Singapore

Biomedical Sciences

The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) industry is a key growth engine for the Singapore economy. Manufacturing capacity has been expanding strongly, along with the rapid development of R&D expertise and capabilities.

Leading companies with significant manufacturing operations include Applied Biosystems, Aventis, Baxter, BD (Becton Dickinson), CIBA Vision, Fischer Scientific, GlaxoSmithKline, Japan Medical Supply, Kaneka, Leica, Merck & Co., Novartis, 1800-Contacts, Perkin Elmer, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Siemens Medical Instruments and Wyeth.

In R&D, companies like Novartis, Eli Lilly, Isis Pharmaceutical, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Paradigm Therapeutics, Cordlife and MerLion Pharmaceuticals undertake drug discovery and development work in Singapore.


Medical Technology players with R&D presence include BD, Welch Allyn, Essilor, Siemens Medical Instruments, Bracco, Applied Biosystems, and Fischer Scientific. Medical Technology players with Regional Headquarters in Singapore include Cardinal Health, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Tyco Healthcare and Zimmer.

Biopolis, opened in October 2003, is rapidly becoming the epicentre of biomedical research in Singapore. It brings together more than 2,000 researchers from the five public-funded biomedical research institutes and research laboratories of major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Plug-and-play facilities, like ready fitted-out labs to incubate startups, and the setting up of shared facilities and services for corporate and academic researchers, are also available.

Singapore has put in place various initiatives to complement industry growth. One of these is a robust ethical framework to guide biomedical research; another is a comprehensive regime for the protection of intellectual property rights.

BMS companies can apply for a range of funds to support different stages of their development. The Proof of Concept (POC) scheme for instance, aims to provide pre-seed funding to university and hospital researchers for the development of early ideas that are patentable, and could lead to the formation of new startups or licensing deals with biomedical sciences companies. This is complemented by the Biomedical Sciences Innovate 'N' Create Scheme, which provides seed capital for startups.