Singapore, Korea tie up to train medical technologies talent

SINGAPORE-STANFORD Biodesign (SSB) and Dongguk University (DU) have inked a three-year "SSB-Korea Innovation Partnership" (SKIP) which will develop talent in medical technologies innovation.

It also aims to gain insights into the medtech ecosystems in Singapore, Korea as well as the region.

The Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Programme is a joint partnership between the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*Star), the Economic Development Board (EDB), and Stanford University's Program in Biodesign.

Under the SKIP programme, SSB will conduct three biodesign workshops for 15 Korean students from DU for three years, where they will understand Singapore's clinical needs challenges and undergo training to become medical device innovators.

Meanwhile, Singapore's SSB Fellows will attend clinical immersion sessions facilitated by DU at Korean hospitals to identify gaps in clinical needs in South Korea's healthcare system. They will also develop medical technologies for the country.

In addition, there will be a faculty exchange across both countries to advance the content taught at the SSB Innovation Class.

Since it was established in 2010, SSB has trained 259 students and professionals in Singapore on the programme's biodesign methodology on medtech innovation.