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"Under RIE2030, we will continue to deepen this base and broaden our talent mix — nurturing not only excellent scientists and researchers, but also innovators, entrepreneurs, and engineers who can translate ideas into solutions and impact," said Heng Swee Keat, Chairman, National Research Foundation.
Singapore is placing high-calibre research and innovation talent at the centre of its next phase of scientific and technological development, with the Government committing S$37bn to research, innovation, and enterprise under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 (RIE2030) plan.
Released by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) on 31 August 2026, the RIE2030 Plan sets out Singapore’s priorities in the field for April 2026 to March 2031. Alongside the plan, NRF has also released the RIE2025 Report, which documents the progress and outcomes of Singapore’s research and innovation efforts between April 2021 and March 2026.
At the 2026 President’s Science and Technology Awards ceremony, NRF Chairman Heng Swee Keat highlighted the importance of talent to Singapore’s continued progress in research and innovation.
“At the heart of research and innovation across all these domains, a common element is: people,” he said, referring to the talented scientists, engineers and innovators whose imagination, ideas and skills enable breakthrough discoveries and their translation into high-impact applications.
Building Singapore’s next generation of research talent
RIE2030 will place greater emphasis on nurturing and growing both established and emerging research talent across Singapore’s research and innovation domains.
The plan introduces new and enhanced schemes to support research and entrepreneurial talent, including the NRF Postdoctoral Award, an enhanced Singapore Research Attachment Programme for young researchers, the Industrial Postgraduate Programme, and A*STAR Scholarships for local PhD talent.
These initiatives will support the development of research capabilities and talent as Singapore seeks to remain globally competitive in science and technology.
The emphasis on developing talent also extends beyond traditional academic pathways. Programmes such as the Activate Global Singapore Fellowship and National GRIP (Graduate Research Innovation Programme) will continue supporting Singapore-based scientists and engineers through entrepreneurship training, mentoring, funding and access to investors.
From scientific discovery to real-world impact
In his speech, Chairman Heng pointed out that the value of research ultimately lies not only in discovery, but in what happens when knowledge moves beyond the laboratory.
“Realising societal benefit from science requires it to move from the laboratory into the world,” he said.
The RIE2025 also points to the growing contribution of Singapore’s research capabilities to economic and national priorities. Between 2021 and 2024, more than 250 research findings resulted in improved clinical care and outcomes, as well as new or changed local or international clinical guidelines and healthcare policies.
Research has also contributed to Singapore’s infrastructure, liveability, and resilience. Modelling and simulation studies used to improve wind flow in new residential precincts have resulted in increases of up to 15% in wind flow, while research into floating solar farms has helped pave the way for large-scale deployment.
A stronger research and innovation ecosystem
The focus on talent builds on the progress recorded under RIE2025.
Singapore’s industry R&D workforce grew by 33%, from 24,466 jobs in 2018 to 32,509 in 2023, with more than 70% of these positions filled by Singapore residents.
Over the same period, the number of firms performing R&D in Singapore increased from 855 to 1,030, while the value-add generated by these firms grew from S$91.2bn to S$161.2bn.
Business expenditure on R&D also increased significantly, rising from S$5.5bn in 2018 to S$9.0bn in 2023. In 2023, industry spent S$1.87 for every dollar spent by the Government on research, compared with S$1.48 in 2018.
Singapore’s research capabilities have continued to receive international recognition. The National University of Singapore maintained its eighth-place position in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, while Nanyang Technological University, Singapore rose from 15th in 2025 to 12th in 2026.
Research quality remained strong as well, with Singapore’s research cited 77% above the global average in 2025, measured by Field Weighted Citation Impact.
Creating opportunities around national priorities
RIE2030 will also create opportunities for researchers and innovators to work on areas identified as strategically important to Singapore. A major new feature of the plan is the introduction of RIE Flagships and Grand Challenges, which will coordinate portfolios of research programmes around key economic and national priorities.
Two RIE Flagships will focus on Semiconductors and Transport and Connectivity, with S$800mn allocated to each.
The Semiconductor RIE Flagship will develop research capabilities in areas including advanced packaging and photonics, with the aim of strengthening Singapore’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain and anchoring high-value R&D and manufacturing activities locally.
The Transport and Connectivity RIE Flagship will support R&D aimed at developing an integrated system across land, sea and air to facilitate the movement of goods and passengers through and within Singapore.
Two RIE Grand Challenges will focus on Maximising Healthy and Successful Longevity, supported by S$350mn, and Decarbonisation, supported by S$800mn.
The longevity challenge will focus on research into brain health and physical function as people age, alongside health and socio-environmental interventions and evidence-based policies and practices. The Decarbonisation Grand Challenge will support low-carbon technologies for Singapore’s industry and power sectors, which account for more than 80% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
These areas also reflect the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research. Chairman Heng noted that AI, quantum science and advanced computing are enabling greater convergence across disciplines, opening new possibilities in areas including healthcare, climate science and advanced materials.
Strengthening the path from research to commercialisation
Developing high-calibre talent is closely linked to Singapore’s ambition to improve the translation of research into commercial outcomes.
Under RIE2030, an additional S$1bn will be allocated to the Startup SG Equity scheme. The funding will support early-stage startups while expanding support for growth-stage deep-tech startups through direct investment, investment in global venture capital funds and co-investment with qualified third-party investors.
A new Research Translation Grant (RTG) will also provide funding to develop early-stage technologies emerging from the public research ecosystem to a stage where private-sector investment is possible, through spin-offs or licensing to enterprises.
Established deep-tech venture builders will guide researchers through the technology development process under the RTG.
This addresses some of the areas identified in the RIE2025 Report as requiring continued attention, including growing the pool and circulation of experienced translational and entrepreneurial talent, improving access to venture-building capital and increasing successful commercialisation exits.
Positioning talent for Singapore’s next phase
Singapore’s research and innovation ecosystem has developed through sustained investment since 1991. RIE2030 builds on these foundations with a focus on strengthening research expertise and talent, growing key sectors and translating research capabilities into economic and strategic outcomes.
According to Chaiman Heng, the researchers and innovators behind this work will be critical as Singapore enters a period of rapid technological change.
“The convergence of AI, quantum, advanced materials, and the life sciences is creating possibilities that we are only beginning to understand,” he said.
RIE2030 seeks to position Singapore at the frontier of these developments while continuing to build its research capabilities and talent. The plan also emphasises responsible, inclusive and impactful approaches to research and innovation.
With S$37bn committed over the next five years, Singapore’s next phase of RIE will therefore involve not only investing in technologies and research programmes, but also developing the people who can generate new knowledge, build solutions and translate scientific advances into impact.
As Chairman Heng shared in the RIE2030 handbook:
"At the heart of every strong research and innovation ecosystem is talent. Our sustained investments have enabled us to build a high-calibre research community. Under RIE2030, we will continue to deepen this base and broaden our talent mix — nurturing not only excellent scientists and researchers, but also innovators, entrepreneurs, and engineers who can translate ideas into solutions and impact."
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