MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The functions of the Ministry of Science and Technology include, among others, the training of scientific and technological manpower for professional work and for research and development.

The following policies have been or are being formulated:-

1. Gearing the tertiary education programme to meet the increasing demand, of industrialisation for the next decade

(a) A Master Plan for the new campus of the University of Singapore:

The 1971 total enrolment in the University, including students registered for higher degrees, is approximately 4,800. The University expansion programme is geared to meet the forecast student population of about 8,000 in 1980.

Phase I of the Master Plan for the new University at Kent Ridge comprises the Faculty of Engineering, the School of Architecture and School of Accountancy and Business Administration, administration building, residential facilities and general students' facilities. It is scheduled to be completed by 1975. The Government has applied for a World Bank loan to finance this project. An Appraisal Mission from the Bank was in Singapore in June to make an assessment of Singapore's application.

(b) Singapore Polytechnic Development:

At technician level, the Singapore Polytechnic's expansion programme is to meet an enrolment target of approximately 8,000 in 1980, about double the 1971 enrolment of about 4,400,

The Polytechnic's new site of 40 acres is at Ayer Rajah Road. Phase I of the development programme is scheduled to be completed by October 1971. The whole new complex will be ready by 1975-76.

2. Encouragement of Research and Development and Consultancy Activities

Total dependence on imported technological expertise is undesirable. Singapore must build up an "indigenous technological capability", related particularly to hardware engineering and consultancy services. The Ministry, together with the Science Council, are studying measures needed to build up the infrastructure to encourage research and development and consultancy activities. An incentive for research and development efforts in the industrial sector is being considered so that the industry would be more technically self-reliant. One method is to provide tax relief for expenditure on equipment and technical manpower used for quality control or research and development. The feasibility of a centre for applied research and a technical information centre is also being studied.

For formulating governmental policies, it will be necessary to undertake developmental studies and fact-finding surveys. Some of them are multi-disciplinary. This Ministry can act as an agent for Government departments and statutory bodies requiring such studies.

3. Promotion of the understanding and appreciation of Science and Technology as tools for Economic Development

Sustained interest in Science and Technology must be the basis for Singapore's industries. It is the keystone to Singapore's future economic development.

A Science Centre on a 16-acre site in Jurong will help develop this interest. The Science Centre Board, formed in November 1970, is planning for the project to be completed in 1973.

4. Metrication

Parliament, in December 1970, approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Science and Technology that Singapore, with the majority of the world, adopt the International System of weights and measures. The target is for all Government departments, statutory bodies and 75 per cent of industries with external trade to adopt the metric system by 1975.

Excellent progress has been made. Considerable experience has been gained in the first few months of this conversion exercise. With increasing goodwill and co-operation of the various economic sectors and of all those concerned, the chances of going metric by 1975 are very bright.

5. Industrial Liaison Unit

The Ministry has set up an Industrial Liaison Unit, which will undertake studies on scientific and technological aspects of industrial problems that are of special significance to the economic development of Singapore.

Where a problem involves several sectors, the unit will bring them into conference to determine the best way of handling a problem. Straightforward studies are farmed out to local experts through research contracts.

An Economic and Statistical Unit provides information on the stock of professional manpower. The unit works closely with the Economic Research Centre of the University of Singapore. It will also collate data on industries, which are science based, or which have a high technological content.