Introduction
As Singapore moves into a knowledge-based economy, human capital and innovation through R&D will be the key to local enterprises undertaking higher value-added activities so as to remain competitive in a fast-changing and dynamic global marketplace.

A*STAR has a sizable pool of high-quality Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs) who come from a diverse span of disciplines and bringing with them a wealth of intellectual property, knowledge, and a strong culture for innovation.

One of the principal roles of A*STAR's Research Institutes (RIs) is to serve the industry. Currently this is through collaborations, consortia, technology transfer and manpower training. Most of these activities were conducted within the RI facilities. A*STAR will extend the service to the industry to include R&D on-site at the company by seconding talented RSEs to the company. Moreover with their close ties to the RIs, seconded RSEs become natural catalysts for continued cooperation and technology transfer between RIs and local enterprises.

Initiative

The T-UP initiative, a multi-agency effort by A*STAR, EDB, SPRING Singapore, IE Singapore and IDA will second RSEs to local enterprises to enable them to access the pool of R&D talent in the Research Institutes (RIs). The RIs will endeavor to match suitable RSEs with the company based on the R&D project in mind. Partial funding will be provided to the company for the salary of the RSEs up to a maximum of 2 years. After this period, there is an option for companies to retain the seconded staff on a full-time basis if there is mutual agreement.

Since its launch in 2003, T-UP has received considerable interest from the industry. At present, over 150 RSEs have been seconded to local companies.

Objectives

1. Help local enterprises identify critical technologies and build in-house R&D capabilities relevant to their operations
2. Build a culture of innovation and creation in local enterprises
3. Forge collaborations between RIs and the local enterprises to effect technology transfer

Description
Under the initiative, local enterprises can engage RSEs from RIs to undertake the following activities:

1. Identify suitable R&D or innovation projects for upgrading their operations
2. Implement the identified R&D innovation projects for a period up to 2 years

Financial assistance will also be made available to the small and medium local enterprises.

Eligibility Criteria
The initiative is open to local enterprises with at least 30% local shareholding. For details on financial assistance, please contact any of the participating organisations.

Comments from Some Successful Applicants

Wangi Industrial Co. Pte Ltd
One company, Wangi Industrial, had been looking to expand into a new market niche involving complex mirror design for medical instrumentation. Having the business acumen and ambition but lacking the expert talent, Wangi approached Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) for help in their product plans. A perfect match was found, and Mr. Lee Kam Sung, RSE from SIMTech joined the company on secondment early this year to help boost the technical know-how of the company in this area. Wangi's Managing Director, Mr. Chew Yeow Teng, said, 'Due to limited resources, Wangi still operates in a relatively conservative manner. Very often opportunities are forgo due to high risk factors. This T-UP scheme is a great help to us, it gives us a chance and the confidence to develop more innovative process and product. It is also a platform to strengthen and nurture our manpower in skills and know-how.'

Resin & Pigment Technologies Pte Ltd.
SIMTech was able to step in and help another local company, Resin & Pigment, a chemical compound manufacturer. R&P is endeavoring to boost its R&D capabilities as it expands into China. Said, Mr. PK Yow, R&P's executive director, 'We're very interested in making engineering plastic compounds that can go on automotive or electrical components there,' (ST, 6/02/03). Mr Yow explained that he hopes this can help increase revenues by $40 million to $50 million over the next 3-5 years. Dr Lau Soo Khim, a research fellow at SIMTech offered to lend her expertise in polymer materials to jump-start the company's R&D efforts. She is now a R&D manager with R&P through the T-UP initiative.

I'M Technologies Pte Ltd
In the world of high-tech business, getting the right talent to deliver products on time and under cost is a make-or-break proposition. None know this better than I'M Technologies, a 2-year old start-up specialising in developing SIM cards for mobile phones. Mr. Teo Zee Vee, CEO of I'M Technologies, said, 'We face three issues. A lack of talent, a lack of time and a lack of money. It is difficult to find people who can hit the right note,'. (ST, 6/02/03) Mr. Teo further explained that highly skilled talents are mainly found in MNCs and Research Institutes. However, through the T-UP initiative, I'M Technologies has been able to tap on the expertise of Mr Nirmalya Ghosh from the Institute for Infocomm Research to work on its latest technologies.

Profile of Participating Research Institutes from A*STAR

Data Storage Institute
Spearheading world-class R&D in next-generation data storage technologies, DSI is positioned to lead and support the growth of the data storage industry in Singapore. It focuses on developing leading-edge technologies in Magnetic Head, Media and Materials, Mechanical, Electronics Systems Design, Optical Technology and Network Storage Technology.

Contact Information:
Data Storage Institute (DSI)
DSI Building
5 Engineering Drive 1
(off Kent Ridge Crescent, NUS)
Singapore 117608

Tel: (65) 6874 6600
Fax: (65) 6776 6527

Web Site: http://www.dsi.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Person: Mr Tan Choon Keng
DID: 6874 8504 (tan_choon_keng@dsi.a-star.edu.sg)

Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R)
The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) was established through the merger of Laboratories for Information Technology (LIT) and the Institute for Communications Research (ICR). The capabilities that have been built up in former institutes have now been integrated, thereby making Singapore a key player in the rapidly converging fields of IT and communication technology.

R&D capability in the infocomm sciences and technology that resides in I2R includes enabling technologies and processes that would drive new and enhanced services in a knowledge-based economy, such as Knowledge & Discovery, Ubiquitous Computing, Distributed Systems, Media Engineering and Signal Processing.

In the area of wireless and optical communications, I2R has capabilities in Future Mobile Communications Systems, Internet Technologies, Pico and Broadband Access Network, Mobile Device to Device Communications, Wavelength Division Multiplexing Systems, Network Design & Management and Fibre Devices.

Contact Information:
Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)
21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Singapore 119613

Tel: (65) 6874 7588
Fax: (65) 6776 8109

Website: http://www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg
Contact Person: Mr Gerard Ang
DID: 6874 6143 (gerard@i2r.a-star.edu.sg)

Institute of High Performance Computing
With a pro-active outreach towards industry and armed with a team of domain-specific computational researchers, IHPC is well-placed to aid industry in improving quality and yield of products and processes while reducing cost and time-to-market using its sophisticated resources and tools. Its area of specialisation include Computational Electro-Magnetics and Electronics, Computational Chemistry, Computational and Fluid Dynamics, and Computational Micro-Electro-Mechanical System.

Contact Information:
Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC)
1 Science Park Road
#01-01 The Capricorn
Singapore Science Park II
Singapore 117528

Tel: (65) 6419 1111
Fax: (65) 6778 0522

Web Site: http://www.ihpc.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Person: Mr. Ravi Varahamurthy
DID: 6419 1204 (ravi@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg)

Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
Established in 1996, IMRE undertakes research in selected fields of materials science and engineering. It seeks to partner with international organisations and industry in a synergistic, multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to materials research and development. IMRE develops core competence and interdisciplinary teams in critical technology areas, enabling it to make fundamental new discoveries, develop advanced materials that can lead to new commercial products, and transform various technologies.

Contact Information:
Institute of Materials Research & Engineering (IMRE)
3 Research Link
Singapore 117602

Tel: (65) 6874 8111
Fax: (65) 6872 0785

Web Site: http://www.imre.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Person: Mr Rick Ong
DID: 6513 1198 (ongr@imre.a-star.edu.sg)

Institute of Microelectronics
IME is developing cut-edge technologies for the electronics industry through a combination of diverse talents and state-of-the-art facilities. These include Deep Submicron Integrated Circuit Technology with competencies in CMOS RFIC chips with integrated copper and low k process technology, and Sub 0.18 micron lithography process technology, for wireless communication applications such as Bluetooth, CDMA and WCDMA. It also has world-class capabilities in advanced packaging technologies such as flip-chip and 3-D packaging, silicon-based sensors for better control in automotives, high-quality and low-cost silicon microphones and Bio-sensors including those for DNA research.

Contact Information:
Institute of Microelectronics (IME)
11 Science Park Road
Singapore Science Park II
Singapore 117685

Tel: (65) 6779 7522
Fax: (65) 6778 0136

Web Site: http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Person: Ms. Kate Chia Li Huang
DID: 6770 5307 (lihuang@ime.a-star.edu.sg)

Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
SIMTech, the national research institute in manufacturing technology, is committed to enhancing the competitiveness of Singapore's industries through the generation and application of advanced manufacturing technology. Its areas of research focus include Automation, Manufacturing IT and Process Technology for Manufacturing.

Contact Information:
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)
Nanyang Technological University
71 Nanyang Drive
Singapore 638075

Tel: (65) 6793 8383, 67938384
Fax: (65) 6791 6377

Web Site: http://www.simtech.a-star.edu.sg

Contact Person: Mr Joshua Thong
DID: 6793 8598 (cmthong@simtech.a-star.edu.sg)

Participating Organisations

	Agency For Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR) 30 Biopolis Street #09-01 Matrix Singapore 138671 Tel (65) 6826 6111 Fax: (65) 6779 8061 Web Site: http://www.a-star.edu.sg E-mail: A-STAR_T-UP@a-star.edu.sg
	Economic Development Board (EDB) 250 North Bridge Road #24-00 Raffles City Tower Singapore 179101 Tel: (65) 6336 2288 Fax: (65) 6339 6077 Web Site: http://www.sedb.com E-mail: webmaster@edb.gov.sg
	Infocomm Development authority of Singapore (IDA) 8 Temasek Boulevard #14-00 Suntec Tower 3 Singapore 038988 Tel: (65) 6211 0888 Fax: (65) 6211 2222 Web Site: http://www.ida.gov.sg Email: info@ida.gov.sg
	International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore)230 Victoria Street #09-00 Bugis Junction Office Tower Singapore 188024 Tel: (65) 6337 6628 Fax: (65) 6337 6898 Web Site: http://www.iesingapore.com Email: enquiry@iesingapore.gov.sg
	SPRING Singapore (Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board) SME First Stop 2 Bukit Merah Central Singapore 159835 Tel: (65) 6898 1800 Fax: (65) 6276 9606 Web Site: http://www.spring.gov.sg Email: firststop@spring.gov.sg

How to Proceed
If you know the Research Institute(s) that you would like to talk to, please proceed to contact the relevant person(s) listed under each institute above. However if you need further assistance and/or information, please e-mail us at: A-STAR_Get-Up@a-star.edu.sg.

Other Government Incentives
Find out other government incentives that help startups and SMEs to finance, upgrade, or expand their businesses at http://www.business.gov.sg/incentives/.