• Asia Presents New Growth Opportunities
• Trusted Base to Tap on Asia’s Opportunities
• Accessing Global Talents
• Accelerating Medical Technology Innovation
• Plug & Play R&D Campus
• Key Global Manufacturing Site
• Forging Strategic Partnerships

Asia presents new growth opportunities with a growing base of ageing population and rising affluence. In 2050, the United Nations expects Asia’s population aged 60 to grow beyond 100 million. Alongside this development, Asians’ growing purchasing power will fuel the demand for better quality healthcare systems and solutions. This growing market in Asia presents a window of opportunity for medical technology companies to venture into new frontiers and new geographies.

Meanwhile, healthcare costs are rising very quickly worldwide, especially in Western countries. This is drawing the attention of governments, businesses and individuals. A combination of factors including rising demand due to ageing population, poor hospital management systems, and shortage of healthcare workers will continue to fuel the rise in healthcare costs. Amidst these challenges, Asia presents new grounds for medical technology companies to develop solutions that can mitigate the inefficiencies in the current healthcare systems.

Singapore has established its position as a trusted and competitive site for leading medical technology companies to develop and manufacture innovative products for Asia and beyond.

Singapore is well connected with the region’s key markets, which can be accessed within seven hours by flight. In addition, the cosmopolitan city-state offers the best quality of life in Asia and has been a magnet for both global and regional talents. More than 30 leading biomedical sciences have established regional headquarters in Singapore. They include Abbott, Alcon, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Roche and Siemens Healthcare.

Singapore is well-known for its ability to attract the world’s top scientific and business talents. Charles Zukoski (Vice Chancellor of Research, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Keith Carpenter (former Industrial Advisory Board Member, UMIST, UK), Sir George Radda (former Chief Executive, Medical Research Council) and Sydney Brenner (Nobel Laureate, Salk Institute of Biological Sciences) are amongst the scientific leaders who have moved to Singapore to head the city-state’s research institutes, consortia and laboratories. Singapore is now home to more than 2,000 researchers from across the globe.

Singapore provides an enticing environment for professionals, and has been consistently ranked as Asia’s top city in terms of quality of life (Mercer HR; ECA International) and offers an excellent education system. The city-state is English-speaking, cosmopolitan - with foreigners making up a quarter of the population, and offers a range of dynamic entertainment and recreation options. In 2008, Singapore hosted Formula One’s first night race during Singapore Grand Prix. Over the next two years, it will complete two integrated resorts that host world-class hotel, convention, entertainment facilities and a casino in one location. These resorts are developed by Las Vegas Sands and Genting International. Singapore is also within a seven hour flight radius from the region’s top tourist destinations (e.g. Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bali in Indonesia, Hua Hin and Phuket in Thailand, Shangri La in China).

Singapore also recognises the need to nurture the next generation of scientists. Since 2001, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has launched a national scholarship programme that seeks to nurture 1,000 local PhD graduates in the world’s top universities. A*STAR has awarded about 800 national scholarships to date.

Singapore presents a one-stop location for companies who seek to address regional and global healthcare needs with innovative systems and solutions. Companies are able to tap on innovative ideas, technology and test-bedding infrastructure in Singapore.

In fact, companies can partner scientists in our public-sector research institutes to work on new ideas and innovations. The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is one notable example. IME has built up expertise in wireless and sensor design and has partnered companies to develop products that include pressure sensors, accelerometer for automotive applications, Bluetooth, RFID and ultra-wideband for communication applications.

As companies proceed to translate these ideas into commercially-viable products, they can source for engineering and manufacturing services ranging from IC design and software development to prototype manufacturing.

Medical technology companies can also work with hospitals to test-bed their innovative systems and solutions. As a microcosm of Asia, Singapore provides an ideal base for companies to test-bed and develop new solutions and systems for the regional and global market.

Global leaders in medical devices have invested in Singapore for R&D activities. They include Fluidigm and Hill-Rom that set up their first Asian R&D facility here for research instrumentation and electronic systems in hospital beds respectively. In addition, Qiagen opened a molecular diagnostics R&D centre in Singapore in partnership with Bio*One Capital, while PerkinElmer opened its Centre of Excellence that will serve as the base for its R&D in research instruments and diagnostics for Asia.

The Biopolis is the hallmark of Singapore’s R&D success. It co-locates public sector research institutes with corporate labs and is designed to foster a collaborative culture among the institutions and organisations under its roof. Researchers are able to access state-of-the-art facilities, scientific infrastructure and specialised services. These allow companies to cut R&D costs significantly and accelerate the development timeline. In addition, there are conference facilities and meeting rooms that companies can use.

Cafes, shops and amenities are located in the complex to create a 'work, live and play' environment to stimulate exchange of ideas amongst the researchers. The Biopolis, with about 2.4 million square feet of space, is almost completely taken up. Construction for Phase III commenced in April 2008. This will provide an additional 440,000 square feet of space for biomedical sciences R&D activities in 2010.

In October 2008, Fusionopolis, which houses Singapore’s public sector research institutes that specialise in physical sciences and engineering disciplines, officially opened. The Fusionopolis is located next to the Biopolis in the One-North community, and is intended to promote cross-disciplinary research with biomedical sciences companies and research institutes. This will in turn enhance Singapore’s capabilities in medical technology innovation.

Today, 30 global medical technology companies have invested in commercial-scale manufacturing plants in Singapore. They develop and manufacture a wide range of medical products, such as contact lenses, scientific analytical equipment, implantables, syringes, stents, catheters and hearing aids as well as research instruments. In research tools and diagnostics instruments, Singapore is one of the leading global sites that supplies more than half of the world’s micro-arrays and 50% of the global demand for thermal cyclers.

Singapore offers excellent intellectual property protection and enforcement, thereby assuring investors of reliable, continued support for process development and outsourced manufacturing activities. Coupled with the city-state’s global logistics capability, connectivity, comprehensive network of Free Trade Agreements and competitive tax environment, manufacturers are well positioned to achieve operational cost-competitiveness and enhanced outreach to Asia-Pacific markets.

Indeed, as companies seek to outsource their manufacturing activities to electronic manufacturing services and precision engineering companies, they can tap on the capabilities and expertise of our local suppliers. These suppliers adhere to strict standards of IP protection and regulatory requirements stipulated by US FDA and European EMEA. They have also received ISO 13485 certification and have established a strong track record amongst leading medical technology corporations. Their capabilities include electronic product conception, manufacturing and supply chain management; plastic components moulding; metal forming and casting; ceramics; surface treatment; cleansing, packaging and sterilisation.

Leading medical technology companies that have set up commercial-scale manufacturing facilities here include AB Sciex, Affymetrix, Baxter, Becton Dickinson,  Bio-Rad, Biosensors, Ciba Vision, Edwards Lifesciences, Fluidigm, JMS, Medtronic, PerkinElmer, Siemens Medical Instruments, Waters, West Pharma.

Singapore presents an ideal location in Asia to design, develop, test-bed and launch innovative products and solutions for the regional and global markets. It has established a strong track record and foundation in biomedical sciences manufacturing and R&D activities. The city-state is cosmopolitan, uses English (the language of science) as its lingua franca, and is strategically located at the heart of Asia within a seven-hour flight radius from other Asian cities. In addition, the city-state is well connected with key regional markets and its population comprises three key Asian ethnic groups: Chinese, Indians and Malays. Beyond geography and socio-cultural characteristics, Singapore provides diverse partnership opportunities with its public-sector research institutes, base of leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, IT and electronics companies, as well as public hospitals.

The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) are notable examples. IBN's innovative technology platform in miniaturised aqueous bioassays (DropArray^TM) and IMRE's improved microneedle design have received investments from Nanostart AG and Sumitomo Corporation Asia respectively. To test-bed new products, Intel has partnered Changi General Hospital to develop its Mobile Clinical Assistant, a lightweight mobile device that provides information on patients’ conditions and test results to caregivers who are on the move.