clinical products, and the Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme, which supports drug formulation and production.
“The Diagnostics Development Hub, Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme, and A*StartCentral are examples of how we seed and shape the ecosystem,” says Beh. “These platforms accelerate translation by bridging research with commercialisation – supporting diagnostic innovation, biologics manufacturing capabilities, and nurturing scientist-founders into entrepreneurs.”
International venture builders are also playing an important role in growing Singapore’s deep tech scene:
“These collaborations reinforce Singapore’s position as a launchpad for globally competitive deep tech ventures,” says Beh.
Singapore’s science and innovation ecosystem showed its strategic value during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Covid-19 demonstrated how scientific readiness, built over decades, is vital to national resilience,” says Beh.
A*STAR played a central role in developing rapid diagnostic tests, characterising viral strains, supporting therapeutic development, and building models for pandemic planning.
“Our years of RNA biomarker and antibody research enabled fast deployment of tests and therapies,” says Beh. “We worked closely with the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and biotech partners – showing how coordination across public and private sectors can save lives.”
This experience has informed A*STAR’s current priorities – ensuring Singapore is not only ready to respond to crises but equipped to anticipate and lead in new areas of risk, such as climate tech, ageing, and food security.
As nations grapple with increasing disruptions from climate change to fast-moving developments in AI, A*STAR is helping Singapore stay agile.
The agency says climate change, technological disruption, and shifting global dynamics are accelerating changes in supply chains, R&D competition, and national industrial strategies.
Domestically, Singapore also faces structural constraints in land, energy and emissions, and an ageing population.
“A*STAR plays a key role in helping Singapore anticipate and adapt to these changes,” says Beh. “We are sharpening our focus on delivering needle-moving outcomes in areas of national and economic priority, such as climate tech, health resilience, and manufacturing transformation.”
At the same time, A*STAR continues to strengthen its basic research capabilities in areas such as sustainable materials, green manufacturing, AI safety and governance, and bio-innovation to ensure Singapore stays at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation.
One example is A*STAR’s partnership with Japanese engineering firm IHI to develop carbon dioxide (CO2)-based aviation fuel for commercial use – a move that will help Singapore meet both its climate and aviation sector goals.
In artificial intelligence, A*STAR is working with government and industry to advance privacy-preserving technologies, build trusted AI systems, and apply AI to advance discoveries in fields from materials science to biomedical research.
“Our role is to help Singapore not only stay ahead of disruption, but to shape it – by building the scientific depth, technical know-how, and collaborative networks to transform these challenges into competitive advantage,” says Beh.
A*STAR’s success is underpinned by a robust pipeline of scientific talent – cultivated over more than three decades through scholarships, fellowships and international research networks.
“To date, A*STAR has supported the development of over 1,300 researchers through our scholarship programmes,” says Beh. “Beyond academia, we help talent gain real-world industry exposure.”
This includes placing young researchers in local SMEs, supporting start-up founders at A*STARtCentral, and creating pathways for returning scientists who have trained abroad.
The agency also brings back overseas talent through returnee fellowships and leadership pathways, ensuring that Singapore maintains a strong and growing bench of deep science leaders.
Through these integrated efforts, A*STAR is building a future-ready STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce and strengthening Singapore’s scientific leadership for the long term.
“We’ve always focused on growing a strong, mission-driven research community, and these efforts are paying off,” Beh adds. “A*STAR ranks among the top one per cent of government institutions globally for research output in high-quality journals, according to the Nature Index.”
A*STAR has been playing a strategic role in positioning Singapore to lead in deep tech frontiers.
“We make long-term investments in emerging areas – through talent development, infrastructure, and partnerships – to seed future capabilities with global relevance,” says Beh. “As seen in semiconductors, today’s translational breakthroughs reflect research investments made 10 to 15 years ago. We apply this same long-range view to new domains of promise.”
For artificial intelligence, A*STAR has been developing frontier capabilities in areas such as privacy-preserving computation, generative AI, and AI for science – ensuring Singapore remains competitive while upholding trust and ethics.
For instance, the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety (CATOS), hosted by A*STAR and supported by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), focuses on tackling deepfakes, misinformation, and online harms through advanced AI tools – reinforcing Singapore’s leadership in responsible and secure AI innovation.
The agency also supports national efforts in quantum technologies. A*STAR scientists are advancing secure communications and quantum photonic systems, and contributing to national initiatives led by Temasek Labs and NRF.
To position Singapore as a front-runner in emerging technologies, A*STAR drives national-scale initiatives that translate frontier research into real-world impact.
These include:
“We stay ahead of the curve by combining scientific excellence with national mission focus – translating emerging technologies into real-world leadership for Singapore,” says Beh.
The world is Singapore’s oyster and A*STAR’s major focus is to forge strategic collaborations and ensure that the country remains plugged into global innovation networks.
“Singapore may be small, but we punch above our weight as a trusted global partner – and international collaboration is core to A*STAR’s strategy,” says Beh.
The agency has co-developed cutting-edge research projects with Rolls-Royce, Sanofi, and Procter & Gamble, embedding long-term innovation capacity within Singapore’s borders.
These collaborations also expand opportunities for Singapore’s talent pool.
“Our researchers benefit from exposure to international best practices, cross-border R&D networks, and mobility opportunities – strengthening their ability to lead at the frontiers of science and innovation,” says Beh.
“By combining deep local capabilities with global reach, A*STAR strengthens Singapore’s position as a leading innovation hub in Asia and beyond – creating new growth pathways for our enterprises, researchers, and workforce,” he says.
Looking beyond SG60, A*STAR is charting a course defined by bold science, purposeful innovation and global partnerships – all with national progress in mind.
“Our vision is to continue pushing the frontiers of science while ensuring our innovation drives meaningful, real-world outcomes for Singapore and Singaporeans,” says Beh.
“Working in close partnership with agencies such as the Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore, we ensure that innovation contributes meaningfully to enterprise development and economic growth.”
A*STAR will sharpen its focus on enabling strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, therapeutics, MedTech and precision health. It will also deepen support for deep tech ventures that anchor future industries.
“Talent will remain a cornerstone of our mission,” says Beh. “We will grow a strong pipeline of STEM talent, nurture entrepreneurial scientists, and attract global expertise to build a resilient, future-ready workforce for Singapore’s innovation economy.”
“In doing so, we help Singapore not only respond to global challenges, but lead with innovation that uplifts lives, strengthens resilience, and opens up opportunities for generations to come.”
Source: The Business Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
