WITH approximately S$2.8 billion worth of investments within the last four years, Singapore’s fledgling biologics manufacturing industry is set to see meteoric growth. GCE ‘N’ and ‘O’ school leavers who aspire to carve a career in this high-value field will now have an additional platform to do so, with the introduction of a new full-time Nitec in Chemical Process Technology (Biologics) course at ITE in January 2010.

Mr Bob Tan, Chairman of ITE, announced the new course on 25 November 2009, following a visit by the ITE Board of Governors to GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. Mr Tan said that the new course will meet critical manpower needs in the burgeoning biomedical sciences industry.

Industry-relevant Curriculum
Figures from the Singapore Economic Development Board indicate that the biomedical sciences manufacturing sector generated a manufacturing output of S$19 billion in 2008. The industry currently employs more than 12,000 employees, with the value-added per worker estimated at S$0.8 million.

Explaining the rationale behind the new two-year full-time Nitec in Chemical Process Technology (Biologics) course, Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO, ITE, said: “ITE works closely with key industry players in developing the course curriculum and skill standards that would match the needs of the industry. Students will undergo training to equip them with broad-based skills and knowledge to operate and maintain biologics production equipment and facilities, monitor and control processes to produce therapeutic products from biological systems in a bio-pharmaceutical environment. This would ensure the supply of well-trained process or plant operations personnel for the Biologics sector.”

Strong Industry Endorsement for Programme
The new course also got the nod from industry players. Mr Vincent Hingot, Site Director of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, said: “Singapore is still relatively new in the biologics and bio-pharmaceuticals industry. As the pool of ready talent is small today, much investment and efforts in the public and private sectors are needed to develop Singapore’s capabilities in these areas. With the Government’s strong support and commitment to this sector, we see increasingly more reputable pharmaceutical firms making Singapore a base for their biologics operations in the region.”