Balázs Gulyás, President of ELKH, Co-Chair of the National Science Policy Council and Professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), discussed the possibilities of expanding existing research, development and innovation (RDI) collaborations between Hungary and Singapore, as well as sharing experiences and best practices from Singapore, recognized as one of the leading RDI centers in the world. The meeting held on June 5, 2023 at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister was also attended by Ambassador Judit Pach, Hungary's Ambassador to Singapore and Professor Andy Khor, Deputy Research Managing Director of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), who will take part in shaping joint programs on behalf of Singapore.
The leaders have agreed to establish a formal exchange program to promote cooperation between NRF and ELKH. The program will facilitate the launch of new joint research projects and foster collaboration among researchers from both organizations. Hungary can find inspiration in Singapore's five-year Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE) strategy, in which A*STAR plays a significant role. The establishment of CREATE – Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise in Singapore, an international research campus and innovation hub hosting NRF and interdisciplinary research centers from top universities, also serves as a remarkable model. Adopting best practices can contribute to the success of the government’s János Neumann Program, in which ELKH, along with other stakeholders in the Hungarian RDI ecosystem, plays an important role.
Singapore is recognized as one of the world’s leading countries in RDI. The government has provided significant investments to support the development of its RDI capabilities and R&D projects. It has established an outstanding education system and placed great emphasis on fostering collaborations between academia, industry and government agencies. As a result, Singapore has become a hub for scientific research, technology development, and innovation, its leading universities and research institutions attract the world's most talented professionals.