S'pore can boost biomedical, petrochem sectors through research

By Daryl Loo, Channel NewsAsia
14 May 2007 1748 hrs

SINGAPORE: Scientists and companies in Singapore have been urged by Professor Ryoji Noyori – one of Japan's top chemistry scientists – to focus on developing chemicals that are friendly to the environment.

The Nobel laureate and head of Japan's main public research institute RIKEN was speaking at a forum in Singapore.

He said: "Everybody recognises the importance of man-made chemicals. However, many places are polluted by these man-made chemical compounds. So how do we manage and handle such a situation?

"Chemists have to synthesise and provide important compounds that are cost effective and also environmentally benign in manner. And that is green chemistry."

The A*STAR-Noyori Forum Symposium on Organic Chemistry is the largest industry and academia symposium to be held at Singapore's Biopolis thus far, with participants from seven research institutions and 17 major chemical firms such as Mitsui and Sumitomo.

Opening the event, A*STAR Chairman Lim Chuan Poh said Singapore would be able to boost its crucial biomedical science and petrochemical industries by investing in chemistry research to produce new and better chemicals to make both medicines and industrial products.