Singapore's Booming Biosciences Industry

Centrally located in South East Asia's Pacific Rim, Singapore's biomedical sector has been a key component to its growing economy. Singapore is known to be at the focal point of Asia's robust activities where world-class capabilities from basic research, clinical development, product and process development, manufacturing and healthcare services are being built.

With its economic growth at 6.4%, the biomedical sciences manufacturing output climbed 9.8% to $18 billion in 2005, contributing 5% to Singapore’s gross domestic product. It is one of the most vibrant centres for venture capital in the world where $12 billion of capital under management is held by nearly 60 firms. And in 2005, the cluster also attracted $859 million in manufacturing fixed asset investments and $149 million in total business spending.

Singapore is considered to be at the grass roots of basic research and clinical trials management. Besides offering the basic essentials like a consistent business environment and an excellent communications infrastructure, it also has a pool of highly skilled manpower, an established regulatory infrastructure and a strong intellectual property protection regime. Regional clinical trial centres have been set up in Singapore by global pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Aventis, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Synthelabo and Schering-Plough.

Over the last two decades, Singapore has built a base of basic and clinical research from institutions that have achieved international standing. Biopolis, a 185,000 square meter facility was recently completed and is known to be the premier destination for clinical testing and research & development. Several key government agencies, publicly-funded research institutes and R&D labs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies have already set up shop in Biopolis since its completion in 2004.

Evening View of Biopolis	Arial View of the Biomedical Complex in Singaopore

Other internationally accredited institutions in Singapore include the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, the Centre for Natural Product Research (CNPR), the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), the Bioinformatics Institute, the Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and the Johns Hopkins Singapore Institute.

Along with its strengths in bioscience research, infrastructure and manufacturing, Singapore's healhcare delivery is one of the best in the world. Twenty-nine healthcare institutions provide a complete spectrum of clinical services from basic health screening to complex quaternary care. In 2005, more than 370,000 foreign patients sought treatment and it is expected to grow to 1 million by 2012. And most recently Singapore has invested S$1.44 billion ($912 million) to boost its health-care standards and clinical research capabilities for the next five years.

It is without a doubt that Singapore has strategically aligned itself to remain cutting-edge in its biosciences & clinical research, manufacturing and healthcare delivery. From September 5 - 8, 2006, BC Biotech will be taking a mission to Singapore to seek out collaboration and partnering opportunities with BC companies and organizations. For more information on this mission, please click here.