Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Defence Technology Prize Award Ceremony

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon.

Singapore's commitment to R&DSingapore's R&D landscape has seen a remarkable transformation over the last decade. Where our research was once concentrated in the physical sciences and engineering, we now have a broad spectrum of R&D capabilities in many niche areas. They range from stem cell biology to nanotechnology, tissue engineering and clean technology. This significant progress in our R&D landscape underscores our Government's steady and sustained commitment to make Singapore a vibrant R&D hub that contributes both towards a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy, and to Singapore being a major global R&D centre.

Indeed, we are more committed to promoting R&D today than ever before. At the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last month, the Government announced a S$16.1 billion national budget dedicated to R&D over the next five years - a 20% increase from the current tranche of S$13.55 billion we had committed from 2006 to 2010. The Government also set the target of growing R&D activities to 3.5% of the GDP by 2015, signaling our intent to be Asia's innovation capital. Indeed, our research is beginning to be translated into commercial outcomes. Global patent applications per year by entities performing R&D in Singapore have grown by almost three-fold, from a total of 579 patents filed in 1998 to 1581 in 2008 . Significantly, Singapore’s patenting rate per capita in the United States has also expanded over the last decade and is now approaching the level of strong innovators such as Canada, Germany and Sweden. And while we still lag behind Finland, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, our registered patents in the United States are growing at more than 10% per annum, a rate faster than most developed nations.

In MINDEF, our R&D efforts are also key to transforming the SAF into the 3rd Generation fighting force. We are able to do this because of the steady investment we have made in human capital over the years. Many top engineers and scientists in Singapore are involved in defence related work. Today's awards recognise the significant contributions from some of these individuals. They do not come from any single organisation, but from a "defence technology ecosystem" that MINDEF has nurtured and cultivated.

A defence ecosystem approach to defence R&DThe defence technology ecosystem comprises not only the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), DSO National Laboratories and the SAF, but also our local industry such as Singapore Technologies Engineering, and the research institutes of our local universities and A*STAR.

By bringing together MINDEF agencies, industry, academia and research institutes, this ecosystem has been able to provide robust support for the SAF's defence technology needs, from research to capability development, systems support and retirement. This indigenous technological capability is critical to the SAF because not all our requirements are available on the open market. One example of indigenous technological capability which harnesses the different strengths found in the defence ecosystem is the Comprehensive Maritime Awareness System, currently deployed at the Information Fusion Centre at Changi Naval Base. The Navy provided the concept of operations, while DSO and ST Engineering respectively developed the platform's fusion algorithms and the command and control systems, which DSTA integrated. As a result of this successful collaboration, we have created the region's first and only system of systems information-sharing and sense-making platform that has allowed Singapore to collaborate with our partners in the region and globally on maritime information sharing. This "whole-of-ecosystem" approach was also adopted in the acquisition and integration of various sub-systems on board the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle. The speed with which the project team, comprising the Army, DSTA and ST Engineering, had fused operational and technological expertise to develop the Terrex programme was fast by any industry standard. Within a short span of two years, our defence engineers conceptualised and developed a fighting platform based on the Army’s operational requirements, as well as integrated on that platform complex sub-systems such as the Battlefield Management System, Weapon Detection System, Remote Control Weapon Station and All Round Surveillance System. The Terrex's successful delivery is a significant enhancement to the Army’s 3rd Generation networked and motorised capabilities that will provide our soldiers with enhanced protection and mobility, as well as better situational awareness to operate at a higher tempo. DTP 2010 winnersAt the core of the defence ecosystem is people, for it is their interactions that breed the creativity and energy needed to sustain it. Indeed, as our needs for indigenous technological solutions increase and become more sophisticated, we will increasingly work at the forefront of defence technology and must have our share of the best and brightest scientists and engineers. The Defence Technology Prize recognises defence scientists and engineers in our ecosystem whose work has had a great impact on the operational capabilities of the SAF. Through these awards, we hope to motivate and encourage our people to strive for greater technological innovations and excellence. I am very pleased to note that this year we have a diverse mix of winners. This reflects both the breadth and depth of expertise we have nurtured in our defence technology community.

In the R&D category, this year's individual DTP awards go to Professor Pan Tso-Chien of NTU and Ms Ngo Yuen Choo of DSO, while the individual award in the Engineering category goes to Mr Loh Heng Fong of ST Kinetics. Professor Pan is highly regarded in the field of structural dynamics and has spearheaded major R&D projects for the SAF. His contributions to the Underground Ammunition Facility Project and Underground Technology and Rock Engineering Programme have not only advanced our defence protective technology capability, but also established Singapore as a leader in protective and underground technology research.

Since 1984, Ms Ngo has been advancing DSO's research in information security and has developed many novel solutions that have significantly enhanced the security of our information and communication systems. Similarly, in his 28 years with ST Kinetics, Mr Loh has been instrumental in upgrading and developing many of the SAF's armoured tracked capabilities, including the AMX-13, Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier and Trailblazer Mine-Clearing Vehicle. Their contributions to the SAF are very significant. For the team prize, there are a total of five awards. The DTP Team Prize (R&D category) is awarded to the Radio Frequency Team from DSO which has developed high-performance, miniaturised radio frequency modules for radar, electronic warfare and communication systems. All four winning teams for the DTP Team Prize (Engineering category) comprise members from the various parts of the ecosystem. The first goes to the Guided System Team. The next two prizes go to the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle Team and the Comprehensive Maritime Awareness Team. The fourth goes to the G550-Airborne Early Warning Team for developing a state-of-the-art mission suite, integrated with various communication and sensor systems, delivering a most advanced Airborne Early Warning platform to our Air Force.

My heartiest congratulations to all the winners. Thank you for your excellent work in sharpening our technological edge. I would also like to express my appreciation to everyone in our defence technology family. Your resourcefulness, innovative spirit and commitment to Singapore's defence will continue to be instrumental in shaping the 3rd Generation SAF. Thank you.

More Resources

Honouring Singapore's Finest in Defence Technology

Fact Sheet: Defence Technology Prize 2010