A*STAR SCHOLARSHIPS (Expenditure)

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A*STAR SCHOLARSHIPS (Expenditure): 16.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether it is justifiable to commit $900,000 each on young A STAR scholars, whose goals and directions may change in time to come; (b) will this money be better spent by training these scholars at the NUS and NTU, which are world class in their own right; (c) whether there is a minimum number of such scholars, who are Singapore citizens; and (d) how will his Ministry ensure this pool of A STAR scholars has a minimum number of Singapore citizens.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member has four parts to her Question. So my answer is somewhat long. I seek your indulgence.

Today, A STAR has 1,746 researchers, scientists and engineers (RSEs) in its 12 A STAR research institutions. Of this, 50% have Ph.D qualifications, and only23% of this group are Singaporeans (ie, Singaporean born or naturalised). Singapore aspires to become a knowledge-based economy. A*STAR supports this aim by providing a diverse and critical mass of local and foreign Ph.D manpower to meet the needs of industry.

In order to attract local and foreign companies to stay, expand and set up R&D facilities here, Singapore needs a pool of well qualified local and foreign R&D talent. Since 2001, A STAR has adopted a two-pronged pro-local as well as pro-foreign talent strategy to build up Singapore's Ph.D human talent, with a target profile of 50% local and 50% foreign Ph.Ds in the various A STAR research institutes.

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Today, there are 252 scholars, comprising 195 B.Sc scholars and 57 Ph.D scholars, in the overseas National Science Scholarships (NSS) programme and 115 Ph.D scholars in the local A _STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS) programme. The overseas NSS programme was launched in 2001, and the local AGS programme was launched in 2003. These programmes will nurture and groom talents for an R &D career by providing research-intensive training for Singaporeans in the various fields of Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering at top universities and research facilities bothat home and abroad. The selection process for A_STAR scholarship programmes is rigorous to ensure suitability and a long-term fit. Scholar candidates are put through several rounds of interviews, psychometric tests, and assessments.

The NSS Bachelor of Science programme requires scholars to complete their B.Sc in three years for which they are bonded for six years as PSC scholars, during which they will return to Singapore at least once for an eight-week research attachment. On completion of their B.Sc, the scholars return to Singapore to undertake another research attachment of at least one year in an A*STAR research institute. They are then given paid study leave to pursue their Ph.D locally or abroad. They must complete their Ph.D within five years. The academic cost of the three-year B.Sc course amounts to about S$200,000, while the five-year Ph.D portion amounts to about S$400,000. In addition, there are costs such as living and book expenses and other allowances which amount to about S$300,000.

In the event that a scholar does not meet A*STAR's stringent academic criteria to continue with a Ph.D, or if a scholar decides that a career in research is not what he or she wants after

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completing the B.Sc, the scholar is allowed to take up an executive position at A*STAR or at another Government agency.

In2003, A STAR established partnerships with NUS and NTU to set up the A STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS) that I mentioned earlier, to provide local Ph.D training for Singaporean undergraduates with 1st class honours for which they are bonded for three years. This Ph.D training lasts for three to four years, and could be followed by a one to two year overseas post-doctorate fellowship at a total cost of S$360,000. In the past, few NUS and NTU graduates were prepared to pursue a Ph.D degree. Due to the active promotion of the AGS programme by A STAR, NUS and NTU, the number of Singapore students applying for the AGS programme has increased. To-date, there are 115 AGS awardees. The A STAR Graduate Academy (A GA) aims to enrol 100 AGS scholars a year. At steady state, 300 to 400 AGS scholars will be studying and working in the laboratories of the various A STAR research institutes and universities.

The majority or 82% of A*STAR scholars are Singaporeans. Foreign-born scholars are given Approve-in-Principle (AIP) Permanent Residence status and are required to take up Singapore citizenship before the completion of their Ph.D programme.