Mediworld Mar-Apr Print File LW

Health Destination
The strong base of high-quality,
ISO13485-certified suppliers in
Singapore's medical technology sector
has extensive experience in working
with medical technology MNCs,
adhering to strict standards of IP
protection and regulatory requirements
stipulated by US FDA and European
EMEA.
and complex roles, and this number is set to grow with
more than 20,000 science and engineering graduates
entering the workforce from Singapore's tertiary
institutions each year. Companies can also access a
strong base of more than 230,000 employees in adjacent
sectors (e.g. pharmaceutical, electronics, engineering).
At the same time, government agencies such as the
Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and
the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)
continue to work closely with industry partners in
enhancing manpower capabilities through customised
training programmes and skills upgrading schemes.
Asia microcosm
As a microcosm of Asia, Singapore provides an ideal
base for companies to develop new technologies and
product innovations, test-bed new solutions and
systems for the regional and global market, as well as to
nurture the growth of R&D and commercialisation
activities.
One example in Singapore's encouragement in
innovative medical technology is the development of the
world's thinnest one-day disposable contact lens by
Japanese company Menicon. Called 'Magic', the
innovation was developed in Singapore, at the
corporation's first R&D and manufacturing facility
outside Japan, with total investments of S$123 million.
In collaboration with software giant Hewlett Packard,
Singapore-based company Healthstats also produced a
wireless monitoring device to facilitate the monitoring of
blood pressure by patients and doctors.
The Singapore government remains committed to
growing the medical technology industry by investing in
further research. In 2015, it announced that S$4 billion
would be invested in biomedical sciences research for
the period 2015 to 2020, demonstrating that biomedical
sciences R&D remains a priority in Singapore's long-term
strategy to boost its economic competitiveness, achieve
sustained growth and establish the country as Asia's
innovation capital.
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Singapore is reputed for its clinical research and clinical
trials management activities in Asia. As the secretariat
for the APEC Coordinating Centre for Good Clinical
Practice (GCP), Singapore plays a strategic role in
developing GCP in Asia, steering initiatives such as the
training of clinical research personnel and developing a
conducive environment for multi-site clinical trials in the
region.
These factors have attracted many global pharmaceutical
brands to set up their regional clinical trial
centres in Singapore. Several Contract Research
Organisations (CROs) have also established operations
in Singapore to support the pharmaceutical firms'
growing outsourcing needs. These include global CROs
Covance, Quintiles and ICON which manage regional
clinical trials from the city-state. These international
CROs offer a wide range of services, ranging from Phase I
to pharmacovigilance studies. Some are also setting up
innovative biomarker discovery and validation services
to support their clients.
Singapore's integrated research ecosystem enables
companies to access multidisciplinary capabilities in a
single location, improving R&D decision-making and
accelerating drug discovery and development. More
than 30 of the world's leading biomedical sciences
companies are leveraging Singapore as a key home base
to drive innovation, growing the nation's biotechnology
and pharmaceutical industry by more than 30 percent in
2011.
Biomedical science
According to Singapore's Economic Development Board,
Singapore's Biomedical Science (BMS) industry has
grown substantially since 2002. The industry as a whole
employs an estimate of over 25,000 people across
manufacturing, R&D and commercial activities today.
Singapore is home to more than 50 BMS manufacturing
plants, with a combined manufacturing output of more
than $26B in 2014 and employing more than 18,000
employees in the same year.
Singapore also features as a strong base for companies
to access the fast-growing Asia Pacific markets, with
more than 30 leading regional headquarters from top
BMS companies located in Singapore.
Since 2002, business expenditure in R&D (BERD) in
Biomedical & Related Sciences and Biomedical
Engineering has increased more than four times from
around S$140 million to more than S$630 million in 2014.
Employment of researchers has also grown more than
three times from around 500 to 1500 in the same period.
QUICK FACTS - SINGAPORE
Population: 5.5 million
GDP (PPP):
* $471.9 billion
* 2.0% growth
* 4.0% 5-year compound annual growth
* $85,253 per capita
Unemployment: 3.3%
Inflation (CPI): -0.5%
FDI Inflow: $65.3 billion
(Source: heritage.org)
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