Singapore's overall expenditure on research and development (R&D) has increased by an unprecedented 26.5 per cent to hit S$6.3 billion in 2007, announced the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Overall, the R&D activities in Singapore intensified in 2007. The gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) increased from S$5,010 million in 2006 to S$6,339 million in 2007.

The unprecedented year-on-year increase by 26.5 per cent is a significant jump from the 9.3 percent year-on-year increase in 2006.

As a percentage of GDP, GERD rose from 2.31 per cent in 2006 to 2.61 per cent in 2007.

Increases in private sector R&D spending have outpaced public sector expenditure.

Public sector expenditure on R&D increased by 22.6 per cent from S$1,717 million in 2006 to S$2,104 million in 2007.

On the private sector front, spending increased by 28.6 per cent from S$3,293 million in 2006 to S$4,235 million in 2007.

The manufacturing sector continued to drive the growth in private sector R&D, accounting for S$2,987 million or 70.5 per cent of total private sector R&D expenditure.

Increase in number of researchers

Singapore's research talent base continued to expand in 2007. The total number of researchers - currently 27,301 - grew by nine per cent with the private sector employing 59 per cent of all researchers.

In both the public and private sectors, researchers with a PhD showed the fastest rate of growth.

New PhD hires in the private sector grew by 21.1 per cent from 957 in 2006 to 1,159 in 2007, compared to the public sector's year-on-year increase of 14.1 per cent

The number of patent applications have also showed a steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 11.8 per cent from 2000.

Mrs Yena Lim, Managing Director of A*STAR credits this year's growth to the support from the S'pore government.

"The Government's steadfast support...encouraged investors to make significant R&D investments here," she said.

"Knowledge-based and innovation-driven activities will allow our economy to be more resilient and create high value jobs for Singaporeans," she added.