Academics can have a vital role in supporting Singapore’s startups
WE REFER to the article “Wanted: experts to sit on startups’ scientific advisory boards” (BT, Jun 21, 2023). We believe that the underlying factors contributing to hesitation on the part of potential advisers are more complex than portrayed.
Regrettably, when it comes to getting involved in a private company in any capacity, the internal processes are lengthy, complicated and create a barrier upfront. Startups are inherently high-risk, and there is concern that an institute’s reputation may be tarnished if the venture fails.
A startup’s fundamental proposition often revolves around novel technologies that have not yet been widely established. By serving as advisers, scientists lend credibility to unproven therapies or clinical testing, but this is par for the course.
Somewhat perversely, academics may be put at a disadvantageous position in public grant funding and publication acceptance due to any affiliation with startups. Singapore is still relatively unused to industry-academic relationships and the default position of avoiding any conflict of interest by “cutting out” the academic needs to be much better addressed and managed.
Public institutions generally prioritise traditional academic outputs and may undervalue the importance of industry engagement in performance reviews of academics who actively support Singapore’s young startup ecosystem.
We submit that it is crucial to acknowledge the potential benefits of industrial scientists in advancing the outcomes of academic institutions.
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As part of Singapore’s national Research, Innovation and Enterprise strategy, academic institutes in Singapore are not solely focused on basic scientific research and instead are urged to apply their expertise downstream too. For instance, the A*Star research institutes, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, are expected to generate financial returns through licensing and spinoffs.
Numerous scientists have successfully ventured into the commercial world, providing valuable real-world insights into market and clinical needs. These perspectives are often lacking in startups originating from academic institutions, where lofty scientific aspirations need to be balanced with the realities of fundraising and product-market fit, among others, which experienced industry scientists can share.
Recognising the reciprocal benefits of collaboration between academia and industry is essential for fostering innovation and bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and real-world applications.
Toh Kai Yee, head of laboratory and research, AMILI
Maurice Chan, design and development director, Micronbrane
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