Agency for Science, Technology and Research

What Agency for Science, Technology and Research does

A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, operating as a statutory board under the Singapore government with 5,001-10,000 employees headquartered across the Biopolis and Fusionopolis research campuses. It conducts research spanning biomedical sciences and physical/engineering sciences through two research councils — the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) — encompassing 13+ research institutes such as GIS, IMCB, SIgN, SIFBI, IME, IMRE, SIMTech, and ARTC, plus national centres including EDDC, NSTIC, CFAR, AIMfg, and NSCC, and programmes such as T-Up, Singapore Biodesign, and the National Robotics Programme. Core technology capabilities span bioprocessing, microelectronics, semiconductor packaging, metrology, synthetic biology, AI, advanced manufacturing, and drug discovery, supported by the National Supercomputing Centre.

A*STAR bridges academia and industry through open innovation partnerships, joint laboratories, licensing and IP commercialisation, venture creation via its Venture Creation and Growth (VCG) function, and talent mobility programmes including T-Up and the Singapore-Southeast Asia Fellowship. Funding flows from Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plans, with RIE2025 committing S$28 billion over five years. The organisation engages three primary segments: multinational corporations (Rolls-Royce, Coca-Cola, AstraZeneca, GlobalFoundries, Standard Chartered, Halliburton, Commonwealth Fusion Systems), local SMEs (over S$21 million committed in advanced manufacturing joint labs), and R&D-driven startups, with translational outcomes including ETC-159 reaching clinical trials, AstraZeneca's US$1.5 billion ADC facility commitment, and the National Precision Medicine programme mapping 100,000 Singaporeans.

The agency is positioned as a strategic instrument of Singapore's innovation economy rather than a profit-maximising entity. Its value proposition centres on connecting world-class research talent (researchers from over 50 countries, 120+ in Stanford's top 2% list, 7 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers in 2025) with industry commercialisation pathways, supported by S$440 million in Startup SG Equity expansion and a $500 million biomedical infrastructure refresh. Recent strategic activity signals accelerating diversification into AI (CuspAI, Standard Chartered, Lucence cancer diagnostics), synthetic biology (NUS joint lab), and energy (Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Halliburton NEX Lab), reinforcing A*STAR's role as Singapore's primary platform for translating frontier research into economic and societal impact.

Name

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Legal name

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Website

https://a-star.edu.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

A*STAR is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, operating research institutes across biomedical and physical/engineering sciences at Biopolis and Fusionopolis. It bridges academia and industry through joint labs, licensing, and venture creation, serving MNCs, SMEs, and startups under the RIE2025 national innovation plan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Research and Development

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Public sector R&D services
• Biomedical research institutes
• Semiconductor translation research
• Advanced manufacturing technology
• Technology licensing and commercialization

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: A*STAR operates as a government-funded R&D agency with funding from Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plans. The RIE2025 plan commits S$28 billion to research initiatives.
2. Industry Partnerships and Licensing: Revenue generated through co-development agreements, licensing of intellectual property, and technology commercialization with industry partners including MNCs and local enterprises.
3. Venture Creation: Nurturing R&D-driven startups through venture building programs, creating equity stakes and commercial returns from successful ventures.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

A*STAR is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency that conducts scientific research across biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering through its network of research institutes and national centres. The agency provides open innovation collaboration, joint laboratory partnerships, technology licensing, and venture-building services to multinational corporations, local enterprises, and R&D-driven startups.

Product overview

A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency that operates a portfolio of research institutes, national centres, and programmes spanning biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering. The organisation is structured around two main research councils: the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) managing institutes focused on health-related research (BII, BTI, GIS, IDL, IMCB, IHDP, SIgN, SIFBI, SRL), and the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) overseeing institutes in physical sciences and engineering (ARTC, IAIC, IME, IMRE, ISCE2, NMC, SIMTech, A*CRC). A*STAR also operates national centres (EDDC, CFAR, NSTIC, AIMfg, NSCC, DxD Hub) and innovation programmes (T-Up, Singapore Biodesign, NRP) that translate research into economic and societal impact. The institutes and centres collaborate with industry partners, universities, and public agencies to drive innovation from discovery to commercialisation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,800 talents nurtured through scholarships since 2001
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• CuspAIflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Five-year partnership to accelerate AI-driven materials discovery in Singapore. Combines A*STAR's research capabilities with CuspAI's AI platform for materials science innovation.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026A*STAR and NUS launched the A*STAR SIFBI-NUS Synthetic Biology Joint Lab to accelerate translation of synthetic biology into real-world applications. Initial focus on nutrition and consumer care. Combines A*STAR's bioprocess development capabilities with NUS's fundamental science research to help companies co-develop and validate sustainable bio-based alternatives to conventional chemical manufacturing.
• Commonwealth Fusion SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Collaborative research agreement to advance fusion supply chain capabilities in Singapore. Focus on developing capabilities and supply chain infrastructure for fusion energy technology.
• Standard CharteredcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Three-year partnership to advance AI-led innovation for financial services. A*STAR provides AI research capabilities while Standard Chartered contributes financial services domain expertise and use cases.
• LucencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026S$6 million research collaboration with DxD Hub and NCCS to advance cancer diagnostics through AI and patient-centric research.
• DxD HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026S$6 million research collaboration with Lucence and NCCS for AI-driven cancer diagnostics development and patient-centric research.
• National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026S$6 million research collaboration with Lucence and DxD Hub advancing cancer diagnostics through AI and patient-centric research approaches.
• Singapore Airlines (SIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Two joint labs to advance aircraft cabin component manufacturing and AI for enhanced airline operations. Combines A*STAR's research capabilities with SIA's aviation industry expertise.
• SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Joint lab with A*STAR and SIA for aircraft cabin component manufacturing and AI applications in airline operations.
• HalliburtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Launched NEX Lab to advance well completion innovation. Partnership focuses on developing new technologies for oil and gas well completion processes.
• GlobalFoundriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Collaboration to further research in silicon photonics for the AI era. Combines A*STAR's research expertise with GlobalFoundries' semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
• Bain & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025Joint report with A*STAR, EDB, J.P. Morgan, and SG Growth Capital highlighting how Asia-Pacific is emerging as a significant biotech innovation hub, with Singapore positioned as a strategic base. Report covers funding trends, licensing deals, and regional ecosystem development.
• Economic Development Board (EDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025Joint report on Asia-Pacific biotech innovation ecosystem. EDB and A*STAR collaborating to position Singapore as a strategic biotech hub through RIE2025 plan committing S$28 billion and Startup SG Equity expanded by S$440 million.
• Rolls-RoycecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025Deepened strategic partnership for aerospace manufacturing and MRO technologies. Rolls-Royce's advanced manufacturing facility in Seletar produces high-performance fan blades for widebody aircraft worldwide, supported by A*STAR joint lab.
• Singapore Airlines Engineering (SAESL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025Joint lab with A*STAR and Rolls-Royce for aerospace manufacturing and MRO technologies. Supports Singapore's position as a hub for high-value aerospace engineering and MRO innovation.
• Local SMEs (multiple)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025A*STAR and local SMEs jointly invested over S$21 million in Advanced Manufacturing Joint Labs, supporting Singapore manufacturers in advanced manufacturing capabilities.
• Wellcome LeapflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Asia's first non-GMP mRNA BioFoundry to accelerate next-generation vaccines and therapeutics. Part of broader ecosystem for translating science into enterprise.
• Engine BiosciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotech partnership where A*STAR-trained scientists are translating science into enterprise, progressing therapies from discovery into global trials.
• Chugai Pharmabody ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership progressing therapies from discovery into global trials, with A*STAR-trained scientists translating science into enterprise.
• Coca-ColacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoca-Cola's Singapore plant, recognized by World Economic Forum as a Global Lighthouse, implemented advanced automation with A*STAR's support, achieving world-class productivity.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency and a statutory body of the Australian government. CSIRO operates as a direct peer to A*STAR — both are national R&D agencies conducting applied research across biomedical, physical, and engineering sciences with industry commercialization mandates. Both bridge academia-industry and operate major research campuses (CSIRO's various sites parallel Biopolis/Fusionopolis).
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's leading applied research organization with 75+ institutes conducting contract research for industry and government. Fraunhofer mirrors A*STAR's model of applied R&D, joint labs with MNCs, and technology commercialization, but at a much larger scale (~30,000 staff) and across more industrial domains. The most analogous national applied-research peer globally.
• RIKEN: Japan's flagship national research institute covering physical, chemical, biological, and engineering sciences. RIKEN is a direct regional peer to A*STAR — both are Asia-Pacific national R&D agencies with world-class facilities, talent concentration, and government backing. RIKEN's broader mandate and larger budget make it a scaled regional analog.
• KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology): South Korea's leading government-funded multidisciplinary research institute. KIST operates a similar applied-research-plus-commercialization model with joint labs, talent exchange programs, and industry partnerships — comparable to A*STAR's structure. Direct Asia-Pacific peer competing for similar talent pools and MNC R&D investment.
• CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India): India's national R&D agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology, with 38 laboratories spanning physical, chemical, biological, and engineering sciences. CSIR is a regional peer operating under a similar public-sector R&D model with industry partnerships and technology commercialization — comparable in mission though at very different scale.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC): Canada's primary national R&D organization operating research centers across aerospace, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. NRC is a direct peer in structure — government-funded, industry-facing, multi-disciplinary — and a comparable model of national R&D agency with applied research and industrial collaboration focus.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Netherlands' national applied research organization operating across health, industry, and defense domains. TNO is a direct European peer with a comparable model of public-sector applied research, industry contract work, and joint labs — analogous to A*STAR's BMRC and SERC structures.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organization with activities spanning biotechnology, digital systems, and sustainable materials. VTT is a direct European peer with a similar applied-research-and-commercialization mandate and comparable scale (~2,000+ staff), making it a relevant peer for benchmarking A*STAR's model.

Broad incumbents

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique): France's largest public scientific research organization and a broader incumbent in national R&D. Like A*STAR, CNRS spans life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and computational sciences, but with a more academic/university-affiliated orientation and larger pure-research mandate. Both are government-funded national R&D powerhouses.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS): China's premier national academy for natural sciences and high-tech research, with 100+ institutes. CAS is a much larger regional incumbent in the same national-R&D-agency category as A*STAR, with comparable applied-research and commercialization activities but a much bigger footprint and budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-star
• Xx.com/AstarHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/HQastar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments6 records

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Frequently asked questions about Agency for Science, Technology and Research