2. Launched in Singapore in January 2010[2], the SSB is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Stanford University to groom promising talent in medical device innovation. It is modeled on the Stanford Biodesign programme and allows Fellows to work in multidisciplinary teams (spanning fields such as medicine, engineering and business) to develop viable solutions for identified medical needs in Asia.
3. The Fellows will first be immersed in a customised six-month curriculum in the Biodesign process at Stanford University, where they will have opportunities to interact with, and learn from, Silicon Valley industry veterans and entrepreneurs, and spend another six months of practical team-based learning, from needs-finding to development of medical device prototypes and business proposals, in Singapore. To allow identification of real-world clinical needs, they will shadow clinicians and healthcare providers during their stints in both Stanford and Singapore. At the end of the Fellowship, it is hoped that the Fellows will be able to apply their training to innovate forefront medical devices, and become future leaders in the medtech arena in times to come.
4. Said Prof Low Teck Seng, Managing Director of A*STAR, “Through the SSB, the Fellows will be equipped to lead and carry out R&D and R&D commercialisation activities to achieve economic impact. The SSB is one of the avenues for us to groom a pool of talent in the Research, Innovation & Enterprise value chain, which will enable us to continue to provide the expertise and knowledge base for innovation and commercialisation, and offer a competitive value proposition to the private sector as they seek to grow their business and R&D activities in this region.”
5. Said founder and Director of the Stanford Biodesign Programme and noted medtech innovator, Prof Paul Yock, “We are very excited at the rapid progress of partnership, and at the high caliber of the inaugural batch of SSB Fellows. In fact, overall applications received for the Fellowship have exceeded expectations in terms of quality and quantity. We believe that the SSB Fellows will benefit greatly from this unique experience and they will be launched on their way to become leading medtech innovators in Asia.”
6. Added Mr Julian Ho, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board, “The competitive selection process for the inaugural fellows is indicative of Singapore’s strong capabilities in science and engineering. Alongside a growing base of medical device R&D activities, we are confident Singapore will be an important partner to develop innovative medical devices for Asia,”
7. The SSB Fellows will also play an integral role in inspiring and mentoring others in Singapore who are seeking solutions to real medical problems, by being teaching assistants and sharing their experiences in the “Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Process” module in local universities. The module will lead students through the Biodesign Process, which spans clinical needs finding and analysis; brainstorming and concept implementation; and development of business, regulatory and reimbursement strategies. From 2011, the module will be offered yearly to about 30 graduate students from the Business and Engineering schools of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
8. Applications for the 2012 Fellowships will open in February 2011. Interested parties may visit www.ssb.a-star.edu.sg for application forms and guidelines, which will be released in due course.
SINGAPORE-STANFORD BIODESIGN (SSB) PROGRAM OFFICE
For media queries, please contact: Ms Loh Xiu Hui Senior Officer, Corporate Communications, A*STAR DID: (65) 6826 6439 Email: loh_xiu_hui@a-star.edu.sg
Mr Loh Zhi Wei Assistant Head, Marketing & Communication, EDB DID: (65) 6832 6806 Email: zhi_wei_loh@edb.gov.sg
About Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Program
The Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Program is a joint partnership between the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Stanford University. Its goal is to nurture and train the next generation of Asian medical device innovators in Singapore for the global industry. For more info, please visit www.ssb.a-star.edu.sg
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and nine consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity.
A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, hospitals, research centres, and with other local and international partners.
For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
About Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
EDB is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre and grow the Singapore economy. We dream, design and deliver solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. In so doing, we generate economic opportunities and jobs for the people of Singapore; and help shape Singapore's economic future.
‘Host to Home’ articulates how EDB is sharpening its economic development strategies to position Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore's value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line. EDB plans to build on existing strengths and add new layers of capabilities to enable Singapore to become a ‘Home for Business’, a ‘Home for Innovation’ and a ‘Home for Talent’.
For more info about the EDB, please visit www.sedb.com/medtech
About Stanford University Medical Center
The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. For information about all three, please visit http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.
[1] More information on the four new Fellows is at the Annex.
[2] For more information on the launch of the Singapore-Stanford Biodesign programme, please refer to the media release on 29 Jan 2010 at http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Media/News/PressReleases/tabid/828/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1185/Default.aspx. Related Documents 20101210_Stanford Biodesign announces inaugural team of 4 Fellowship recipients.pdf [118.3 KB]
ContactsName Loh Xiu Hui Tel 6826 6439 Other Email loh_xiu_hui@a-star.edu.sg
Name Loh Zhi Wei Tel 6832 6806 Other Email zhi_wei_loh@edb.gov.sg
