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products made in Singapore can be re- ‘intellectual property’ (IP) regime and the
exported to the first world (Singapore ‘bioethics code’. The strict IP regime was to
Biotech Guide 2007/2008: 20). assure large biotechnology corporations that
Biopolis was launched as a multi-purpose their products would not be ‘pirated’ locally,
complex that could house both R&D activi- and would not face competition from locally
ties as well as other corporate functions. produced ‘generic drugs’. At the same time,
Costing US$350 million to build, and located the Singapore government formed the
beside the National University of Singapore Bioethics Advisory Committee to draft a
Science Park, it is hoped that the complex comprehensive set of guidelines and to make
will eventually accommodate 2,000 biotech- recommendations for changes to the law
nology research scientists. The Singapore (where necessary) on various aspects such as
government – fully aware that the biomedical stem cell, human tissue, and genetic research
sciences sector requires specialized aca- (Singapore Bioethics Advisory Committee
demic personnel (often with the minimum Official Homepage). In addition to the high
of doctoral degrees in bioengineering or quality infrastructure and the (growing) high
a related science) particularly for R&D level of human resources, the IP regime and
activities – has also been investing heavily in overt bioethics code would serve to enhance
upgrading human resources. For example, Singapore’s competitive advantage as a loca-
between 2001 and 2004, 276 postgraduate tion where large pharmaceutical corporations
scholars were awarded overseas and local could operate securely.
government scholarships to pursue doctoral Between 2003 and 2005, many large phar-
programmes in various aspects of biomedical maceutical corporations made substantial
sciences, including pharmaceutical R&D investments in Singapore. In 2003 alone,
(A*Star, 2005: 8). According to the director Singapore attracted over US$500m in bio-
5
of A*Star, which is a statutory board tasked medical – including biotechnology and
with promoting the biomedical initiative, pharmaceutical FDI – related fixed asset for-
each scholarship recipient is expected to cost eign investments (Beh, 2004: 36); in 2004, it
the government about US$0.6m (FDI rose to US$700m (Singapore Investment
Magazine, 2003: 7). Although the state has News, December 2004 Special Supplement: 9).
created many opportunities for young These recent investments included the estab-
Singaporeans to train to become biotechnol- lishment of new production facilities by
ogy or health sciences experts, it has also several large global pharmaceutical firms
gone ahead with a very liberal immigration (see Table 26.1).
policy for experts (as well as postgraduate At the same time, several other corpora-
students) in the pharmaceutical field, despite tions have established fairly large biotech-
the expression of concern about this policy nology or pharmaceutical research and
by the local population. After all, large phar-
Table 26.1 Cases of biotechnology foreign
maceutical corporations would be concerned
direct investment in Singapore (selected)
only about hiring qualified specialists regard-
Company Investment
less of their nationality.
Schering-Plough Ltd 1 US$230m
While the state’s investments in infrastruc- 2
GlaxoSmithKline US$100m
ture and human resources have been frequently Novartis AG 3 US$200m
trumpeted by the Singapore government Pfizer 4 US$375m
around the world as a strategy to attract Sources:
pharmaceutical FDI into Singapore, there 1 Singapore Investment News, February 2004, p. 3.
2 Singapore Investment News, July 2004, p. 4.
were two other important policy instruments,
3 Singapore Investment News, September 2004, p. 4.
which were less publicized to the general 4 Singapore Investment News, October 2004, p. 6–9.
public. These instruments, drawn up Source: Singapore Economic Development Board,
with foreign investors in mind, were the http://www.sedb.com.sg/