Module 1.1-Sing: The National Research and Innovation System in Singapore

The National Research and Innovation System in Singapore covers the role of government, business and higher education in the national research and innovation system. This module also covers funding mechanisms, codes and current issues. The module examines research and innovation policy settings in Singapore and looks at Singapore’s performance in international standings. It also looks at the key stakeholders in Singapore’s research and innovation system, including the main funding agencies and briefly at ethics and integrity codes and the role of research managers in expediting research.

Key learning outcomes

  • After completing this module, participants should:
  • Be familiar with Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan, where to find it, and the RIE hierarchy it establishes for Singapore R&D;
  • Be able to identify several agencies that support R&D in Singapore;
  • Understand government expenditure on research in Singapore and where to find the specific guidelines;
  • Understand the proportion of GDP that Singapore invests in R&D, and the economic pressures of Singapore’s economy that drive R&D spending;
  • Be able to compare R&D expenditure and manpower in Singapore to that in other OECD countries;
  • Have a general understanding of the breadth and range of support provided to the research enterprise;
  • Be able to provide advice to researchers that allows them to consider key stakeholder perspectives when seeking and managing research funding;
  • Describe how the various parts of the Singaporean research and innovation system contribute to meeting the costs of research.;
  • Describe the schemes to fund private sector research and support commercialisation in Singapore; and
  • Describe the agencies and grants that fund public sector research in Singapore.

Who should attend?

This module is suitable for those who are new to the research management profession, those who have specialised in one area of research management and wish to broaden their knowledge and/or those who are experienced research managers but wish to refresh their knowledge in a specific topic area.

Research management professionals from all organisations and institutions will benefit from this module including those from:

  • Research agencies and institutes;
  • Medical research institutes;
  • Research and development corporations;
  • Research centres;
  • Government departments;
  • Funding bodies;
  • Industrial research and development teams;
  • Service providers;
  • Commercialisation bodies; and
  • Consultancies.

In addition, those from countries other than Singapore wishing to gain a general understanding of Singapore’s National Research System will find this module useful.

This is a compulsory module for individuals completing the ARMS Foundation Level Accreditation Program in Singapore. Each module can also be taken as a stand-alone unit for professional development purposes.