FCCS Focus Magazine - Summer 2010 by The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

Focus

The Magazine of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

Summer 2010

www.fccsingapore.com

Singapore, a Living Lab

France-Singapore Cooperation in Science | Meeting the Challenges of the Future | Innovation in Sustainability | CINTRA: A FranceSingapore Research Alliance | IPAL: A Decade-Long Success Story

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CONTENTS

September 2010

EDITORIAL 03

SHORT NEWS

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French Companies in Singapore

September 2010

SHORT NEWS 04 AIR FRANCE, KLM and Jetstar Group Enter in Unprecedented Interline Agreement 30 New Airbus A320s Twinjets to be Fitted with Sagem Flight Data Recorders Anne Fontaine Opens its First Flagship Store in Singapore SingPost and TransferTo™ Launch Cross-Border Mobile Airtime Transfer Service

The new store will welcome clients with shades of white mixed in with natural and noble materials which dominate the store’s design. It has plenty of distinctive features, which create an exclusive environment boasting warmth and luxury. The combination of natural materials and textures embodies the essence of

04 04 06 06

Anne’s love of modernity and nature. “The concept behind the shop is simple: to experience a little bit of the French lifestyle”, says designer Anne Fontaine.

“I am so happy to be opening in the Marina Bay Sands’ area as Singapore is blooming with energy; we are thrilled with the location and eager to introduce the brand to one of the country’s most important markets. Marina Bay Sands being a name synonymous with luxury fashion in Singapore, it seemed like a natural fit”, says Fontaine who has plans to further expand in Asia this year, bringing her total to 73 privately owned shops.

SingPost and TransferTo™ Launch Cross-Border Mobile Airtime Transfer Service Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) and TransferTo™, the international airtime transfer company, announced in July the launch of Singapore’s first over-the-counter mobile airtime transfer service. With this new service, foreign nationals living in Singapore can instantaneously top up the prepaid mobile cards of their loved ones back home at any of SingPost’s 62 post offices island-wide. This mobile airtime transfer service will be a blessing to some 1.25 million non-residents in Singapore, enabling them to maintain strong ties with their families and loved ones abroad. It complements the remittance services available at SingPost’s branches, giving these residents another option to top up overseas prepaid mobile cards, besides the traditional method of cash transfers.

COVER STORY 08

Those wanting to send small-value gifts to their loved ones on special occasions such as birthdays, festivals or anniversaries, will welcome the cross-border mobile airtime transfer service which provides immediate top-up.

TransferTo’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Eric Barbier said: “We are thrilled to have partnered with SingPost to make this service available to expatriates and foreign workers in Singapore. Many of them send part of their earnings every month directly to the household head back home, but until now they lacked a way to send smaller amounts of value to the rest of their families.” SingPost’s Executive Vice President (Retail & Financial Services), Mr Loh Choo Beng said: “Foreign nationals working or residing here make up about a quarter of our population. I imagine they have many loved ones back home with whom they wish to stay connected. This mobile airtime transfer service is ideal as gifts – low in cost but high in value. A foreign employee here, for example, will now have the means to give as many “gifts of love” to her young children to continue to be a part of their lives. It is truly a win-win-win solution all round.” F

SINGAPORE, A LIVING LAB France-Singapore Cooperation in Science and Higher Education Meeting the Challenges of the Future Servier, a French Company with a Mission Innovation in Sustainability Clean Technologies Integrated in the Product Development Innovating in Asia-Pacific CINTRA: A France-Singapore Research Alliance IPAL: A Decade-Long Success Story From Exploratory Research to Process Development Doing Basic Research in Singapore

09 10 12 14 17 18 20 22 24 27

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Singapore, a Living Lab

September 2010

Servier, a French Company with a Mission By Mr Steven Thys, Director of International Centre for Therapeutic Research (ICTR) Southeast Asia & India, Servier Singapore and Mr Frederic Fouilloux, General Manager, Servier Singapore Servier is a privately owned French pharmaceutical company, established by Dr. Jacques Servier in 1954.

Servier is today the first independent French pharmaceutical company, being present in 140 countries and representing a total turnover of € 3.6 billion in 2009. Indeed, the pace of its growth has been impressive: from the birth of the Company in France with just 9 people, the company has expanded to a global international presence bolstered by a total workforce of over 20,000 individuals worldwide, including nearly 3,000 in Research and Development (R&D). The therapeutic areas of its interest in-

clude cardiology, diabetes, rheumatology, neuropsychiatry and oncology. Over the past 30 years, Servier has developed a significant number of innovative medicines in these areas that have greatly contributed to the treatment of patients worldwide. More recently, Servier has successfully launched new products in osteoporosis, heart disease and depression.

drugs and of the patients benefiting from them. Just as importantly, we want our research to contribute to the progress of medicine. Research to Servier is at least as vital as being an industry. Our third goal is all the more crucial as it is too often overlooked: it is that every person working for us should find fulfillment through and in what they do.

The activities within the Company are guided by three key objectives. Obviously, the main priority is to satisfy both the needs of the physicians who prescribe our

Servier’s unwavering commitment to R&D is at the root of its staying power. Every

AT THE FOREFRONT OF RESEARCH

FCCS HR & TRAINING SERVICES 29 FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES 30 French Technology Exhibits @ BroadcastAsia & CommunicAsia 2010 The ICT Awards 2010 Upcoming Exhibitions in Singapore Cap Asean Seminar Newly Set Up Companies through the FCCS Business Support

30 32 32 33 34

FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES

34 French companies gathered under the French Pavilions organised by the FCCS at CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia 2010. A successful event provided the exhibitors with a great platform to showcase their innovative solutions to decision-makers in the Asia region.

35 35 36 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 45 48 49 50 54 56

September 2010

Arts, who visited Grass Valley on the first day of the show.

tunities to network with other companies and trade visitors during the MDA Business Partners’ Nite.

During a networking event organised on FCCS booth, we had the great pleasure to welcome members of IDA (Infocomm Development Authority) and SiTF (Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation).

Technologies such as IT services, telecommunications equipment, mobile TV, HDTV, IPTV and Digital TV were some of the highlights offered under the French technology.

Singaporean VIPs honoured the French Pavilions with their presence such as RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the

Thanks to a successful partnership with MDA (Media Development Authority), BroadcastAsia exhibitors had many oppor-

We look forward to welcoming you at the French Pavilions @ BroadcastAsia/CommunicAsia in 2011! F

Ajimi – Content over IP (MPEG-TS) off line reliability solution.

Enensys Technologies – Broadcast network equipment and test & monitoring.

Partex International – Sales and rental of lighting balloons and inflatables.

Diconex – Microwave passives components.

Grass Valley – Broadcast solutions supplier.

Digidia – DAB/DAB+/ DMB multiplexers, encoders and IP gateways, DRM/DRM+ content servers and modulators, synchronous FM decoders and head-end.

HTTV – iTV services, video mosaic, EPG/PVR, IPTV middleware, VOD solutions, iTV streamers.

WinMedia Asia – Complete broadcast software suite for radio/TV.

Hybrid – Broadcast robotic camera support and virtual studio.

WorldCast Systems – Audio & video delivery, transmission & monitoring.

Logiways – Conditional access system, DVB middleware.

XD Productions – Real-time low cost 3D animation system.

FCCS CLUB EVENTS 35 Asia Committee Energy & Environment Committee HR Committee Tax & Legal Committee Marketing & Communication Committee Finance Committee Entrepreneurs Committee R&D Committee IT Committee Luxury & Retail Committee Events & Gala Committee Finals of the 2010 FCCS Tennis Tournament FCCS Annual General Meeting 2010 FCCS Gala Dinner - A Night in Versailles FCCS New Members FCCS Privilege Card

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Tradeshows in Singapore

French Technology Exhibits @ BroadcastAsia & CommunicAsia 2010

Digigram – Professional sound cards, IP audio codecs and other network audio solutions.

ProConsultant Informatique – Media-savvy solutions for multiplatform business management.

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FCCS CLUB EVENTS

September 2010

Entrepreneurs Committee

EDB and SPRING's Support Schemes This FCCS-BLBG joint-event organised by our Entrepreneurs Committee aimed at getting further information on Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and SPRING's support schemes. Despite weathering through one of the worst global economic crisis in recent history, Asia remains the growth story of the 21st century. Singapore's ability to provide a Pan-Asian perspective has seen the citystate strengthen its position as a leading

global city in Asia. Our first speaker, Mr Julian Ho, Assistant Managing Director EDB, shared on EDB and its role in the economic development of Singapore, as well as its strategies for positioning Singapore for the future. This included EDB's 'Host to Home' strategy which builds on the country's existing capabilities and seeks to further anchor Singapore as a home for international business, innovation and talent.

Then, our second speaker, Mr Johnny Teo, Head of Europe, SPRING, provided a clear overview on the role of SPRING and strategies for enterprise development. Mr Teo then detailed their approach and incentives to support local enterprises, and their work in facilitating partnership opportunities with enterprises in Europe. This joint Breakfast Talk was well received by 40 entrepreneurs from the Belgian and French communities. F

Cultivating Entrepreneurship: Your Road to Success The Entrepreneurs and Luxury and Retail Committees were honoured to welcome Mr Mike Balfour, Founder and Chairman of The Hideaways Club, Europe's Leading International Property Investment Fund, who shared his entrepreneurial experience with our attendees. In November 1992 Mike Balfour, a qualified chartered accountant, purchased an old squash club in Bournemouth that had gone into bankruptcy and was soon to be-

come the first of 550 Fitness First health clubs worldwide. This was the beginning of one of the most exciting and rewarding entrepreneurial careers over the past two decades as Mike built up the Fitness First brand from humble beginnings to one of the largest international chain of health clubs in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and Australia. Fitness First floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and was taken private in a £415 million management buyout in 2003. With 1.5 million members operating in 21 countries worldwide and over 20,000 employees, Fitness First is now the largest chain of health clubs in the world. In November 2005 BC Partners, a private equity firm, acquired Fitness First for £835 million in a management secondary buyout.

After 17 years Mike left the Board of Fitness First to pursue other interests and in 2007 founded The Hideaways Club, a leading international property investment fund that offers its members the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy an entire portfolio of luxury villas, chalets and apartments throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and Southeast Asia. Mike became Chairman of the company and over the past three years has built The Hideaways Club up to be the largest of its kind in Europe with over 30 multi-million euro properties and 140 members. Over the next three years The Hideaways Club is targeting 600 members and 100 properties. Current locations include Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Majorca, Ibiza, Croatia, Morocco, South Africa, Mauritius, Bali and Phuket with more coming on line this year. In 1999 he became PWC Entrepreneur of the year and in 2001 Ernst&Young Entrepreneur of the year. F

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FCCS PATRON MEMBERS

September 2010

The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore would like to thank its Patron Members for their continuous support.

Singapore Office

FCCS Focus Magazine is published by the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS). The views and opinions expressed in its columns do not necessarily reflect those of the FCCS members and management.

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THE FRENCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SINGAPORE 541 Orchard Road #09-01 Liat Towers Singapore 238881 Tel: +65 6735 5523 Fax: +65 6735 5394 www.fccsingapore.com info@fccsingapore.com

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EDITORIAL

September 2010

Singapore: a Living Lab! ingaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R&D landscape has greatly evolved in the last decade.

Over the past few years, we have witnessed the gradual transformation of the City-State into a key R&D hub for Asia-Pacific. The decisions and orientations of the Singaporean authorities have clearly been pushing forward in this direction. Indeed, the Singaporean Government has managed to develop a new, vibrant eco-system including an efficient education environment (with wellknown universities such as NUS and NTU), sound institutions (such as A*Star), ambitious new structures (Fusionopolis and Biopolis), and strong support schemes. France is particularly involved in developing the R&D hub in Singapore. With new R&D centres of French companies set up in Singapore and growing incentives from the French Government, the French scientific community is now fully recognised as belonging to the Singapore scientific environment. Several initiatives of collaborations and partnerships between French and Singaporean academic institutions have already taken place, such as CINTRA and IPAL joint-labs. These examples

illustrate perfectly the attractiveness of Singapore and reinforce the relevance for French actors to be part of this buzzing sector. In order to encourage this dynamism, the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore launched a specialised R&D Committee last January, in order to foster interaction, share experiences and reinforce the Singaporean and French scientific communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Singapore is seen as a hub for scientific diversity of international caliber, excelling at developing creativity and innovation. It is a great place to work from the exploratory phase to its application, with a combination of innovation and sustainability that does not focus on economic results only. We can thank the French scientific community, Academic Institutions and companies, for their dynamism and efforts to make Singapore a great place to lead R&D programmes and projects.

Jean-Philippe LAUNAY Vice President, Asia R&D Centre, Essilor; Co-President, R&D Committee, The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

SHORT NEWS

FOCUS MAGAZINE September 2010

French Companies in Singapore

AIR FRANCE, KLM and Jetstar Group Enter in Unprecedented Interline Agreement AIR FRANCE and KLM and the Jetstar Group of Airlines (Jetstar, Jetstar Asia / Valuair and Jetstar Pacific) have entered into a landmark interline agreement. Within this agreement, Jetstar, AIR FRANCE and KLM will form an interline partnership which will encompass all Jetstar ports, which now totals almost 60 across the network including 21 direct markets into Singapore, and AIR FRANCE and KLM hubs in Paris and Amsterdam. This is the first interline agreement covering all Jetstar airlines as a collective signed with a full service carrier outside its parent company Qantas. Mrs Marnix Fruitema, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, AIR FRANCE KLM said, “This is a strategic move towards improving our product offering in this fast growing region of the world. By joining forces with Jetstar we are offering more choice in destinations between Europe and the Asia Pacific.” Jetstar Executive Manager Commercial, Mr David Koczkar said,

“Today’s announcement represents the first interline agreement that the Jetstar Group, made up of our growing networks across the Asia Pacific region, has collectively signed with another airline.” “This partnership with one of Europe’s most established carriers will provide new opportunities for customers to more easily travel to the almost 60 destinations across the Asia Pacific region that Jetstar serves, including through our growing Singapore hub. It also supports Jetstar’s position as the largest low cost carrier in Asia Pacific.” “Importantly, I also expect that this partnership will have a positive impact on increasing accessibility for customers within our domestic networks in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam, leading to significant benefits for each of these local tourism industries.” Mr Paul Rombeek, General Manager Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, AIR FRANCE KLM said, “The combined network of AIR FRANCE and KLM, Jetstar offer our customers unprecedented and convenient flight connections throughout East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The timing of this agreement is impeccable as Jetstar grows its footprint in the region.” F

30 New Airbus A320 Twinjets to be Fitted with Sagem Flight Data Recorders Sagem (Safran Group) has won an international call for tenders from Singapore-based Tiger Airways to supply a flight data interface & management unit (FDIMU) for 30 new Airbus A320 twinjets, plus 20 more on option. Meeting all air transport regulations (FAR 121.344, JAR OPS1), the FDIMU provides data used in reports that track aircraft status (engines and landing gear). Airlines use this data to improve maintenance scheduling, and reduce their fleet’s fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This latest contract clearly reflects the confidence placed in Sagem by a true low-cost carrier that scrutinises every aspect of its business to remove non-essential costs without compromising safety, security and punctuality.

Founded in September 2004, Tiger Airways is the third leading low-cost carrier in the Asia-Pacific region. Largest air transporter of Singapore, Tiger Airways exploits a fleet of 19 Airbus A320-family aircraft, and is committed to increasing its fleet size to 68 by December 2015. Sagem has been a supplier of flight data acquisition, processing and recording units for more than 20 years. The excellent performance of these units capitalises on synergies with other companies in the Safran group, for instance in terms of the algorithms governing engine, landing gear and braking system operation. The FDIMU and other air data units are compatible with the Analysis Ground Stations (AGS) developed by Sagem. F

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SHORT NEWS French Companies in Singapore

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Anne Fontaine Opens its First Flagship Store in Singapore Anne Fontaine has opened the doors of its newest concept store this August at Marina Bay Sands. The shop is designed by worldrenowned architect Andrée Putman, and offers clients a unique shopping experience while allowing them to share Anne’s vision of her brand. The new store will welcome clients with shades of white mixed in with natural and noble materials which dominate the store’s design. It has plenty of distinctive features, which create an exclusive environment boasting warmth and luxury. The combination of natural materials and textures embodies the essence of

Anne’s love of modernity and nature. “The concept behind the shop is simple: to experience a little bit of the French lifestyle”, says designer Anne Fontaine.

COVER STORY Singapore, a Living Lab

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Singapore, a Living Lab

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

France-Singapore Cooperation in Science and Higher Education Interview with Mr Walid Benzarti, Science and Higher Education Attaché, French Embassy in Singapore

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN SINGAPORE? Our main objective is to foster high level cooperation in Science and Higher Education between France and Singapore public and private academic and research institutions. In science, we go from facilitating the development of joint research projects to the establishment of joint laboratories between French and Singaporean institutions with exchange of scientists. In Higher Education, we would like to bring study opportunities in France to Singapore’s pupils and students. At the same time, we encourage exchange of students between both countries. We also help universities from both countries set-up dual and joint degrees at the graduate but also at the Ph.D. level. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE TOOLS OFFERED BY THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN SINGAPORE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS? Our flagship programme labelled “Merlion” was established with our Singaporean partners (A*STAR, NTU, SMU, NUS, TLL, NNI and SERI) in 2005 to fund joint proposals. The selected projects under this programme1 can benefit from up to 30.000€ over two years for living and travel expenses between the two countries or to organise joint Workshops. The spin off programme called “Merlion PhD” provides scholarships to students from Singapore to spend up to 18 months in a French partner laboratory during their Ph D. Other than this, we produce reports and surveys through e-bulletins on the scientific activities in Singapore2 to inform the French scientific community of the different

programmes and achievements done by the Singapore scientists and research institutions. Our team of Liaison Officers works very closely with the R&D institutions in both countries to help the scientists identify their ideal partners. We also organise scientific seminars where we bring in scientists from France to meet with their counterparts in Singapore and offer them the opportunity to establish cooperation projects in the most strategic fields.

with A*STAR, NUS and UJF-Grenoble (Université Joseph Fourier). • CINTRA with Thales and NTU in the field of Nanophotonics. SONDRA is another Lab, based in France, where Supelec, DSTA, ONERA and NUS join forces to work in the field of Signal processing and Electromagnetism. INSERM (French Health Research Centre) has also established a joint lab with A*STAR to fight Malaria.

We were also instrumental in the conclusion of an agreement in January 2010 between ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) and A*STAR (Agency for Science Technology And Research) for funding joint research projects between French and Singaporean institutions’ scientists. On another side, together with Campus France, the agency in charge of promoting student mobility, we help the best students in Singapore identify the most appropriate French academic institution where they would like to further pursue their studies. For this, we systematically organise information sessions and presentations in Singaporean Junior colleges, universities, the MOELC, research institutes…

In the field of Higher Education, a Double Degree Programme in engineering exists between NUS and 6 outstanding Grandes Ecoles in Paris as well as a joint MBA between NUS and HEC. Joint Ph.D. agreements have just been signed between NTU and UTT (Université Technologique de Troyes) as well as between NTU and ParisTech. F

WHAT ARE THE FLAGSHIP COOPERATION PROGRAMMES RUNNING BETWEEN FRANCE AND SINGAPORE RESEARCH AND/OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS?

TOP Prof. Claude Cohen Tannoudji (Physics Nobel Laureate in 1997) after giving a talk at the Raffles Institution (RI) and a public speech at NTU on his scientific career took the time to explain his research to RI bright students - events co-organised by the French Embassy, July 2010.

CNRS (French National Research Centre) has 2 Joint labs (UMI) in Singapore:

NOTE

• iPal in the field of imaging technologies

www.ambafrance-sg.org/sciencetech-platform/merlion

www.bulletins-electroniques.com

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Singapore, a Living Lab

Meeting the Challenges of the Future By Mr Jean-Philippe Launay, Vice President, Asia R & D Centre, Essilor

Set up in 2003 and inaugurated in 2004 in Singapore, Essilor Asia Research & Development Centre belongs to a worldwide network of four Essilor R&D Centres and covers in particular its R&D activities on the AsiaPaciﬁc region.

It is important for Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic lenses, to be equipped with creativity and innovation structures in each continent in order to meet specific needs. All our studies and research programmes being consolidated on a worldwide basis, we want to be present on all continents so as to have access to information, expertise and worldwide scientific skills, while using a combination of our own local talent structures with partnerships concluded with major universities and independent research centres. The international scientific diversity is a major asset for developing creativity and innovation.

BOTTOM Essilor Ethnic Progressive Products Range

“

The international scientific diversity is a major asset for developing creativity and innovation.

”

Singapore, the key point of Asia-Pacific, represents a scientific competence base in most of the fields required for our research activities, from raw material science to the understanding of the eyesight, including chemistry, physics, physiology, psychology and many other complex fields, such as computer science and communication. Although Singapore is limited in size, the quality of its infrastructure, environment and quality of life are great assets for attracting local and regional scientific researchers who are skilled in most of our

fields of competencies. In addition to this, setting up in Singapore is largely simplified and facilitated by the numerous incentives and support schemes offered by the Singaporean authorities. Their ability to listen to the needs in terms of talents and research skills and their responding actions contribute to reinforcing Singapore’s competitiveness. The Asian world is both complex and simple in our applications fields; the first eyesight disorder in Asia is myopia, especially in countries with Chinese ethnic groups or

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

“ Chinese origin. Our Singapore-based R&D centre has thus become the barycentre of our studies and research on myopia. We study the eyesight disorder and its cause, and we develop solutions to correct or control its evolution. Our works since the creation of the R&D centre have allowed us to get a better understanding of myopia and its development. Several corrective and delayed-action of myopia’s growth concepts have been tested and we are about to conceive the first product able to fit all Asian children suffering from myopia. Singapore will be our first test market. Our second research focus area is the characterisation of the eyesight system in its whole process (lens, eye, cerebral system), according to the ethnicity of the

Singapore will be our first test market.

populations. Our works have led us to discover several differentiated parameters, allowing us to create an “ethnic” range of products answering the specific needs of the Chinese, Indian and Korean populations. This is today a major commercial success, reinforcing the interest for pursuing this type of studies.

Last but not least, in order to answer all our needs in terms of development, we manage a network of external competencies through various scientific, academic and industrial collaborations or partnerships, allowing us to find externally the best expertise in many different fields worldwide.

Our research is also oriented on new materials and technologies for our products, including organic polymers, coating technology, nano-materials and nano-technologies. All these works aim at improving the treatment of surfaces and materials in order to constantly improve the optical and mechanical performances of the products, allowing the user to benefit from a better eyesight correction and a better comfort.

Our proximity and ability to listen to the markets help us in being creative, innovating and fast, qualities which are the pillars of Essilor’s R&D. Our measuring system is the commercial success and the speed of implementation, with of course our customers’ satisfaction. Our mission is to preserve and correct the eyesight of each and every person, around the world. F

WORLDWIDE PREVALENCE OF MYOPIA AMONG CHILDREN (AFTER 1988 AND AGE<16 YEARS)

0-10 % 10-20 % 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% No data

”

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

Servier is today the first independent French pharmaceutical company, being present in 140 countries and representing a total turnover of â&#x201A;Ź 3.6 billion in 2009. Indeed, the pace of its growth has been impressive: from the birth of the Company in France with just 9 people, the company has expanded to a global international presence bolstered by a total workforce of over 20,000 individuals worldwide, including nearly 3,000 in Research and Development (R&D). The therapeutic areas of its interest in-

The activities within the Company are guided by three key objectives. Obviously, the main priority is to satisfy both the needs of the physicians who prescribe our

AT THE FOREFRONT OF RESEARCH Servierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unwavering commitment to R&D is at the root of its staying power. Every

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

“

More than 25% of the turnover is reinvested in Research and Development.

”

year more than 25% of the turnover is reinvested in Research and Development. These extensive investments have been rewarded with major achievements, epitomised by the synthesis of over 35,000 molecules, 8,000 of which have been patented throughout the world.

tic Research (ICTRs) in 19 countries. These centres supply the increasingly complex logistics needed to perform the largescale clinical trials now required for drug development

Over the last 20 years the Company has set up International Centres for Therapeu-

In Singapore, Servier has been providing a range of high-standard medical treat-

OUR ACTIVITIES IN SINGAPORE

ments to doctors and their patients for more than 30 years. Servier Singapore Pte Ltd was set up in 1991 and is presenting Servier’s drugs in Singapore. Today, nearly 50 people are working for Servier in Singapore both within the subsidiary and the ICTR. Indeed, since 2006, Servier has increased its investment in Research & Development in Singapore and has set up an International Centre for Therapeutic Research (ICTR). This R&D department serves as a regional platform for managing clinical studies on Servier medicines in the whole of Southeast Asia and India. It is the 4th and youngest structure of its kind in Asia after similar departments were created in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul. Singapore, a country that is fast becoming a leading hub for clinical trials in Asia, offers a worldclass transport network, a favourable tax regime and a highly-educated Englishspeaking population. This strategic location will allow the company to expand its presence for R&D on the Asian continent. At present, the ICTR employs 12 people with a medical or scientific background working on various studies in cardiology, rheumatology, oncology and psychiatry ranging from phase 1 to phase 3. The primary mission of the ICTR in Singapore is to implement and to guarantee the progress of clinical studies in Southeast Asia and India respecting quality, timelines and costs. A multidisciplinary team of Clinical Research Associates, Medical Reviewers, Quality Assurance Managers and Clinical Project Managers form the backbone of the ICTR’s organisation. It is their role to perform feasibility studies in the different countries, to set up the studies in the participating hospitals and to ensure the quality of the study by performing monitoring visits and/or audits on site. Besides that, the ICTR also holds another major responsibility in ensuring safety for the experimental medicines under development as well as for those made available to doctors and patients in Singapore. F

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

Innovation in Sustainability By Mr Jean-Manuel Mas, Regional Technical Director, Rhodia Novecare Asia-Pacific Rhodia Novecare, leading specialty chemicals company in the surfactant business, provides value-added chemical solutions to selected consumer and industrial market segments: home and personal care, agrochemicals, coatings, metal treatment, oilﬁeld, paper and textile industries...

Rhodia has strong growth ambition in the Asia Pacific region, thanks to organic and external growth and innovation to address the needs of our customers on a longterm basis. Sustainability is one key driver for this growth and our innovation projects are assessed according to economic, environmental and societal issues: climate change, natural resources consumption, ecosystems impact, human health, water management. Committed fully with our responsibility toward the future we, at Rhodia, have developed tools following life cycle analysis principle to evaluate the design of innovative products and processes to answer to sustainability challenges for today and tomorrow. Environment aspects such as eco-toxicity, biodegradability or renewable resources are key parameters to take also into account when designing a formulation. A number of sustainable innovations have already been achieved and recognised with prizes or through certification: - Rhodapex® ESB-70NAT, a foaming agent for shampoos, shower gels and liquid hand soaps, is the first SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ethoxylate Sulfate) compliant with the cosmetic ECOCERT label. This petrochemical-free surfactant is produced from ethylene oxide derived from sugar cane and lauryl alcohol from palm oil. - Rhodiasolv® IRIS, thanks to its low environmental im-

“

Our innovation projects are assessed according to economic, environmental and societal issues.

pact (biodegradability, non labeled characteristics), may replace a wide range of current solvents which are toxic, carcinogenic or volatile (N-methyl-pyrrolidone, Dichloromethane, Xylene, Glycols ethers…). This eco-friendly solvent has received the French prize Pierre Potier 2009 for “Innovation in Chemistry Supporting Sustainable Development”. Fundamental knowledge of surfactant structure/property relationship is used methodically to design formulations that meet those safety, environmental and cost-performance criteria in our current projects. For example, in the asphalt emulsions industry, we are developing new amphoteric

”

surfactants with favourable ecotoxic profile and high biodegradability which are of growing interest with respect of worker’s health and safety but also of easiness of use and performance. Another example is the development of new biodegradable biopolymers that are engineered to consolidate highly erodible soils and mitigate the devastating effects of water and wind in such critical lands. Efforts are put to understand the interactions between polymers and soil and the subsequent impact on the soil cohesion and further erosion. The Rhodia Novecare's R&D in Asia-Pacific relies on scientific experts and technical service competencies, totally 60 persons, to serve those specific markets. Several entities are present in the key countries of the region to be closer to the customers: dedicated technical centres in Singapore (Novecare regional centre), Fukui (joint venture with Nicca in Japan), Shanghai (China), Melbourne (Australia), and in Roha (India). Key partnerships are also part of this strategy as the collaborations we have with the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) in Singapore and the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) in Beijing, China. F

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

Clean Technologies Integrated in the Product Development By Schneider Electric Southeast Asia

Singapore has identiﬁed the clean energy industry as a key growth area and is pushing forward on clean technologies. In this context, Schneider Electric is focusing on developing green technologies.

As the global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric has a vision of a world where we can achieve more while using less of our common planet.

PLANET & SOCIETY BAROMETER We created the Planet & Society Barometer in 2005 to measure our responsibility performance, with more importance attached to business contribution to sustainable development through energy efficiency and access. Schneider Electric started with the score 3/10 and the target to be achieved by end 2011 is 8/10.

LIFE-CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Our Green Premium products list their lifecycle environmental impact, with information on energy and raw material consumption, recycling and the presence or elimination of hazardous substances. The objective is to have two-thirds of Schneider Electric’s sales made with Green Premium products by the end of 2011.

ENERGY ACTION Schneider Electric applies its solutions in its own operations through the Energy Action programme to reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas and oil, and thereby reducing costs. We met and in some cases exceeded the objectives of reducing energy consumption per production site employee by 10% between 2005 and 2008. The plan now is to achieve a further 10% reduction between 2009 and 2011. RIGHT In-Diya LED-based lighting system

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Schneider Electric adopts the ecodesign approach in all its developmental activities.

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REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Schneider Electric is committed to reduce its carbon footprint, by putting in place a specific programme and identifying priority areas such as streamlining the supply chain, which is a clear source of carbon emissions. One example of the measures undertaken is setting up a system to measure CO2 emissions from downstream shipping (after production) and distribution centre shipping.

Schneider Electric adopts the eco-design approach in all its developmental activities as well as integrates environmental laws and regulations into product development cycle. In addition, we take the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) projects into account in our internal action programmes. Schneider Electric also provides REACH substance contents and RoHS compliance information for each of its products online at its website for customer and partner review. Green technologies are totally integrated in our product development. As a recent example, we launched in February 2010, in New Delhi, the In-Diya LED-based lighting system which aims to provide lighting to people living with no or unreliable electricity in India. It is a specially designed LEDbased lighting system that can operate on main supply and/or solar, and provides backup ranging from 8 to 15 hours for indoor applications. This innovative offer plays a key role in providing access to reliable lighting to more than 500 million rural people, thereby enabling them to take part in the growth story in India. F

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

Innovating in Asia-Paciﬁc By Mr Frédéric Viniacourt, R&T Project Manager, EADS Innovation Works EADS is a leading Global Aerospace and Defence Company, the world’s second largest in terms of revenue. As a market leader in these sectors, the business depends heavily on the development and integration of state-of-the-art technology into its products to provide the necessary competitive edge in this demanding arena. Upstream technology delivery to the business units is facilitated through the global research unit EADS Innovation Works. With sites in France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Russia, Singapore, India and offices in China and the USA with a combined workforce of more than 700, EADS Innovation Works provides world class capabilities in aeronautics, defence and space research topics. EADS Innovation Works Singapore (IW SG) is strategically positioned in the heart of Asia as part of the EADS Global R&D Strategy. Singapore was chosen because of several strategic and economic factors: • Singapore is the largest Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Asia with the highest concentration of aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

BOTTOM EADS Management and EADS IW Singapore RIGHT PAGE Overview of EADS’ products

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EADS Innovation Works Singapore is strategically positioned in the heart of Asia as part of the EADS Global R&D Strategy.

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• The Singapore government provides attractive co-funding for research activities as well as tax incentives for R&D expenditure. • Singapore has attained high rankings for its strong and dynamic IP (Intellectual Property) protection regime internationally and consistently. • It has the top two universities in the region; this ensures a constant pool of young talents. • Singapore continues to invest heavily in R&D; its Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) sees a constant annual increase, targeting a 3% GERD / GDP ratio. IW SG was inaugurated in February 2006. It aims to leverage on the traditional strengths of Singapore in the areas of electronics and information technology.

As a result, the teams within IW SG are in the fields of: • MRO Support Mediated Workers: To develop novel nomadic systems that significantly improve the MRO worker capabilities and performance. • Real-time Embedded Systems: To bridge the gap between high data rate sensors and high-end data processing and providing innovative end-to-end solutions for embedded platforms. • Embedded Communication Systems: To develop novel solutions in wireless and wired communication technology, at system and sub-system levels. • Electromagnetics (EM): To explore novel techniques to study complex EM problems and devise innovative designs to meet challenging EM applications. • Intelligent and Semantic Systems: To

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

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IW SG has established itself prominently in the local research community through collaborations.

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develop models, innovative methods & tools, based on artificial intelligence techniques and on semantic techniques. • Services, Maintenance & Logistics: To strengthen research on services for logistics and MRO domains, and to build up services in these fields. • Energy & Propulsion: To study electrical supply technologies including smart grids with distributed generation and energy storage architectures as well as to assess the viability of various biofuels for airborne platforms. • Information Technology Security: To develop an enterprise-level secure management system for common office documents as well as to explore new cybersecurity technologies. IW SG has established itself prominently in the local research community through collaborations, MOUs and research framework agreements. Key research partners in Singapore include Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), DSO National Laboratories, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) and The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and companies such as Eurocopter Southeast Asia (ESEA), D-SIMLAB and Aksaas. • With A*STAR, IW SG has signed a Master Research Collaboration Agreement to investigate and develop research projects in aerospace technologies of mutual interest to both organisations. IW SG is also one of the founding members of the A*STAR SERC (Science & Engineering Research Council) Aerospace Programme, providing guidance on future research topics for the aerospace industry in Singapore. • With The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Eurocopter and ESEA, IW SG is carrying out a 3-year collaborative research programme addressing Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM). The key benefits of this collaboration, involving centres of excellence in research and advanced technology development based in both Singapore and Europe, are aircraft availability, maintenance effort reduction, and cost savings. • With D-SIMLAB, a spin-off company from A*STAR’s research institute, and Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), IW SG is investigating globally-distributed spare parts inventory networks. • With both NTU and NUS, IW SG has signed Master Research Collaboration Agreements as well as agreements to support undergraduate students for overseas internships and to provide scholarships for PhD students. • IW SG is also a member of the SEACOOP Advisory Committee tasked to strengthen cooperation on Information Communications Technology (ICT) research between Europe and Southeast Asia countries. SEACOOP is one of the “support actions” in the portfolio of the International Relations Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate General Information Society and Media and it is funded by European Union (EU)- Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). F

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

CINTRA: A France-Singapore Research Alliance By Prof Dominique Baillargeat, Director, and Dr Dinh Xuan Quyen, Deputy Director, CINTRA

CNRS-International-NTU-THALES-Research -Alliance (CINTRA) is a tripartite research alliance formed by the National Centre of Scientiﬁc Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientiﬁque or CNRS), the largest governmental research organisation in France together with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore’s leading Science and Technology University and Thales, a global technology leader in the aerospace, space, defense, security and transportation.

HOW WAS CINTRA FORMED? In October 2009, the Memorandum Of Understanding for the establishment of CINTRA was signed in Paris (France), witnessed by France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Mrs Valérie Pécresse and Singapore’s Minister of Education and Second Minister of Defense, Dr Ng Eng Hen. The signatories to the agreement are the General Director of the CNRS, Mr Arnold Migus, the NTU President, Dr Su Guaning and the Chief Technical Officer at Thales, Dr Marko Erman. Located at the NTU’s Research Techno Plaza, the CINTRA Laboratory had its inauguration ceremony on December 2009. His Excellency Mr Olivier Caron, the AmBOTTOM LEFT Inauguration with HE Mr Olivier Caron BOTTOM RIGHT Characterisation Lab RIGHT PAGE NTU's Research Techno Plaza

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As part of this alliance, Thales will develop new skills and new technologies.

bassador of France to Singapore, was the Guest of Honour at the inauguration ceremony together with distinguished guests Dr Su Guaning, President of the NTU; Professor Bertil Andersson, Provost NTU; Mr Pierre Guillon, Director of the Institute for Engineering and Systems Science, CNRS; Mr Patrick Plante, Chief Executive Officer, Thales Technology Centre Singapore and faculty members of NTU. The CINTRA Laboratory is managed by a Scientific Committee with representatives from the three partners. Prof Dominique Baillargeat of CNRS has been appointed as Director of the laboratory, with Professor Tjin Swee Chuan of NTU and Dr Dinh Xuan Quyen of Thales as Deputy Directors. The lab’s director, Prof Dominique Baillargeat, believes CINTRA to be a great

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opportunity for researchers. “NTU sees CINTRA as an important research centre. They believe in it,” he said. “It is a showcase for NTU and Singapore but it’s also important for CNRS’s international recognition as well as Thales’ expertise development.” There are approximately 30 researchers currently based at CINTRA, not all fulltime. That number could rise to 40 by September 2010 with the arrival of NTU and CNRS senior researchers and PhD and post-doctorate recruits. The research focuses on nanocomponents and new circuit architectures needed to overcome current limitations. One example of such application-driven challenges is the development of innovative technologies for co-integrating electronics and photonics on a single chip to take advantage of their combined capabilities for next-generation

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September 2010

computing, sensing, and communication applications.

CINTRA OBJECTIVES • To merge industrial and academic research expertise to study innovative solutions for critical photonics and electronics functions. • To focus research on nanoscale and molecular scale photonic and electronic devices and architectures: next generation of advanced ICs. • To develop innovative technologies for integrating electronics and photonics on a chip.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CINTRA will focus on the area of carbon based nanotechnologies, nanowire based nanotechnologies, 3D innovative materials and 3D integration. Research activities and substantial expertise in these areas exist within NTU’s research laboratories and schools. CINTRA will provide a unique platform, where various disciplines such as modelling, design, fabrication and characterisation can network to explore new findings. CINTRA has substantial expertises and strengths in the latest science and tech-

Singapore, a Living Lab

nology know-how to development innovations in nanotechnologies for future computing, sensing and communication applications. This tripartite collaboration will bring opportunities to deal with challenges faced by current technologies in both microelectronic and photonic industries. Such challenges will serve as a push factor to excel the boundary of today’s technology to meet future commercial, defense and security needs. Major facilities include a high frequency lab, two characterisation labs and a photonics lab (dark room facilities) housed inside the CINTRA laboratory. The Nanyang Nanofabrication Centre (N2FC) has two cleanrooms and one MOCVD room for nanofabrication facilities to provide support for nano-science and nanotechnology research.

BENEFITS OF THIS COOPERATION In October 2009, CNRS General Director Arnold Migus stated: “CNRS is very proud to contribute, through the creation of this joint laboratory with NTU and Thales, to the intensification of scientific relations between France and Singapore. This alliance brings together the prestigious NTU of Singapore, the major European multidisciplinary research organisation and a French

leading industrial group. This new Unité Mixte Internationale (joint international laboratory) is a structure of excellence which positions us at the cutting edge of Nanotechnologies. It will allow us to combine our respective strengths in scientific and technological research in this field.” NTU President, Dr Su Guaning commented: “The CINTRA laboratory will be an important conduit for the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge, breakthroughs and industrial innovations between Singapore and France. NTU is proud to be the university to represent Singapore in this partnership with CNRS and Thales. It is a testament to the University’s global links, R&D capabilities and ability to innovate and develop technologies that make a difference to society.” Dr Marko Erman, SVP Research & Technology Thales declared: “Thales is proud to be part of this joint international research unit. As part of this alliance, Thales will develop new skills and new technologies to meet the most complex security requirements, especially the needs of future generations of electromagnetic sensors and processing functions, which will combine ultra-high performance with low power consumption.” F

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

IPAL: A Decade-Long Success Story By A/Prof Daniel Racoceanu, Director, Associate Professor, IPAL

IPAL (Image & Pervasive Access Laboratory) is a French-Singaporean joint research laboratory, based in Singapore and created between the French National Centre for Scientiﬁc Research (CNRS), the University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R-A*STAR), and the National University of Singapore (NUS). One of the most well-established overseas research collaboration of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and definitely a well-known long-run scientific success story between Singapore and France, IPAL – Image & Pervasive Access Laboratory – was formed in 1998 to manage joint long-term research projects among CNRS, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute for Infocomm Research (Agency for Science, Technology And Research) – I²R/A*STAR – (then Kent Ridge Digital Labs (KRDL) and the National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) respectively). FRE CNRS (Formation de Recherche en Evolution / Research Formation in Evolution) since 2000, IPAL evolved in 2006 as an

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Since 2008, IPAL started a spectacular expansion, welcoming at the present 26 research fellows.

UMI CNRS (Unité Mixte Internationale/ International Mixed research Unit), the highest level among CNRS overseas laboratories. The UMI agreement was signed on 22 January 2007, for an initial period of 4 years, between the Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Information and Engineering (INST2I) of the CNRS, I2R/A*STAR, NUS, and the University Joseph Fourier from Grenoble. The consortium of IPAL partners was designed to include all the ingredients able to insure

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a successful cooperation: fundamental, translational and applied researches, as academic support from both Singaporean and French side. Since 2008, IPAL started a spectacular expansion, welcoming at the present 26 research fellows, corresponding to about 18 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) scientists. 5 French senior scientists joined the collaboration and 6 PhD students are developing their doctoral research projects in IPAL.

IPAL SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES Since the beginning of the IPAL collaboration, the federated research theme of IPAL was image processing, in accordance with the evolution of the computer science in the field of creation and manipulation of visual data. This theme highlighted perspectives related to retrieval of visual (more generally multimedia) documents, analysis of visual data and perception of visual data by humans. IPAL (Image Perception, Access & Language) evolved then naturally toward content-based image and information retrieval for natural and medical images. Continuing these efforts and capitalising IPAL’s experience towards natural and medical image/information access, IPAL concentrates its actual research themes around two axes/teams: MIU (Medical Image Understanding) targeting semantic and cognitive exploration of medical images for diagnosis and prognosis; and PAWM (Pervasive Access and Wellbeing Management) focusing on ambient intel-

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

ligence1 dedicated to ageing and dependant people. The global framework is related to pervasive2 access to information, involving continuous learning algorithms, reasoning (visual reasoning, meta-rules…) and humanmachine confluence3. In the pervasive exploration/understanding processes, aspects related to explicit and implicit knowledge modelling will be developed by extension of the actual semantic indexing and retrieval algorithms developed in IPAL. The exploration approach needs to be confluent for the user, enabling the generation of a new knowledge (cognitive medical image) as an ambient active ubiquitous assistance approach (ambient assistive living).

PROTOTYPES & COLLABORATIONS One of the recent success stories related to IPAL/MIU concerns the breast cancer grading assistance for prognosis support. In this sense, the MICO prototype: MICO – Cognitive Virtual Microscopy for Breast Cancer Grading, a CNRS-I2R-NUS-UJF common copyright (2009) represents a mature technology in a transition phase between the POC (Proof of Concept) and the POV (Proof of Value). In this sense, the project MICO (COgnitive MIcroscope: A cognition-driven visual explorer for histopathology, an application to breast cancer grading) has been recently granted by the Technologies for Health programme (TecSan) of the French National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche - ANR). This project is the first

ANR project proposed and led by IPAL and it will allow us to work with well-known collaborators such as University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble;University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris; TRIBVN, Chatillon; THALES-TCF; Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris and AGFA Healthcare. A second prototype of IPAL/PAWM concerns an interactive IPTV system for ageing with dementia. It uses technologies like NFC (Near Field Communication, ex. RFiD), available networks (4G, Wiimax, Wifi), urban servers deployment and gateway and innovative ambient services (indoor and outdoor). This prototype is developed in the frame of the AMUPADH (Activity Monitoring and UI Plasticity for supporting Ageing with mild Dementia at Home) A*STAR SERC

project (2010-2012) involving Alexandra Hospital, I2R/A*STAR and NUS. The IPAL external funding are all based on competitive research grants and are funded by the Singaporean (A*STAR) (60%) and French agencies (ANR, ICT Asia) (40%). Following this dynamic development, the main objective of IPAL nowadays is the sustainability. In this sense, IPAL is exploring joint research initiatives in collaboration with THALES France and our Singaporean partners around image and video analysis. F LEFT PAGE Fusionopolis TOP Working on the IPTV prototype of the Ambient Assistive Living platform of IPAL BOTTOM IPAL Team: IPAL Team with the MICO (COgnitive MIcroscope) prototype for breast cancer grading (histopathology) during I2R/A*STAR’s TechFest 2009. From left to right: Ludovic Roux (IPAL/UJF), Nicolas Lomenie (IPAL/UPD), Mounir Mokhtari (IPAL/TELECOM), Daniel Racoceanu (IPAL/CNRS IPAL co-Director), Hamdi Aloulou (IPAL PhD student), Joreis Ong (IPAL engineer / SMA) NOTES 1 Ambient Intelligence (AmI) - describes a pervasive, transparent infrastructure able to observe people without interfering in their life, supplying an intelligent environment to adapt to the needs and requirements of the user and the environment itself. 2 Pervasive access to information = i.e. acceding to the information as an explorer, without knowing everything about the area, huge image, or environment explored, but only with a limited – a priori – knowledge about it. 3 Human-machine confluence = a very natural, easyto-use way of interacting with a machine/ platform.

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

From Exploratory Research to Process Development By Dr Magali Bonnier, Specialty Chemicals Manager, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Science (ICES)

A French Scientist currently heads the Industry Development Ofﬁce and coordinates the Specialty Chemicals research programme of ICES in Singapore. Dr Magali Bonnier liaises with companies from a variety of ﬁelds to establish synergistic R&D collaborations with perspectives on innovative applications.

The Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) is a research institute of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Established in 2002, its mission is to carry out world class scientific research, to develop novel technology and to nurture creative scientists and engineers to support economic growth in Singapore and to make a positive difference to society. Located on Jurong Island, in the heart of Singapore’s chemical hub, ICES is perfectly positioned for its role. To fulfil its mission, ICES has established state-ofthe-art laboratories for biotechnology, formulation, kilo lab and fuel cell testing, among other facilities, with the capability to engage partners in a range of activities from exploratory research to process development. The three research programmes in ICES

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ICES has many interactions with industry both locally and overseas.

are Pharmaceutical, Specialty Chemicals and Sustainable Fuels & Chemicals. In the pharmaceutical programme, ICES is working on the generation of lead compounds and novel, cost-effective, environmentally benign technologies for pharmaceutical products. “Lead compounds” are also known as “active pharmaceutical ingredients” (API) which are molecules that interact with specific proteins known to be involved in a disease pathway. The synthetic routes of these molecules have to be planned according to the rules of sustainable chemistry, which is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or genera-

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tion of hazardous substances, toxic waste and energy. Recently, ICES was awarded two of the successful eight projects selected for funding by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), under the GSK-Singapore Partnership for Green & Sustainable Manufacturing, to promote green manufacturing for pharmaceutical industry in Singapore. The process for producing the API can then be scaled up using its Kilo Laboratory facilities, which allows the production of quantities up to 10kg. This facility comprises two distinctive units, the traditional batch process and the recently added continuous flow process.

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COVER STORY

September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

“ To complement this activity, ICES is developing novel formulation techniques to improve the success rates of pipeline drugs. By controlling the physical form of the material, it is possible to increase the effectiveness of the candidate drugs, making it a critical element in the pharmaceutical manufacture. Specialty Chemicals constitute the higher value end of the chemicals business where innovative differentiation of products is the key to success. Indeed, these compounds are sometimes considered magic ingredients, as they are used in low concentrations but are essential to the system’s performance. An example of this is ICES’ work on environmentally benign anti-fouling solutions to prevent the adhesion of marine life to immersed structures without poisoning the sea water. This biocide has been en-

LEFT PAGE, LEFT Setting up polymer reactor LEFT PAGE, RIGHT Microalgae culture BOTTOM ICES Building on Jurong Island

The institute is also collaborating with EADS to explore jet fuel production from algae.

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capsulated in various support materials to maximise the target delivery to meet the users’ specifications. ICES has also developed new characterisation techniques to analyse multiphase systems, such as emulsions, which is able to zoom into each phase without disrupting the system integrity. The last programme, Sustainable Fuels & Chemicals, addresses the industry’s need to move away from petroleum as a feedstock. The global biofuels market is expected to reach US$247bn in sales by 2020, from US$76bn in 2010 according to “Biofuels Markets and Technologies”, a study from Pike Research. As Singapore is in a tropical agricultural region, it is well-positioned to take advantage of the availability of diverse biomass as feedstock to produce both fuels and materials. With its various programmes such as Carbon Capture and Utilisation, Bio-energy and Value-added Chemical – Lignocellulose, ICES is offering a complete portfolio to address the problem of sustainable fuels and chemicals. With its skills in catalysis, biotechnology and reaction engineering,

ICES supports every stage of these industries from the product concept to the development of the manufacturing process. For example, ICES is already working on the use of waste for the production of alcohols, biogas and new biopolymers. The institute is also collaborating with EADS, a global leader in aerospace and defence, to explore jet fuel production from algae. As a research institute, ICES has many interactions with industry, both locally and overseas. There are two possible business models for these partnerships. The first model is the collaborative research projects where the cost of R&D work is shared between the collaborators. The second one is contract services where ICES provides consultation and conducts feasibility studies, analytical testing, trouble shooting, etc. There is also a specific scheme designed for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), to assist them in building R&D capabilities in-house. Through sharing of resources with industry, ICES seeks to improve industrial competitiveness and provide a pool of technical expertise which companies can tap on as they engage in R&D in Singapore. F

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September 2010

Singapore, a Living Lab

Doing Basic Research in Singapore Interview with Prof. Francois Mathey, Professor, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

ACCORDING TO YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW IS THE RESEARCH SECTOR IN SINGAPORE? Having arrived in NTU on the 1st October 2008, I cannot say that I have a deep knowledge of the research landscape in Singapore. Rather I have impressions based on what I have learnt in almost two years in the

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The Government places a strong emphasis on education and research.

Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry (CBC) of NTU. The basic research in Singapore is mainly concentrated in two universities NUS and NTU and A*Star (more or less the equivalent of the French CNRS).

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The funding comes directly or indirectly from the Ministry of Education. Since Singapore has no raw resources, the Government places a strong emphasis on education and research, the idea being to promote innovation. Of course, the ultimate aim is application, and basic research is just viewed as an intermediate step in the whole process. WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS WHICH BROUGHT YOU TO SINGAPORE? I was working previously at the University of California Riverside. In 2007, it was already clear that a major crisis was coming and that it would strongly hit the Californian university system. I decided to look for other possible positions. During a meeting in Australia at the beginning of January 2008, I met the Head of CBC. I was invited to visit Singapore in February. At the end of my stay, I received an offer that I decided to accept. This story highlights the reactivity of the persons in charge in the Singaporean higher education. WHAT IS YOUR LABORATORY’S MISSION? My laboratory is working on organophosphorus chemistry with potential applications in homogeneous catalysis and molecular materials. Since the funding and working conditions are excellent, the output of my new group is much higher than in my former group in California. CBC was founded in 2005. It has now an outstanding chemistry building of 16,000 m2 and 35 faculty members, mainly young and dynamic professors trained in the best universities of the United States. I am not aware of any other chemistry department in the world with such an impressive progression. Obviously, as in many other places in Singapore, the obsessive aim is to reach the top. I am quite fortunate to participate to this endeavour and I am quite confident that it will be successful. F

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FCCS HR & TRAINING SERVICES

September 2010

Training Sessions

Enhance Your Skills with FCCS Training Modules Testimonies from Previous Participants INTRODUCTION TO SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS "This short session perfectly provided theories that will improve my overall knowledge of supply chains set up in major corporate organisations. We get a good insight on the methods to analyse and improve a supply chain and its processes, flows of information, goods, raw-materials, logistics... It would be difficult to find more information in such a short time (4 hours). Congratulations to Catherine for this very interesting training session. If I have the opportunity to be available for the second course, I will definitely join." Julien Metayer, Development Manager, Pan Asia Logistics Singapore

MAKING PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND FEEDBACK A WIN-WIN EXPERIENCE "Very interactive workshop, useful since I am applying the principles or concepts I have learned in my current role with the sales team I am handling" Victoria Tipones, Area Supervisor, Servier

NEW MANAGER PROGRAMME "It highlighted certain points of view and perception that I didn't have. Sharing the experience with others was also an important part" Adrien Nilsvang, Manager Trading Operations, Total Trading Asia

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION & PRESENTATION SKILLS “I have learned the practical skills to prepare a presentation and also acquired the skills of good & effective communicator. The course is strongly recommended for managers who need this kind of soft skill to equip them to be able to present in public and to reinforce the interpersonal skill in communication either internally or externally” Kevin Lai, Senior Production Manager, Dragages

MARKETING PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES IN ASIA “I have learnt a lot from this very interesting training. It will definitely help me in my work in the future” Joey Chua, Marcom Assistant, FCI

Upcoming Training Modules, Sept-Dec 2010 Sept Wed 8

Presentation to High-Level Audiences: Method & Advanced Skills

Trainer: Mr Jean-François Cousin, 1-2-Win Executive Coaching

the Best from your Career by Revitalising your CV and Trainer: Mrs Bénédicte Dabin, Talea Coaching Mon 13 Getting Making an Impact in Interview CSR & Sustainable Development - Managing your Carbon Footprint Thu 23

Oct

Trainer: Mrs Joëlle Brohier, Anakout

CSR & Sustainable Development - Reporting and Communicating Trainer: Mrs Joëlle Brohier, Anakout on CSR

Fri 24

Managing Cultural Diversity in APAC

Trainer: Mrs Catherine Claudepierre, Cross-Culture Link

Thu 30

Supply Chain Management: from Fundamentals to Best Practices

Trainer: iCognitive

Thu 7

Introduction to Supply Chain Management Impact on Finance

Trainer: iCognitive

Mon 11 Making Performance Appraisal & Feedback a Win-Win Experience

Trainer: Mrs Bénédicte Dabin, Talea Coaching

Thu 21

MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) Step 2

Trainer: Mrs Catherine Claudepierre, Cross-Culture Link

Nov

Fri 19

Effective Meetings

Trainer: Mr Jean-François Cousin, 1-2-Win Executive Coaching

Dec

Mon 6

Getting the Best from your Career by Revitalising your CV and Trainer: Mrs Bénédicte Dabin, Talea Coaching Making an Impact in Interview Personal Development

Management

Professionnal Skills

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FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES

September 2010

Tradeshows in Singapore

French Technology Exhibits @ BroadcastAsia & CommunicAsia 2010 34 French companies gathered under the French Pavilions organised by the FCCS at CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia 2010. A successful event provided the exhibitors with a great platform to showcase their innovative solutions to decision-makers in the Asia region.