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Singapore: Filling Biopolis

Singapore: the Biopolis of Asia

If track record matters, then there are strong reasons to believe that Singapore will fulfill its aspirations to become the biomedical hub of Asia. After all, within just 30 years of gaining independence, this tiny island-state with a population of 4 million people has become a formidable global competitor in several industries. But those who know Singapore well will tell you that it is a forward-looking city-state that continually challenges status quo. Quick to realize that manufacturing, its key economic driver, needed to be complemented by innovative high-technology and knowledge-intensive activities, Singapore marshaled its efforts on building a biomedical sciences industry protected by a strong intellectual property regime. Within a few short years, the Country has built capabilities across the entire value chain from basic research, clinical trials, product/process development to full-scale manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

Said Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Co-chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), “Manufacturing can be copied, and other Asian countries have become strong competitors in this field. However, knowledge- and innovation-based industries, like the Biomedical Sciences industry, are different, providing for a much more sustained growth.” Driving public research and industry development respectively, A*STAR and EDB are the two lead agencies behind the integrated develop of Singapore's biomedical sciences industry. A single-minded focus on building capital - industrial, intellectual and human capital, that is, has proven to be the winning formula.

Unwavering input equals strong manufacturing output

Its determination to kick start biomedical sciences development has already begun to yield results. With strong support from the EDB, the industry's manufacturing output grew 48% for the year 2002 to reach US$5.4 billion thanks to strong partnerships with leading pharmaceutical, medical technology, healthcare and biotechnology companies who have chosen to set up and expand their scope of activities in Singapore. A target of US$6.9 billion by 2005 and job creation for some 9,000 seems to be well within reach.

While the Biopolis provides a total environment for world-class biomedical research, the Tuas Biomedical Park located in western Singapore continues to draw not just regional but global manufacturing operations from biomedical companies. Companies who have set up their global manufacturing plants in Singapore include Aventis, Applied Biosystems, Baxter, Becton Dickinson, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Wyeth and Siemens. An additional 150 hectares of land is being developed ahead of schedule to satisfy demand.

The bulk of manufacturing activities lie in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Six of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies already have sizable investments in Singapore with expansion plans under discussion. Capabilities have diversified from primary manufacturing, i.e. chemical synthesis of pharmaceutical active ingredients, and process development, to secondary manufacturing, i.e. formulation and finishing of pharmaceutical end products, as well as lyophilisation. Moving forward, Singapore expects to see biologics manufacturing activities over the next few years involving the production of high-value protein-based drugs using fermentation or cell culture processes.

In medical technology, manufacturing has shifted from high volume devices such as medical disposables and consumables to the manufacture of electromedical devices and equipment due to the strength of the electronics and engineering industries. Diversification into drug delivery devices and molecular diagnostics is imminent.

Extending R&D Capabilities

When global pharmaceutical giant, Eli Lilly, was looking for a place to set up its first systems biology research centre, it chose Singapore. Lilly's state-of-the-art Centre for Systems Biology (LSB) will look into the development of computational tools for drug discovery and marks the first phase of R&D investment of over US$140M over the next 5 years.

More recently, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis set up its Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore, to focus on the development of novel drugs for major tropical diseases such as tuberculosis and dengue fever. Said Prof Paul Herrling, Chairman of the Board of Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) and Head of Corporate Research at Novartis AG, “Singapore is the only place in the world that fulfills our three key criteria - it is in close proximity to the developing countries with diseases of interest, it offers an exceptional scientific infrastructure and a good patient base for our research and it is attractive to top-notch talents.”

Global Bioscience City

The completion of the two million square feet “Biopolis”, a dedicated biomedical research park that will house Singapore's five top biomedical research institutes alongside R&D laboratories of biomedical companies promises to close the gap between public and private researchers - literally. If the unique skyways that link all of the five eco-friendly buildings fail to encourage collaboration and exchange, the collaborative research partnerships between private companies and public research institutes surely will.

Chief Scientific Officer for Aventis Dr Frank Douglas believes that the Biopolis will be “an innovative milieu” that's going to be “an outstanding success without any doubt”. Sir Paul Nurse, President, Rockefeller University and former Director General, Cancer Research UK, stated that “The concept of a biomedical research 'village', housing diverse researchers, companies, incubators and laboratory support services, is an exciting one”.

The Biopolis will offer laboratory space for biomedical sciences companies; animal handling facilities as well as laboratory support services. Tenants will also be able to tap on central R&D facilities, including electron microscope and NMR facilities , as well as a library, auditorium and of course, lifestyle amenities.

Magnet for Scientific Talents

Besides attracting global companies to invest, Singapore has become an irresistible challenge for some of the world's top scientists to carve their own niche and focus on furthering their research. Scientific contribution also offers a rare opportunity for those who relish taking part in shaping the Republic's biomedical industry. Said Edison Liu, a Stanford University-trained MD whom Singapore recruited to become Executive Director of Genome Institute of Singapore in 2000, “The prospect of working in big platform biology to attack medically pertinent questions, of creating a scientific culture of collaboration linking technology and biology, and of participating in the formation of a new Asian economy was very appealing,” he says. “I have not been disappointed.”

At the initial stages of biomedical development, concerns about the shortage of local senior scientists at the Ph.D level drew some scepticism. But just as lack of natural resources has not hampered its progress in the past 30 years, the shortage of local researchers seems unlikely to stand in the way of its biomedical development. Its strategy is two-pronged: international recruitment and active nurturing of local talents through local and international research scholarships to pursue undergraduate, PhD and post-doctoral training in some of the top institutions worldwide.

Under A*STAR, the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) has initiated a series of programs to nurture research talents such as the National Science Scholarships, Outreach Programmes for schools, and the Distinguished Visitors Program which brings eminent scientists to Singapore to build links with the local research community. Initiatives such as the International Research Fellowships support scientists from Europe and the US to work in Singapore's five biomedical research institutes for a period of 2-3 years.

Opportunities to innovate and create

Promising local start-up companies can also tap on the critical support they need. As Michael Entzeroth, head of research and Chief Scientific Officer at S*BIO points out, “Singapore has a very strong scientific infrastructure to provide space for biomedical research activities and to foster a collaborative culture among the private research communities. It offers both “financial resources as well as the scientific ones.”

The Economic Development Board (EDB) has embarked on several initiatives to encourage innovation and bio-entrepreneurship. In the area of funding, Bio*One Capital, the subsidiary of EDB Investments Pte Ltd, the investment arm of EDB, invests in local biomedical ventures as well as key overseas companies who are interested to expand into Asia. Start-up funding is also available through the Biomedical Sciences Innovate 'N Create Scheme (BMS INC) to nurture viable business ideas specifically in biomedical sciences. Technology startups may also be able to tap into equity funding through the Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDs).

Private venture capital is available from groups such as JAFCO, 3i, Temasek Capital, UOB Ventures, BioVeda and Walden International - all funds with well-established regional networks and the ability to offer sound Asian business expertise and counsel. Through a series of bio-partnering seminars held overseas and in Singapore, the EDB brings expertise and advice of some of the world's top venture capital firms within reach of its local biomedical community.

This November, some thirty five promising early- and mid-stage biomedical companies from around the world will meet in Singapore to present their business case and mingle with renowned international and local venture capital firms at the Biomedical Partnering Asia Seminar 2003 in Singapore. Says Ms Chu Swee Yeok, Director, Biomedical Sciences Group and Executive Director, Bio*One Capital, Singapore Economic Development Board. “Our partnering seminars provide an important avenue for emerging biomedical sciences companies to create awareness for their technologies and enable them to establish meaningful collaborations. The fact that some of our featured start-ups have gone on to become significant industry players as a result of partnerships formed is a good indication that we are definitely on the right track.”

Protecting what you own

While Singapore is not the only Asian country with an eye on biomedicine, its stance on intellectual property (IP) protection places it clearly second to none. Since 1997, the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd (PERC) has consistently ranked Singapore first for IP protection in Asia. An increase in the level of patenting activities in Singapore - a rise of 22% in filings and an increase of 62% in the number of patents awarded over the previous year - is reflective of the growing respect for intellectual property and an improvement in the quality of R&D conducted in Singapore.

Singapore is also a member of major IP-related conventions and organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Paris Convention, the Berne Convention, the Madrid Protocol, the Budapest Treaty and the Patent Co-operation Treaty.

The winning formula

Singapore has made great strides to become Asia's newest biomedical hub. With a combination of strong government commitment, pro-business environment, world-class research and mfanufacturing facilities, and the best human talent, this island state is well on its way to turn its biomedical dream into a reality.

For more information on Singapore's biomedical initiative, please visit our website at www.www.biomed-singapore.com