Singapore holds its own in scientific research among bigger Asia-Pacific countries

Singapore holds its own among its bigger Asia-Pacific neighbours, ranking fifth for scientific research output according to the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia-Pacific released on March 27.

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National University of Singapore

SINGAPORE: Singapore holds its own among its bigger Asia-Pacific neighbours, ranking fifth for scientific research output according to the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia-Pacific released on Thursday.

The country’s multi-billion dollar research and development investment programme has been steadily growing over the past decade, and its NPI output almost doubled in 2013.

Three significant research institutions in Singapore are ranked in the Asia-Pacific’s top 20.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) jumped to 46th in the Nature Publishing Index 2013, up 28 places from 74th in 2012.

In the Asia Pacific, it is ranked 6th, an improvement from 9th in 2012. It has outperformed the top institutions from higher-ranked nations including Australia and South Korea.

In its statement, NUS said it is the first institution in Singapore to break into the Global Top 100 in the 2012 rankings, and continues to move up the 2013 rankings.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has also moved into the global top 100 of the index.

NTU recorded a 250 per cent increase in corrected count to take second place in Singapore and 12th in the region.

It also advanced 144 places to rank 76th internationally in 2013.

Taking third place is national research body, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), which is ranked 19th in the region.

The Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific is released as a supplement to the latest issue of multi-disciplinary weekly journal, Nature.

It measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes published in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals over the calendar year to provide a snapshot of research in the Asia-Pacific in 2013.

- CNA/fa

Singapore holds its own in scientific research among bigger Asia-Pacific countries