# Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Agency for Science, Technology and Research is a Government / Public Body based in Singapore, Singapore.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Government / Public Body
- **Headquarters:** Singapore, Singapore
- **Region:** Asia
- **Address:** 1 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138632
- **Founded:** 1991
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** a-star.edu.sg
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/astarsg

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Agency for Science, Technology and Research conducts research, provides funding, and offers scholarships in scientific and technological fields. It serves the scientific research and technology industries. The agency was founded in 1991 and is based in Singapore, previously known as National Science and Technology Board.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- AI/ML
- Digital Health
- Robotics & Automation
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- Industrial Tech

## Offices

- Biopolis, Singapore
- Science Park 2, Singapore
- Jurong Island, Singapore

## People

- Frederick Chew — Chief Executive Officer
- Tan Chorh Chuan — Chairman

## Questions

### How does A*STAR source proprietary deal flow?

A*STAR's deal flow originates inside its own 18 research institutes, where principal investigators develop intellectual property that feeds into the agency's pipeline. This internal sourcing model — the agency holds the patents, funds the labs, and co-founds the companies — gives A*STAR first look at Singapore's publicly funded deep-tech innovations. External partners like Flagship Pioneering gain access to vetted technology and local talent pools in exchange for company-creation expertise.

### What sectors does A*STAR explicitly target, and which does it avoid?

A*STAR targets biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing, robotics, semiconductors, and sustainable energy technologies — all aligned with Singapore's national industrial strategy. It avoids consumer internet, financial services, and real estate development, preferring sectors where its lab-based R&D model can generate proprietary intellectual property before commercial transfer.

### Does A*STAR maintain structures for translational research that operate separately from its corporate partnerships?

Yes. The A*STAR Graduate Academy manages PhD and postdoctoral programs that are functionally separate from corporate collaborations, ensuring academic independence. Spin-off companies are formed through a technology transfer office that keeps licensing and equity terms distinct from joint-venture budgets. This separation prevents corporate partners from gaining preferential access to foundational research before it enters the public domain.

### How is A*STAR's budget correlated with Singapore's overall R&D expenditure?

A*STAR is the primary vehicle for executing Singapore's national Research, Innovation and Enterprise plan, which committed approximately SGD 12 billion to public-sector research between 2021 and 2025. While the agency does not disclose its own balance sheet, its budget reflects allocations from that national plan, plus co-funding from partner corporations and licensing revenue from its intellectual property portfolio.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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