>> Boeing picks Singapore as R&D partner


IN A THREE-YEAR landmark deal, Boeing's research and development arm - Boeing Phantom Works - picked Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) for joint aerospace projects. A*Star is one of Boeing's 14 worldwide partners in research and development.

The collaboration will boost Singapore's position as the centre for aerospace engineering in Asia-Pacific. Currently, the aviation sector - of about 100 companies here - employs 13,000 and earns more than $4b yearly. And more growth is projected over the next decade.

To help sustain this growth, the Singapore Government approved the R&D investment. A*Star's Managing Director, Mr Boon Swan Foo explained: "An investment in aerospace R&D will position Singapore to tackle some of the existing and future challenges in aviation, such as security, intelligence systems, seamless communications and composite materials for aircraft parts."

"Our goal is to carve for a niche ourselves by innovating and providing value-added services with and for our partners."

Technologies from the Boeing/A*Star co-ventures may be applied to new Boeing aerospace products.