‘IN CONVERSATION’ with Professor Quek Tong Boon (Chief Defence Scientist, MINDEF) – “A Secure Singapore: By default or by design?”

Singapore has harnessed technology to overcome its constraints and maintain its competitive edge since its independence.  Likewise in defence, we have leveraged on technology as a force multiplier to give our defence that extra edge. A key success factor is a capable technology workforce in our defence ecosystem that can dream, do and deliver critical and novel capabilities. With the declining interest in science and engineering among our kids, will we have what it takes to sustain and sharpen this edge in future?  Indeed if this trend continues and the national talent pool of quality S&T talent shrinks, what will be its impact on our ability to evolve a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy? From scientific research to technical support, we are already heavily dependent on imported talents today. How sustainable is this?