SINGAPORE: Boost for biotech

Singapore's ambitions to become a leading biotechnology research centre have been boosted with the expansion of its state-of-the-art Biopolis project.

Two new buildings were recently added to the project. Called Immunos and Neuros, they are research centres for immunology and neuroscience respectively. The Singapore government has mapped out a highly integrated tertiary education plan and has an Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) to oversee projects such as Biopolis.

This style of running things is in keeping with the philosophy of Minister-Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, first Prime Minister of independent Singapore. Yew says that to survive “Singapore must stay ahead of the game”. This requires a national economic strategy that dictates the integration of such higher education developments with plans to draw in direct foreign investment. Major players in Biopolis include GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer.

Demonstrating keen British interest, Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of Britain's Medical Research Council and himself a leading neuroscientist, led a new committee of internationally reputed advisers to assist Singapore in the development of advanced scientific projects.

Blakemore last year signed a memorandum of understanding that allows Singaporean scholars to serve internships and PhD attachments under the council at leading British higher education establishments such as Imperial College, London.

A*Star's Biopolis further covers such areas as stem cell research (Helios), nanotechnology (Nanos), genomics (Genome), and molecular and cell biology (Proteos). Current space, including the two new additions, is 220,000 square metres while more than 2,000 research students are enrolled at Biopolis' laboratories and work centres.

Campus facilities are located in the Jurong area of southwest Singapore which is served by the Mass Rapid Transit railway and public bus system.