REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
ACTS SUPPLEMENT
Published by Authority
NO. 17]Friday, June 2 [2000
The following Act was passed by Parliament on 25th April 2000 and assented to by the President on 8th May 2000:—
National Science and Technology Board (Amendment) Act 2000

(No. 18 of 2000)

I assent.

S R NATHAN,
President.
8th May 2000.
Date of Commencement: 1st June 2000
An Act to amend the National Science and Technology Board Act (Chapter 201A of the 1991 Revised Edition).
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act may be cited as the National Science and Technology Board (Amendment) Act 2000 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
Amendment of section 2
2.  Section 2 of the National Science and Technology Board Act (referred to in this Act as the principal Act) is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the definition of “Board”, the following definition:
“ “commercial application”, in relation to any knowledge or technology, means the application, utilization or exploitation of such knowledge or technology in the manufacture, production, sale, distribution or provision of goods or services in the course of any trade, business, enterprise or profession, and includes any business or commercial activity that is necessary for or related to the promotion, development or growth of any such trade, business, enterprise or profession;”;
(b)by inserting, immediately after the definition of “Council”, the following definition:
“ “financial assistance” includes assistance by way of grant, loan, loan guarantee, the purchase or guarantee of bonds, debentures, notes or other debt obligations or the purchase or acquisition of any stock, shares or other equity securities;”; and
(c)by deleting the words “and the Deputy Chairman” in the definition of “member”.
Amendment of section 4
3.  Section 4 of the principal Act is amended by deleting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:
“(1)  The Board shall consist of —
(a)a Chairman; and
(b)not less than 8 and not more than 20 other members.”.
Repeal and re-enactment of section 5
4.  Section 5 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:
“Functions of Board
5.—(1)  The functions of the Board are —
(a)to initiate, promote, stimulate, encourage, facilitate and assist in the development of an environment in Singapore that is conducive —
(i)to scientific and technological activities in areas defined by the Board;
(ii)to scientific and technological innovation; and
(iii)to the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology;
(b)to stimulate, encourage or facilitate scientific and technological research and development or innovation, and the commercial application of any new or improved knowledge or technology resulting from such research and development or innovation, or any other scientific and technological research and development or innovation;
(c)to enhance or improve the technical capability of industry, educational institutions and the research community in Singapore in scientific and technological research and development in areas defined by the Board;
(d)to co-ordinate scientific and technological research and development and innovation by the Government, industry, educational institutions and the research community, and to facilitate co-operation, communication and exchange of ideas and knowledge between them;
(e)to initiate and develop programmes or activities for the purpose of stimulating desirable scientific or technological advances, scientific and technological innovation and commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology in Singapore;
(f)to determine or advise on the adequacy of scientific and technological activities and innovative activities in Singapore;
(g)to attract to Singapore from overseas individuals or corporations who undertake scientific and technological research, or who invest or are involved in the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology;
(h)to advise the Government on the manpower requirements for scientific and technological activities, innovative activities and for the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology in Singapore, and to engage in programmes (not limited to education or training) for developing such manpower in Singapore;
(i)to alert the private and public sectors of Singapore to any new business opportunities that arise from the commercial application of scientific knowledge or technology;
(j)to initiate or develop facilities or programmes for the purpose of assisting or increasing the ability of new or growing enterprises in Singapore, particularly small to medium size enterprises, to access or commercially apply scientific knowledge and technology in areas defined by the Board, and to manage innovation therein;
(k)to provide advice and guidance to the Government in the formulation of its policies and laws on any aspect of science and technology or scientific and technological innovation, and on any matter relating to or affecting the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology;
(l)to foster or develop linkages between individuals, industries and enterprises in Singapore based on or involved in scientific and technological research and development or commercial application of scientific knowledge or technology and either investors (whether within or outside Singapore), similar individuals, industries and enterprises outside Singapore or other national or international authorities connected with science and technology or scientific and technological innovation;
(m)to promote public awareness and understanding of the importance of developments and innovation in science and technology and the commercial application of scientific knowledge and technology; and
(n)to represent Singapore internationally in respect of matters relating to science and technology.
(2)  In carrying out its functions, the Board shall —
(a)have regard to the needs of Singapore and its resources; and
(b)promote developments, commercial applications and innovation in areas of science and technology that increase the economic growth, productivity and employment opportunities in Singapore, that enjoy good export market prospects and that will enhance Singapore’s international competitiveness.
(3)  In addition to the functions specified in subsection (1), the Board may undertake such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Board and in so doing, the Board shall be deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the Board in respect of such additional functions.
(4)  Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing on the Board, directly or indirectly, any form of duty or liability enforceable by proceedings before any court.”.
Amendment of section 6
5.  Section 6 (1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting paragraphs (c) to (i) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(c)provide financial assistance for the development of manpower in Singapore required or conducive to the conduct of scientific and technological research and development or innovation, or to the commercial application of any scientific knowledge and technology;
(d)provide or develop, in partnership with the private sector, incubator facilities for new enterprises, and business support facilities to growing enterprises, which are based on or involved in the commercial application of any scientific knowledge and technology;
(e)provide financial assistance to any individual or enterprise in the public or private sector for scientific and technological research and development or innovation, or for any commercial application of scientific knowledge or technology, in areas defined by the Board;
(f)receive, acquire, develop or hold, or sell, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any property, movable or immovable, or any interest therein;
(g)establish and maintain offices within and outside Singapore;
(h)promote or undertake publicity in any form;
(i)publish, produce or sponsor the publication or production of periodicals, booklets, films and other materials in written, electronic or other media;
(j)receive donations and contributions from any source and raise funds by all lawful means; and
(k)generally do anything incidental to or consequential upon the exercise of any of its powers or the discharge of its functions under this Act.”.
Amendment of First Schedule
6.  The First Schedule to the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “, the Deputy Chairman” in paragraph 1(1) and the words “, Deputy Chairman” in the marginal note thereto;
(b)by inserting, immediately after paragraph 2, the following paragraph:
“Deputy Chairmen
2A.—(1)  The Minister may appoint not more than 2 members to be Deputy Chairmen of the Board.
(2)  At any time when the Chairman is absent or otherwise incapable of acting and no temporary Chairman has been appointed —
(a)such one of the Deputy Chairmen as the Chairman may designate; or
(b)if there is only one Deputy Chairman, that Deputy Chairman,
may exercise any of the functions of the Chairman.”;
(c)by deleting the words “or temporary Deputy Chairman” in paragraph 3 and in the marginal note thereto;
(d)by deleting the words “or the Deputy Chairman, as the case may be” in the 4th and 5th lines of paragraph 3;
(e)by deleting the words “or the Deputy Chairman” in paragraph 5 and substituting the words “or a Deputy Chairman”;
(f)by deleting the words “the Deputy Chairman” in paragraph 13(4) and substituting the words “a Deputy Chairman”; and
(g)by deleting the words “the Deputy Chairman” in paragraph 13(5) and substituting the words “every Deputy Chairman”.
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