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National Survey

of Research and Development in Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research www.a-star.edu.sg

NATIONAL SURVEY OF R&D IN SINGAPORE 2014

Published by: Agency for Science, Technology and Research Singapore December 2015

CONTENTS Foreword

1

Overview of R&D in Singapore

2

Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD)

3

Public Expenditure on R&D (PUBERD)

5

R&D Talent

7

Patents

10

International Comparisons of R&D

11

Explanatory Notes and Definitions

12

Methodology

19

Tables

21

Foreword As we celebrate 50 years of nation building, the next phase of Singapore’s development will be shaped by a knowledge- and innovation-based economy. A paradigm shift towards hi-tech products and services is sweeping the world, and Singapore must continue to innovate in order to stay competitive. With Asia strongly influencing technological trends that disrupt existing ways of doing business, and creating innovations for new markets and discerning consumers, Singapore’s continued commitment to R&D and innovation efforts will contribute to growth and prosperity. In 2014, Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD) reached a new high of $5.2 billion in 2014, up 16% from $4.5 billion in 2013. Of this, BERD spending among local enterprises grew most rapidly – increasing by 23% from $1,357 million in 2013 to $1,666 million in 2014. SMEs led the growth, with their spending growing by 38% and reaching the $800 million mark for the first time. This reflects the growing innovation capacity of local enterprises, as well as their commitment to undertake R&D to build competitive businesses.

The Singapore government remains committed to research, innovation and enterprise. Over the past 10 years, Public Expenditure on R&D (PUBERD) has continued to increase at a CAGR of 8%, reaching $3.3 billion in 2014. As we enter 2016 and into Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 plan, we will continue to stimulate the growth of R&D and innovation in our public and private sectors. This survey would not be possible without the support of participating organisations in both the public and private sector. I would like to thank you for your important contributions, and we look forward to continue working together in transforming Singapore into a knowledge based economy.

Singapore’s R&D intensity increased from 2.0% of GDP in 2013 to 2.2% in 2014. On the whole, Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached a record at $8.5 billion in 2014 – growing by 13% from $7.6 billion in 2013. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past 10 years (2004-2014) had been 8%. R&D investments have also created high-value jobs in Singapore. The number of R&D jobs in Singapore reached a new high of 42,100 in 2014. This comprises Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs), non-degree researchers, technicians and other supporting staff. Of the RSEs, higher-skilled RSE jobs grew significantly in the private sector – RSEs with PhDs grew by 9% to 1,757 and RSEs with Masters increased by 5% to 4,946.

Dr Raj. Thampuran Managing Director Agency for Science, Technology and Research Singapore

1 National R&D Survey of Singapore 2014

12,000

450,000

GDP ($m)

400,000

10,000

350,000

GERD $m

8,000

300,000 250,000

6,000

200,000 150,000

4,000

100,000

2,000

GERD in Singapore grew by 12.7% from $7.6 billion in 2013 to $8.5 billion in 2014. In the same period, Singapore’s GDP (at current market prices) increased by 3.1% from $378.2 billion in 2013 to $390.1 billion in 2014. In 2004, GERD was $4.1 billion and GDP stood at $193 billion. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of GERD from 2004 to 2014 was 7.7%.

3.0%

GERD/GDP BERD/GDP

2.5%

R&D Expenditure / GDP (%)

1.1. Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD)

Fig.1.2 Gross Expenditure, Business Expenditure 50,000 - of and Public Expenditure on R&D as a percentage 1990 … 1995 … 2000 … 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 GDP (1990-2014)

PUBERD/GDP

2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5%

Fig.1.1 Gross Expenditure on R&D and GDP growth (1990-2014)

0.0% 1990 … 1995 … 2000 … 2005200620072008200920102011201220132014

12,000

GERD

450,000

GDP ($m)

400,000

250,000 200,000

GDP $m

GERD $m

300,000

6,000

150,000

4,000

100,000

2,000

50,000 -

1990

3.0%

1.3. Manpower Fig

350,000

8,000

…

1995

…

2000

…

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

GERD/GDP

R&D Expenditure / GDP (%)

1.2. Ratio ofBERD/GDP Public Expenditure on R&D (PUBERD) 2.5% PUBERD/GDP to Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD) 2.0%

GERD as a percentage of GDP increased from 1.5% 2.0% in 2013 to 2.2% in 2014. Of this, Business 1.0% Expenditure on R&D (BERD) as a percentage of GDP increased from 1.2% in 2013 to 1.3% in 2014. Public 0.5% Expenditure on R&D (PUBERD) as a percentage of 0.0% GDP remained stable at 0.8% in 2013 and 2014. 1990 … 1995 … 2000 … 2005200620072008200920102011201220132014 For every $1 spent in research from public sources, $1.58 was spent by businesses in 2014.

1.1

Total R&D Manpower (including researchers, postgraduate students, technicians and support staff) grew by 1.3% from 47,275 persons in 2013 to 47,902 persons in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 4.4% from a base of 31,006 persons in 2004. The number of researchers (excluding postgraduate students) rose by 1.6% from 34,373 in 2013 to 34,930 in 2014. The CAGR from 2004, with 21,546 Fig to 2014 was 5.0%. researchers, 1.2

Fig.1.3 R&D Manpower (1990-2014) 60,000

50,000

Technicians & Support Postgrad Researchers Total Manpower*

40,000

R&D Manpower

10,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 1990

…

1995

…

2000

…

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

*Manpower data not collected in the same manner in 1990 & 1995


GDP $m

OVERVIEW OF R&D IN SINGAPORE

GERD

BUSINESS EXPENDITURE ON R&D (BERD) 2.1. Overview

2.3. Type of R&D

In 2014, 882 private sector companies indicated that they had performed R&D in Singapore. The total BERD of these companies amounted to $5.2 billion, corresponding to 1.3% of Singapore’s GDP in 2014. This represents a 16.0% growth over the 2013 BERD of $4.5 billion. The CAGR from 20042014 was 7.3%.

The types of R&D conducted by companies in the private sector are classified into 3 categories.

2.2. Type of Expenditure Capital expenditure (CAPEX) increased significantly by 36.3% to $902.6 million in 2014 from $662.4 million in 2013. CAPEX in 2004 was $482.8 million and CAGR for 2004-2014 was 6.5%.

a) Basic research (experimental or theoretical work undertaken without any particular application or use in view); b) Applied research (original investigation directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective); and c) Experimental development (systematic work that is directed to producing or improving substantially materials, products and devices; or installing new processes, systems and services)

Manpower expenditure increased by 12.7% to $2.1 billion in 2014 from $1.9 billion in 2013. From a base of $1.1 billion in 2004, the CAGR for 20042014 for manpower expenditure was 6.9%.

Basic research expenditure increased by 8.6% from $511.8 million in 2013 to $555.8 million in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 11.2% from 2004 when business expenditure on basic research was $192.2 million.

Other operating expenditure (OOE) increased by 12.3% from $1.9 billion in 2013 to $2.2 billion in 2014. From a base of $1.0 billion in 2004, the CAGR for 2004-2014 for OOE was 8.0%.

Applied research rose by 8.2% from $1.5 billion in 2013 to $1.6 billion in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 8.5% from 2004 when business expenditure on applied research was $696.7 million.

Fig.2.1 Business Expenditure on R&D by type of cost (1990-2014)

In 2014, experimental development grew by 22.0% from $2.5 billion in 2013 to $3.1 billion in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 6.1% from 2004 when business expenditure on experimental 6,000 was $1.7 billion. development Experimental Development

6,000

CAPEX Manpower OOE

5,000

5,000

Applied Research Basic Research R&D Expenditure*

4,000

BERD ($m)

BERD ($m)

4,000 3,000

2,000

3,000

2,000 1,000 1,000 0 0

Fig 2.1

*Expenditure data not collected in the same manner in 1990 National R&D Survey of Singapore 2014

Fig

3

Fig.2.2 Type of Business Expenditure on R&D (19902014) 6,000

5,000

Experimental Development Applied Research Basic Research R&D Expenditure*

Spending in Chemicals and Materials rebounded by 15.3% from $474.3 million in 2013 to $546.7 million in 2014. Biomedical Sciences grew by 24.6% from $510.3 million in 2013 to $636.0 million in 2014.

4,000

BERD ($m)

In the private sector, research expenditure in Electronics and ICM grew by 17.6% from $2.4 billion in 2013 to $2.8 billion in 2014. In contrast, expenditure in Engineering research fell slightly by 4.7% from $758.0 million in 2013 to $722.6 million in 2014.

3,000

Fig 2.3

2,000

Fig.2.3 Business Expenditure on R&D by fields of science and technology (2013-2014)

1,000

3,000 0

1 2013

2014

1

2,500 *Expenditure data not collected in the same manner in 1990

PUBERD ($m)

This section shows an alternative classification by Fields of Science and Technology as follows:

BERD ($m)

Fig 2.2

2.4. Fields of Science & Technology

1

2,000

1,500

1,000

a) Electronics, Infocomms and Media (ICM); Comprising: Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Info-communication & Media Technology, Computer Engineering and Computer & Related Sciences. b) Chemicals and Materials; Comprising: Material Sciences & Chemical Engineering and Chemical Sciences. c) Biomedical Sciences; Comprising: Biomedical & Related Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. d) Engineering; Comprising: Aeronautical Engineering, Civil & Architecture Engineering, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy & Metal Engineering e) Others; Comprising: Agricultural Sciences, Food Sciences, Earth & Related Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, Energy and Other Areas.


500

0 Electronics Chemicals Biomedical Engineering + ICM + Materials Sciences

Others

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON R&D (PUBERD) 3.1. Overview In 2014, 68 public institutions including A*STAR research institutes, institutes of higher learning, hospitals and other public funded research organisations indicated that they performed R&D in Singapore.

Fig.3.1 Public Expenditure on R&D by type of cost (1990-2014) 3,500 3,000

CAPEX Manpower OOE

These organisations reported a total expenditure of $3.3 billion in 2014. This represents a growth of 7.9% from $3.1 billion in 2013 and a CAGR of 8.4% from $1.4 billion in 2004. Expenditure of public organizations as a proportion of GDP remained stable at 0.8% of GDP in 2013 and 2014. 3.2. Type of Expenditure Amongst public institutions, capital expenditure (CAPEX) increased by 3.5% from $342.0 million in 2013 to $354.1 million in 2014. CAPEX in 2004 was $326.4 million and CAGR for 2004-2014 was 0.8%. Manpower expenditure also saw growth with a 5.6% year-on-year increase from $1.6 billion in 2013 to $1.7 billion in 2014. From a base of $658.5 million in 2004, the CAGR for 2004-2014 for manpower expenditure was 9.8%. OOE increased from $1.1 billion in 2013 to $1.3 billion in 2014. From a base of $487.0 million in 2004, the CAGR for 2004-2014 for OOE was 10.1%.

PUBERD ($m)

2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0

3.3. Type of R&D

Fig 3.1

The types of R&D conducted by public sector research organisations are as follows: a) Pure basic research (without seeking long-term economic or social benefits or making any effort to apply the results to practical problem); b) Strategic basic research (carried out with the expectation that it will produce a broad base of knowledge likely to form the basis of the solution to current or future problems or possibilities); c) Applied research (original investigation directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective); and d) Experimental development (systematic work that is directed to producing or improving substantially materials, products and devices; or installing new processes, systems and services). Pure basic research expenditure in public institutes increased by 10.0% from $355.0 million in 2013 to $390.6 million in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 6.6% from 2004 when public expenditure on pure basic research was $205.7 million. 5 National R&D Survey of Singapore 2014

Similarly, strategic basic research grew by 7.4% from $680.4 million in 2013 to $731.1 million in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 7.1% from 2004 when public expenditure on strategic basic research was $367.2 million. Applied research increased by 10.1% from $1,057.0 million in 2013 to $1,164.0 million in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 8.5% from 2004 when public expenditure on applied research was $513.2 million. Experimental development grew by 4.9% from $977.3 million in 2013 to $1,025.1 million in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 10.3% from 2004 when public expenditure on experimental development was $385.8 million. Fig.3.2 Type of Public Expenditure on R&D (19902014) 3,500 3,000

PUBERD ($m)

2,500

Experimental Development Applied Research Strategic Basic Research Pure Basic Research R&D Expenditure*

3.4. Fields of Science & Technology This section shows a breakdown by Fields of Science and Technology as follows: a) b) c) d) e)

Research in Electronics and ICM grew by 8.8% from $697.0 million in 2013 to $758.5 million in 2014. Chemicals and Materials declined slightly by 3.0% from $298.4 million in 2013 to $289.6 million in 2014. Biomedical Sciences increased by 12.2% from $1,030.3 million in 2013 to $1,156.1 million in 2014. Engineering exhibited growth of 9.0% from $419.4 million in 2013 to $457.1 million in 2014.

Fig 2.3

Fig 3.3

Fig.3.3 Public Expenditure on R&D by fields of science and technology (2013-2014)

2,000

3,000 1,500

1,400 2013

2013

2014

1,000 500

1,000

2,000 0

PUBERD ($m)

BERD ($m)

2014

1,200

2,500

1,500

*Expenditure data not collected in the same manner in 1990

1,000

Electronics and ICM; Chemicals and Materials; Biomedical Sciences; Engineering; Others;

Fig 3.2

800

600

400

500

200



Others


Others

R&D TALENT

Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs) comprise researchers who hold formal qualifications at the university degree level. RSEs exclude full-time postgraduate research students. In 2014, the number of RSEs grew by 2.8% from 31,943 in 2013 to 32,835 in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 5.7% from a base of 18,935 in 2004.

Fig In the private sector, the 4.1number of RSEs increased

Private Sector R&D Manpower

for all qualifications. PhD RSEs grew by 8.7% from 1,617 in 2013 to 1,757 in 2014. This represents a 20,000 CAGR of 8.4% from 781 PhD RSEs in 2004. RSEs with PhD a Master’s degreeMasters rose by 5.5% from 4,689 in 2013 18,000 to 4,946 in 2014.Bachelors This represents a CAGR of 5.7% from 2,831 RSEs with Master’s degrees in 2004. The 16,000 number of RSEs with a Bachelor’s degree also rose 14,000 between 2013 and 2014, increasing marginally by 0.3% from 12,00011,292 in 2013 to 11,323 in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 3.6% from 7,984 RSEs with 10,000degrees in 2004. Bachelor’s

Fig Sector 4.1

8,000

Fig.4.1 Private 6,000 Engineers (1990-2014) 4,000 20,000 2,000 18,000 16,000

0

In the public sector, the number of PhD RSEs grew by 5.3% from 7,494 in 2013 to 7,894 in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 9.2% from 3,282 PhD RSEs in 2004. On the other hand, RSEs with a Master’s degree declined from 2,980 in 2013 to 2,902 in 2014. There was still an overall CAGR growth of 3.4% from 2,073 RSEs with Master’s degrees in 2004. RSEs with a Bachelor’s degree grew by 3.7% from 3,871 in 2013 to 4,013 in 2014. The CAGR was 7.3% from a base of 1,984 Bachelor degree holding RSEs in 2004.

Fig Fig.4.2 Public Sector4.2 Research Scientists & Engineers (1990-2014) 16,000 14,000

PhD Masters Bachelors

12,000

Public Sector R&D Manpower

4.1. Total Research Scientists & Engineers

Research Scientists &

PhD Masters Bachelors

10,000 8,000

Fig 4.2

6,000 4,000

16,000 2,000

PhD

14,000

Bachelors

0

Masters

12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0

Public Sector R&D Manpower

Private Sector R&D Manpower

12,000 14,000

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0


4.2. Gender of Research Scientists & Engineers In 2014, females made up 29.0% of all RSEs, up from 28.4% in 2013, following the trend of an increasing proportion of female RSEs (Fig 4.3).

The number of Singaporean and Permanent Resident (PR) RSEs increased by 0.9% from 22,478 in 2013 to 22,684 in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 3.5% from a base of 16,036 RSEs in 2004. Similarly, the number of non-PR foreign RSEs grew by 7.2% from 9,465 in 2013 to 10,151 in 2014. This represents a CAGR of 13.4% from a base of 2,899 foreign RSEs in 2004. Fig.4.4 Citizenship of Research Scientists & Engineers (1990-2014) 35,000 30,000

RSE Manpower

25,000 20,000

9,516 23,319

9,078

22,865

21,647

80%

8,462

40%

21,345

35,000

20,531 8,137

100%

7,765

RSE Gender (%)

Fig.4.3 Gender of Research Scientists & Engineers (2010-2014) 60%

Foreigners Singaporeans & PRs

9,516

9,078

8,462

80%

8,137

7,765

• Between 2010 and 2011, the number of male RSEs grew by 4.0% and female RSEs grew by 4.8%. • Between 2011 and 2012, the number of male RSEs grew by 1.4% and female RSEs grew by 4.0%. • Between 2012 and 2013, the number of male RSEs grew by 5.6% and female RSEs grew by 7.3%. • Between 2013 and 2014, the number of male 100% RSEs grew by 2.0% and female RSEs grew by 4.8%

4.3. Citizenship of Research Scientists & Engineers

15,000

Foreigners Singaporeans & PRs

30,000

10,000

25,000

0% 2013

Female

2014

23,319

2012

22,865

Male

2011

21,647

40%

2010

21,345

…

2010 Male

2011

2012

0

15,000

5,000

0% …

5,000

20,000

10,000

Fig 4.3

20%

RSE Manpower

60%

20,531

RSE Gender (%)

20%

2013

2014

Fig 4.4

0

Female

Fig 4.3


Fig 4.4

4.4. Age-Bands of Research Scientists & Engineers In 2014, 50.1% of all RSEs were under the age of 35 and 82.7% of all RSEs were under the age of 45. Between 2013 and 2014 the growth rates by the respective age bands were as follows: • The number of RSEs below 25 years of age grew by 3.5%. • The number of RSEs between 25 and 34 years of age declined by 0.2%. • The number of RSEs between 35 and 44 years of age grew by 4.6%. • The number of RSEs between 45 and 54 years of age grew by 8.1%. • The number of RSEs between 55 and 64 years of age grew by 9.4%. • The number of RSEs over 64 years of age declined by 2.8%. Fig.4.5 Age-Bands of Research Scientists & Engineers (2010-2014) 35,000

30,000

6,000

5,000

>64 55-64

20,000

45-54 35-44 25-34

15,000