George Yeo: Singapore must be like an Italian Renaissance City-State

938Live, 13 Aug 2007

EXCERPT:
Foreign Minister George Yeo says Singapore must try to be like an Italian renaissance city-state.

Such a city-state welcomes talented individuals from near and far and helps facilitate their creative development.

Mr Yeo says Singapore cannot create this mix of individuals by itself; only by becoming a crucible for interesting ideas can the country thrive.

Mr Yeo was addressing over 260 scientists at the third international conference on bioengineering and nanotechnology.

Mr Yeo explained how he was then the minister-in-charge when the government decided to give the biomedical sector a push in 2000.

Since then, the value of the sector has tripled from $6 to $23 billion last year.

Singapore also has garnered acolades for its achievements.

The SCIENCE journal has described the Biopolis as a 'scientific Emerald City'.

and according to a Lux Research Report published in November 2005, Singapore, together with Taiwan and Israel were cited as three smallish economies that have become global niche players in nanotechnology.

Worldwide, at least 35 countries have initiated national programmes in nanotechnology.

The future for the biomedical sector looks bright, Mr Yeo noted.

Singapore just has to select good ideas and develop them the way a good fry makes fish farming worthwhile.