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28 July 2006

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE
ACADEMIC RESEARCH COUNCIL

1.         MOE’s Academic Research Council (ARC), chaired by Professor Robert Brown, President of Boston University and Honorary Citizen of Singapore, held its inaugural meeting on 26 and 27 July 2006. 

2.         MOE has established the ARC to ensure that it has access to the best expertise to advise on:
        •  Strategic thrusts for Singapore’s academic research; and
        •  Optimal investment of the Academic Research Fund (AcRF)

Role of the ARC

3.         The ARC aims to support the national drive to strengthen Singapore’s research and development capabilities in areas aligned with long-term national strategic interests. The ARC will discuss and make recommendations on academic research policies and strategies in universities.

4.         The ARC will consider new initiatives to develop research excellence in universities. This will enhance the important role universities play in the national drive to develop Singapore into a world-class centre for research, innovation and technology.

5.         In addition, the ARC will advise MOE on the allocation of research funding in line with international standards.  The funding allocation will be approved by the Academic Research Board (ARB) chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Education, LG(NS) Lim Chuan Poh.

Composition of the ARC

6.         The ARC comprises renowned academics, scientists and research administrators. The list of ARC members is at Annex A. Members have been appointed to the ARC for a three-year period from 1 Jun 2006 to 31 May 2009.  Please refer to Annex B for the Terms of Reference.

Background

Academic Research Fund

7.         The Academic Research Fund (AcRF) was established in 1994 to support academic research in the Singapore universities. The research supported by the AcRF should fulfil the following four objectives:

a.         Creating new knowledge which will form the foundation for future innovations and discoveries;

b.         Enhancing the universities’ reputations, making them more attractive to researchers, academics and students, and adding to the overall attractiveness of Singapore as a talent hub;

c.         Improving the overall quality of education for students by encouraging university staff to be engaged in the latest thinking and discoveries in their fields; and

d.         Providing quality postgraduate manpower training so as to nurture locally-based talent to meet the needs of academia and the economy.

8.         As announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in August 2005[1], the AcRF will be increased from $550 million for the period 2001 to 2005 to S$1.05 billion for the next 5 years.

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[1]  In his National Day Rally Speech in 2005, PM Lee announced that the Government had accepted the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Research and Development. One of the recommendations was the increase in the AcRF.