18 January 2006

Singapore and Dundee cement partnership in science

Scotland and Singapore today cemented a partnership in life sciences with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Dundee and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, (A*STAR).

The signing of the agreement was welcomed by First Minister Jack McConnell.

Mr McConnell said, "Scotland has a worldwide reputation for the strength of its universities and the excellence of its education system. It is fantastic that Singapore have chosen to recognise that reputation."

"This new partnership will be great for Dundee and for Scotland. It will initiate a flow of top quality postgraduates to this country, and ensure that we build on our leading position in the field of life sciences."

The signing ceremony forms the highlight of a week-long visit to Singapore by a top-level delegation from Scotland’s leading international centre of life sciences, the University of Dundee, led by Principal Sir Alan Langlands. Signing for Singapore was Philip Yeo, Head of A*STAR and Chair of Singapore’s Economic Development Board.

Emphasizing the importance of tying partnerships with top-class universities as a long term strategy, A*Star chairman Philip Yeo said, "The University of Dundee has a respected reputation in biological and clinical laboratory sciences. By virtue of this partnership, we will be exposing our scholars and researchers to an environment with a rich tradition in biomedical sciences research. Such global research connections will sharpen our competitiveness in this very exciting world of science!"

Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said, "Life sciences is an international activity with international players and facilities. Scotland and Singapore have a similar drive for the highest quality and success as well as a shared history and long term friendship. We hope this partnership will be just the beginning of a mutually fruitful relationship with Singapore."

The University of Dundee and A*STAR are keen to develop a co-operative relationship in joint research, education and training in life sciences, building on the international expertise and reputation both institutions hold in the field.

The agreement, which will initiate a flow of top quality postgraduates from Singapore to Dundee, has been orchestrated by Professor Sir David Lane, who was appointed by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell as Fresh Talent Ambassador for Scotland. Sir David is currently operating as Executive Director for A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology on a two year sabbatical arrangement from the University of Dundee.

Awardees of the A*STAR-Dundee Partnership PhD (ADP) Scholarship will be jointly supervised by researchers from A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council’s Research Institutes and the University of Dundee. Each scholar will spend approximately two years each at A*STAR’s Research Institute and at the University of Dundee for their PhD studies. On successful completion they will receive a PhD degree from the University of Dundee. The first batch of scholars is expected to commence PhD studies in 2006.

Sir Alan Langlands has been joined on the visit to Singapore by Professor Pete Downes, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, and Professor Mike Ferguson a leading figure in tropical disease research and member of the University’s division of biological chemistry and molecular microbiology. The delegation last night (Tuesday 17th) gave a public presentation on Life Science and Discovery in Dundee, and will be delivering a number of science seminars. They will also take time to meet alumni and visit schools and biobusiness companies in Singapore.

As part of the week-long visit, the University of Dundee is also staging an exhibition of work from its "Art meets science : Inspiration & Discovery" programme, which has catalysed a range of collaborations between artists and scientists yielding stunning and often unexpected results. The exhibition will be opened by Philip Yeo at the Matrix Building in Singapore’s Biopolis.

The Dundee visit has been supported by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Development International, the British Council and the British High Commission in Singapore.

Professor Lane, the scientist credited with the landmark discovery of cancer gene p53, is Director of the Cancer Research UK Cell Transformation Research Group and Professor of Oncology at the University of Dundee. In August 2004 he joined A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) as Executive Director on sabbatical.

The joint PhD partnership with Dundee is the latest addition to the portfolio of programmes offered by the A*STAR Graduate Academy under the A*STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS) umbrella. The tie-up with the University of Dundee will be the second specialised PhD programme for AGS Overseas scholars with a focus on biomedical sciences.

Notes for editors

About the University of Dundee

Website: www.dundee.ac.uk

The University of Dundee has powered its way to a position as one of Scotland's leading universities with an international reputation for excellence across a range of activities.

• First in the UK in teaching quality - The Times and Times Higher Education Supplement league tables 2005.
• Scottish University of the Year 2004-5 - Sunday Times Good University Guide.
• Best place to work in Europe according to an international poll of scientists by The Scientist magazine 2004 and 2005.
• Dundee scientists are the most highly cited of any University in Europe over the past 10 years in the fields of Biology and Biochemistry (Thompson Scientific, Philadelphia). It is also home to many outstanding professionals, such as Sir Philip Cohen (leader in diabetes research), Sir Alfred Cuschieri (pioneer in keyhole surgery) and Sir David Lane (discoverer of the p53 cancer gene).
• University of Dundee graduates command the highest starting salaries north of Oxford.

Highlights

• The University of Dundee’s research in medical and life sciences was rated 5* (top grading) in the most recent UK Research Assessment Exercise.
• The University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design is one of the top four art schools in the UK.
• Three mergers have doubled the University's size over the last ten years to today's complement of over 18,000 students and 3,000 staff.
• An annual turnover of £150m generates a further £234m downstream for the local economy.
• 70% of students from the University of Dundee graduate into the professions - more than any other university in Scotland.
• 95% of staff work in areas of national or international excellence. The University of Dundee ranks in the UK's top three for research income per capita and in the top 20 for total research income.
• Over the last three years the University of Dundee has attracted nearly £150m in research income.
• Student applications to the University of Dundee continue to rise well above the Scottish average - up 88% since 2000.
• An ambitious £200m redevelopment programme for the city centre campus is now underway, due for completion in 2007, the 40th anniversary of the University's independence.
• 16 companies have been spun out of the University in the last 10 years alone.

For more information, please visit: www.dundee.ac.uk/main/about.htm

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

Website: www.a-star.edu.sg

A*STAR's mission is to foster world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. The Agency has two research councils -the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC); it also has a scholarship administration arm, A*STAR Graduate Academy (A*GA), and its own commercialisation arm, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL).

The A*STAR Graduate Academy (A*GA) supports A*STAR’s key thrust of human capital development through the promotion of science scholarships and other manpower development programmes and initiatives.

A*GA administers the two key scholarship schemes offered by A*STAR - the National Science Scholarships (NSS) and the A*STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS). The scholarships are open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and non-Singaporeans who are willing to take up Singapore Citizenship.

NSS awarded by A*STAR are research-oriented scholarships that offer undergraduate, graduate, PhD and post-doctoral training leading up to careers in R&D in various fields of Biomedical Sciences, and Physical Sciences and Engineering, at a relevant A*STAR Research Institute. The various NSS schemes are:

• BS
• PhD
• MBBS-PhD
• International Fellowship for Medical Doctors

A*STAR Graduate Scholarships (AGS)

The AGS Overseas programmes offer PhD training in partnership with Imperial College London, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Karolinska Insitutet. The AGS Local programmes provide PhD training at a relevant A*STAR Research Institute in partnership with our local universities, the National University of Singapore, the Nanyang Technological University. The PhD training usually lasts 3 to 4 years, and may be followed by a 1 to 2 year post-doctoral fellowship at a selected overseas university or research laboratory in the scholar’s chosen field, subject to students meeting the criteria. The scheme aims to provide trans-disciplinary, research-intensive training at the PhD level in selected fields of Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering.

For more information contact:

A*STAR
YEO Wen Qing (Ms)
A*STAR Corporate Communications
Tel: (65) 68266 346
Email: Yeo_Wen_Qing@a-star.edu.sg

or

Roddy Isles
Head of Press Office
University of Dundee
Tel: 01382 384910
Email: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk