Leading Biomedical Experts From Singapore To Attend BIO 2002
Singapore is aggressively marketing itself as “The Biopolis of Asia” at the upcoming BIO2002 event from June 9-12 in Toronto, Canada. This is the world’s largest biotech conference and exhibition, in which participants include prominent figures from the biomedical business and scientific communities, government and media. More than 20,000 participants are expected to attend BIO 2002.
Leading the group of representatives from Singapore’s research institutions and companies is Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Co-Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Together with A*STAR and EDB, these key research institutes and promising biomedical companies will be showcased at the Singapore Pavilion. These include the Bioinformatics Institute, the Bioprocessing Technology Centre, the Genome Institute of Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Molecular Biology (a merger between the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Institute of Molecular Agrobiology), ES Cell International, S*BIO, Lynk Biotechnologies, and KOOPrime.
Accompanying Mr Yeo as a key member of the delegation, is Professor Edison Liu, Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore. Formerly the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s Division of Clinical Sciences in the USA, Prof Liu moved to Singapore in 2001 in order to “make an impact in a country that sees great potential growth in the Biomedical Sciences for advancing human health and wealth.”
Another eminent member is Dr. Alan Colman will also be attending BIO2002 as the new research head of ES Cell International. After 14 years at PPL Therapeutics in Scotland, Dr Colman will be re-locating to Singapore to pursue his research on stem cell therapies for diabetes patients.
Mr. Boon Swan Foo, Managing Director of A*STAR, will also be participating as a panel member in the June 12 forum on “Biotechnology in the Asia Pacific”. The forum will focus on the biotechnology initiatives of some of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific, including Singapore. Mr. Boon will comment on Singapore’s scientific developments, its emerging business opportunities, and the government’s strong support and commitment towards developing the Biomedical Sciences industry.
Singapore’s vision is to become a centre of cutting-edge biomedical discoveries and innovations that will produce global enterprises and world-class institutions. Measures have been taken to encourage leading international companies to establish R&D operations in Singapore, to enhance the public research infrastructure, and to expand the pool of high-calibre research talent. EDB, through its venture capital arm, also invests in young biomedical enterprises with the objective of growing the base of biotechnology and medical technology companies in Singapore.
“With six of the top global pharmaceutical companies already manufacturing in Singapore, we are well on track to double the industry’s current manufacturing output to US$7.5 billion by 2005,” commented Mr Yeo. “Our key tasks ahead will be to create the best possible environment and resources for the biomedical industry to discover and develop new products, and to make Singapore a vibrant place for global talents to live, work, learn and play.”
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The mission of A*STAR is to foster world class scientific research and develop talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. A*STAR is organised into four arms: two Research Councils, the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC), a Corporate Planning and Administration Division (CPAD) and the agency’s commercialisation arm, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd. The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) oversees and provides support to public sector biomedical research and development activities in Singapore. The Council also aims to strengthen collaborative public research in the biomedical sciences in Singapore.
The Council’s objectives are to:
* Support, sustain and stimulate excellent research for maintaining and improving human health,
* Train people in high quality research skills to meet Singapore’s health needs, quality of life and global economic competitiveness
* Promote societal awareness of biomedical research
About The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
The EDB is the lead agency that plans and executes strategies to sustain Singapore as a compelling global hub for business and investment. It enables multinational and Singapore-based companies to enhance and upgrade to higher value-creating operations across manufacturing and internationally traded services, in a knowledge-driven global economy.
Set up in 1961, EDB acts as catalyst and facilitator to nurture a vibrant environment for startups and companies of all sizes. The Board works closely with other agencies to promote innovation and develop human, intellectual, financial and cultural capital in Singapore.
The Biomedical Sciences industry is being developed as the fourth pillar of Singapore’s manufacturing sector, with world-class capabilities across the whole value chain. Through its Biomedical Sciences Group, EDB promotes the full range of Biomedical Sciences activities and ensures that there is a sound-supporting infrastructure in Singapore. With an international network of 16 offices including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan and Stockholm, EDB interacts with established and growing Biomedical Sciences companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology and healthcare services industries.
Date: 10-June-2002
Source: A*STAR and EDB
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