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Data on research and development (R&D) in Singapore are collected through the National Survey of Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE), conducted annually by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The scope of the survey covers innovation and R&D activities in the government and private sectors, public research institutes and institutes of higher learning.

To facilitate international comparability, data from the survey are collected and presented based on guidelines provided in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) “Frascati Manual: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development" (2015 Edition).

Patents

Data on patents resulting from R&D activities carried out in Singapore that are published in the National Survey of R&D and RIE are as reported by survey respondents. Only one patent is awarded to an invention, irrespective of the number of countries to which the patent is being applied or awarded.

Data

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Organisations Performing R&D by Sector

Title : Organisations Performing Research And Development By Sector, Annual

Number

Data Items

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

Total

872
948
878
844
922
932
1,140
1,052

Private Sector

809
880
806
772
849
855
1,058
972

Institutes Of Higher Learning

14
12
13
14
14
15
15
15

Government Sector

30
31
34
32
33
36
40
39

Public Research Institutes

19
25
25
26
26
26
27
26
SOURCE : AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH

R&D Expenditure

Title : Research And Development Expenditure By Major Industry In The Private Sector, Annual

Million Dollars

Data Items

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

Total

4,315.42
4,989.14
5,469.39
5,295.59
5,325.15
5,484.22
5,916.67
6,595.33

Manufacturing

2,373.49
2,615.73
2,946.12
2,753.92
2,749.74
2,335.44
2,989.07
3,365.57

Services

1,919.51
2,350.43
2,505.67
2,514.53
2,546.86
3,112.16
2,889.86
3,182.75

Primary Industries & Construction

22.42
22.97
17.6
27.14
28.54
36.61
37.74
47.01
SOURCE : AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH

Definitions

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Other References

Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Agency for Science, Technology and Research View
National Survey of Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) View