SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS (Plans to increase number)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Robert Chua Teck Chew asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what are the Government's plans to increase the number of scientists and technologists from our local universities and abroad so as to meet the manpower needs of the public and private sectors' research and development programmes.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Speaker, Sir, for research and development to bear fruit, the critical success factor is undoubtedly the human factor. It is thus essential that we have sufficient trained and expert manpower. Under our National Technology Plan, we aim to have a ratio of 40 research scientists and engineers (RSEs) per 10,000 labour force by the year 1995. From the 1992 R&D Survey, we now have 37 RSEs per 10,000 labour force.

The National Science and Technology Board is continuing its efforts to strengthen and develop our R&D talent pool. It does this through programmes to increase public awareness of R&D, the funding of postgraduate study grants, research training and exchange programmes and facilitating the recruitment of foreign R&D talent.

Whilst our local universities are our main sources of RSE manpower, we need to encourage more of our graduates to enter into research as a career. During the Technology Month held last September, the National Science and Technology Board published newspaper feature articles on our R&D achievements, and conducted seminars, workshops and exhibitions on R&D, together with our universities, polytechnics and research centres and institutes. Many of these events were for students, aimed at stimulating their interest in R&D as a career.

In addition, the National Science and Technology Board jointly funds, with private companies, study grants for postgraduate courses in R&D work and technology management, and research training and exchange programmes. These schemes are meant to help companies upgrade their existing R&D workforce, and to encourage companies to train new staff for R&D work.

Our local universities cannot fully meet demand for researchers by the private and public sectors. Therefore, to supplement our local pool of RSE manpower, particularly in areas where there are insufficient researchers with the required expertise, the National Science and Technology Board works together with EDB to assist companies to recruit from overseas. These well-qualified, experienced researchers bring with them knowledge and skills that we would take years to develop on our own.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin (Nominated Member): Sir, would the Minister consider keeping in view that there is a fair representation of local women in science and technology?

Mr Dhanabalan: Sir, as in all areas, we recruit purely on merit. If there are any women who have been rejected because they are women, though they have their merits, I will be very pleased to hear and take action. But I think the Member would agree that we should not lower the standards in order to recruit women into R&D manpower.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: I agree with the Minister. But I am wondering whether there are any measures to get women more interested in science and technology because that would be using our manpower and womanpower wisely for the next century.

Mr Dhanabalan: Sir, all our measures to try and persuade our manpower to go into areas which are useful to our economy are aimed at both the men and women and I want to assure the Member that, having been to the National Science and Technology Board, there is a very high representation of women involved in research.