New partnership gives P&G access to Singapore’s expanding R&D eco-system of research institutes, universities and hospitals
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have signed a Master Research Collaboration Agreement to span five years’ of research partnerships with Singapore’s vast network of over 25 research institutes, medical institutions and the academe. This will be one of P&G’s largest public-sector research collaborations.
Part of P&G’s Connect+Develop programme, the collaboration with A*STAR will marry P&G’s deep consumer understanding with A*STAR’s state-of-the-art knowledge in multi-disciplinary sciences. This is P&G’s approach of tapping on externally developed technologies to accelerate internal innovation and to share company-developed assets and know-how with others. Focusing on both upstream and downstream innovation, collaboration between P&G and A*STAR will enable Singapore research and development expertise to contribute to the P&G innovation pipeline – touching over 4 billion consumers around the world.
“This agreement is part of our commitment to drive innovation and bring brands to market that create meaning and value for consumers and our shareholders,” said Mr. Bruce Brown, P&G’s Chief Technology Officer.
“A*STAR has proven to be a leading edge innovation partner across several segments of our business and upstream research work. Expanding our partnership allows P&G to more fully leverage the unique innovation capabilities at A*STAR and its network or research institutions,” said Ms. Laura Becker, head of P&G Connect+Develop.
The agreement, which provides the potential for up to S$60 mil in joint funding, both extends and expands a 2010 Master Research Collaboration Agreement (MRCA) between P&G and A*STAR. Cooperation will now cover a broader reach and allow P&G access to research services and facilities at Singapore’s research hubs – Biopolis and Fusionopolis, it will be able to tap into resources in Singapore’s large research eco-system that includes universities and hospitals. The new MRCA further includes a component for joint partnership in talent development that offers industry-relevant PhD Programmes and post-doctoral fellowships.
“We are delighted by the extension and expansion of our partnership with P&G. Singapore’s flourishing R&D eco-system encompasses our hospitals and universities in addition to the A*STAR research institutes. It is therefore important that we harness synergistically the full range of capabilities that are available in the public sector to sustain our competitive value proposition as an innovation hub. One example of this is the newly-established Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS) that draws on the expertise of scientists, clinicians and engineers from A*STAR, National Skin Centre and Nanyang Technological University. It demonstrates clearly that meaningful public-public partnerships create platforms that can greatly enhance our public-private partnerships under the Open Innovation Framework.” said Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR.
P&G will soon be opening its Singapore Innovation Centre in the centre of Biopolis.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Biopolis, the epicentre of Singapore’s R&D in biomedical sciences. Within a decade, Biopolis has established a reputation as a world-class biomedical research hub and put Singapore on the scientific world map. Biopolis plays a pivotal role in bringing together major research institutes to create a centre of excellence in BMS and serves as a focal point to attract and groom top scientific talent to do world-class research in Singapore. While Biopolis initially focused on supporting the pharmaceuticals and biologics industry, it is now diversifying to leverage new areas which are fast-growing in the Asia Pacific such as personal care, food and nutrition and med-tech.
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For media queries and clarification, please contact:
HAN Mui Ching (Ms)
Head, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Tel: +65 6826 6261
E-mail: han_mui_ching@a-star.edu.sg
SOURCE AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (A*STAR)