The global aerospace industry, especially in Asian markets, is expected to grow at a much faster rate, and Singapore and the Republic of Singapore Air Force are both set to ride on this rapid growth to develop expertise and capabilities, noted Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Yeng Kit.
Mr Chan was speaking at the Singapore Aerospace Technology and Engineering Conference (SATEC) as its keynote speaker on 10 Feb.
The biennial conference is a platform for engineers, builders, designers and policymakers from both the military and commercial sectors to discuss the latest research findings in the aerospace field.
Formerly known as New Challenges in Aerospace Technology and Maintenance Conference, SATEC was jointly organised by the Air Engineering and Logistics Department (AELD) of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers.
Speaking to over 500 participants, Mr Chan talked about the challenges faced by the aerospace industry and noted that Singapore has already identified the solution: focus on driving Singapore's research and development (R&D) capability in the sector - at the company and people level.
He noted that at the company level, Singapore had introduced R&D funding programmes and infrastructural support for local aerospace companies.
For instance, the 320ha Seletar Aerospace Park has brought home-grown ST Engineering closer in proximity to multinational companies such as Eurocopter and Cessna Aircraft Company, to foster collaboration.
At the people level, Mr Chan highlighted that Singapore had invested heavily in training and education to develop talents to meet the needs of the industry.
"How competent a company or a sector is, ultimately depends on the people in that company or sector," he said.
One of the examples he cited was RSAF's partnership with SIM University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to provide upgrading courses, as well as the SAF postgraduate sponsorship for PhD studies.
One recipient of the postgraduate sponsorship was Military Expert 6 Reuben Lim, Head of Aerosystems Branch at AELD.
Currently in his final year of PhD studies in the United Kingdom's Cranfield University, the 36-year-old was in town to present his research in condition-based maintenance at the conference.
Also presenting at the conference were 30-odd other speakers from the RSAF, Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, as well as international organisations such as Boeing and Airbus.
They spoke on topics that ranged from the future of military air and space technology to shaping efficiency in commercial jet liners.
Topics such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems, network systems and pedagogy tools which are of relevance to the RSAF were also discussed at the conference.
Visit http://siae.org.sg/satec for more information on the conference.
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