Singapore's Research Talent Pool Sees Steady Expansion

27 Dec 2011

Singapore's research talent pool has continued to expand steadily.

The latest National Survey of R&D 2010 said the total number of research scientists and engineers in the public and private sectors has risen 6.4 per cent to about 28,000 in 2010.

The survey, published Tuesday by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), said the figure stood at around 26,600 in 2009.

The latest report said the private sector employed more than half of them.

Demand for research scientists and engineers with PhDs, a key indicator of R&D talent, also remains strong.

The survey said the public sector reported an increase of 11.4 per cent PhDs, up from some 5,400 in 2009 to more than 6,000 in 2010.

New PhD hires in the private sector also grew by 7.8 per cent, from 1,275 in 2009 to 1,375 in 2010.

More than 1,000 organisations participated in the 2010 National R&D Survey. They comprise private sector companies, government organisations and local institutions of higher learning and public sector research institutes.