Bosch, Dou Yee, Infineon and Th!nk Global, major players in the global automotive industry, have joined Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to form the A*STAR Capabilities for Automotive Research (A*CAR) consortium.
They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with A*STAR to affirm their commitment to collaborate. The newly formed A*CAR Consortium aims to drive technological advancement and innovation in the automotive sector in Singapore.
The A*CAR Consortium will tap the diverse and multi-disciplinary research capabilities, scientific infrastructure and resources in the seven research institutes of A*STAR's Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), to conduct pre-competitive, basic and applied research. It aims to address technological challenges in five key areas:
- Car communications & safety
- Connected car & infotainment
- Electronics;
- Precision engineering and materials; and
- Alternative energy
Open to all companies in the automotive industry, the A*CAR Consortium will give members full access to the R&D results developed in the pre-competitive research as well as the option of sending their staff on attachment to work on joint research projects with scientists at the A*STAR SERC research institutes.
Such collaborative research not only will reduce risks and deflect the high R&D costs involved in research, but also will enable members to train manpower and foster strategic networking. This is with the objective of lending technical expertise and support to local automotive supplier companies in their move up the automotive value chain.
A*STAR Chairman Lim Chuan Poh said, A*STAR, who launched the A*CAR Consortium at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), "The A*CAR consortium is a step in the right direction. In bringing the industry and the research community together in collaborative automotive research for technological advancement and innovation, A*CAR will strengthen the local supplier industry with continuing technological infusion and contribute to enhance Singapore's global competitiveness in the automotive industry."
SERC Executive Director Chong Tow Chong, Ph.D., said, "By coming together to form the A*CAR Consortium, the companies have at once articulated their confidence in A*STAR's capabilities to develop innovations and know-how to meet the global technological challenges. They also affirm the consortium's ability to drive innovation across the industry value-chain, tap the vast opportunities available in the industry and contribute to the overall increase in R&D activities in Singapore."
Cem Peksaglam, President and Managing Director of Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd, said, "Bosch decided to join the A*CAR initiative as it exposes us to a different way of R&D work. It provides us the opportunity to pool our resources and knowledge with other specialised companies in a pre-competitive phase. We are confident that this platform for mutual exchange and interaction, will not only benefit from the vast cultural diversity of Singapore; it will encourage innovations specific to the needs of the markets in this region."
Soo Ye Wah, Managing Director, Dou Yee International Pte Ltd, said, "Dou Yee has developed and improved metal-powder injection moulding (MIM) and composite plastics compounding capabilities for many years. We want to participate in the A*CAR consortium for closer networking and understanding of the requirements from automotive industries. We believe that with our existing advanced understanding of the technologies and current infrastructure, Dou Yee is suitably qualified to be one of the potential suppliers to the automotive industries."
Andrew Chong, Deputy Regional President, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific, said, "Infineon's semiconductor solutions for automotive address current trends like CO2 reduction, car safety and connectivity. Singapore has a proven track record as a good test-bed and show case of new technologies such as the next generation application of electronic toll collection system. Systems and standards that require the contributions from the entire value chain from car makers to infrastructure providers are best addressed by an R&D consortium like A*CAR in a conducive environment like Singapore, to gain the best possible results."
The A*CAR consortium is modelled on the successful A*STAR Aerospace Programme launched in January 2007. The A*STAR Aerospace programme brings together four aerospace giants, Boeing, EADS, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce, in a first consortium of its kind to engage in pre-competitive research across Singapore's aerospace industry. The consortium has since been expanded to include SIA Engineering Company; UK-based non-destructive equipment manufacturer Sonatest Limited; Germany-based laser manufacturer Rofin-Baasel Singapore; and Singapore-based small-and-medium enterprise IDI Laser Services.
For more information, please contact the following:
Ms Ng Koon Ling
A*STAR
Tel: +65 6826 6338
HP: +65 9799 5229
Email: ng_koon_ling@a-star.edu.sg
Ms Lee Swee Heng
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, A*STAR
Tel: +65 6793 8368
HP: +65 9620 3902
E-mail: shlee@SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg
Ms Zann Hong
Division of Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 63505436
HP: +65 90888438
Email : zann.hong@sg.bosch.com
Desmond T.C. Ang
Dou Yee International Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6249 6107
Email: desmond.ang@douyee.com.sg
David Ong
Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 68763070
Email: david.ong@infineon.com
Richard P. Blundell
Think Global AS
Tel: +44.20.7352.2520
Mobile:+44.77.88.646.615
Email: richard.blundell@think.no
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR):
A*STAR is Singapore's lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. A*STAR actively nurtures public sector research and development in biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to Singapore's manufacturing industry and new growth industries. It oversees 19 research institutes and consortia and supports extramural research with the universities, hospital research centres and other local and international partners. At the heart of this knowledge intensive work is human capital. Top local and international scientific talent drive knowledge creation at A*STAR research institutes. The agency also sends scholars for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training in the best universities, a reflection of the high priority A*STAR places on nurturing the next generation of scientific talent.
For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
Bosch Group:
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 271,000 associates generated sales of 46.3 billion euros in fiscal 2007. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in roughly 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3 billion euros for research and development, and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering."
The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
Bosch in Singapore:
Bosch has been present in Singapore since 1923. It is represented in Singapore by five companies: Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd, Bosch Security Systems Pte Ltd, Bosch Rexroth Pte Ltd, Bosch Packaging Technology Pte Ltd and BSH Home Appliances Pte Ltd, which is a joint venture with Siemens.
Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd is the headquarters for the region, with a branch office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and subsidiaries in the Philippines, Thailand ,Vietnam and Indonesia. Singapore also houses the Asia Pacific Center for Corporate Research and Advance Engineering as well as the IT Centre for Asia Pacific with an IT operations centre to service more than 200 Bosch locations in the region and an IT R&D facility to design and develop global IT platforms and systems for Bosch. Together with the Asia Pacific headquarters for the business divisions of Automotive Aftermarket and Security Systems, Singapore is the regional office for Bosch in Southeast Asia. For more information, please visit www.bosch.com.sg
Dou Yee International Pte Ltd:
Dou Yee International Pte Ltd is the premier total industrial solutions provider in the Asia Pacific region, serving with distinction the semiconductor, data storage and electronics Industry since 1982. It has 32 international branch offices strategically located around the world.
Infineon:
Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, communications, and security. In the 2007 fiscal year (ending September), the company reported sales of Euro 7.7 billion (including Qimonda sales of Euro 3.6 billion) with approximately 43,000 employees worldwide (including approximately 13,500 Qimonda employees). With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the U.S. from Milpitas, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX).