media release - Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
30 September 2008
A*STAR AND LEADERS IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FORM
CONSORTIUM TO CONDUCT PRE-COMPETITIVE R&D
Bosch, Dou Yee, Infineon and Th!nk Global sign MOU for research in
areas such as car communications, infotainment and manufacturing
processes
1. Bosch, Dou Yee, Infineon and Th!nk Global, major players of the global
automotive industry from Germany, Norway and Singapore, joined the Agency
for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to form the A*STAR
Capabilities for Automotive Research (A*CAR) consortium today. 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.
2. The A*CAR Consortium will be able to tap the diverse and multidisciplinary
research capabilities, scientific infrastructure and resources in the
seven research institutes of A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research
1

Council (SERC) to conduct pre-competitive 1 , basic and applied research work.
It aims to address technological challenges in five key areas, namely:
• Car Communications & Safety
• Connected Car & Infotainment
• Electronics;
• Precision Engineering and Materials; and
• Alternative Energy
3. 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 the researchers from SERC
research institutes. Such collaborative research will not only reduce risks and
deflect the high R&D costs involved in research, but will also 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.
4. Said Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, 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.”
5. Said Prof Chong Tow Chong, Executive Director of SERC, “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
1 Pre-competitive research can be thought of as work where companies are not adverse to their
competitors having equal access to the results of the research, and thus enjoying equal
benefits.
2

vast opportunities available in the industry and contribute to the overall
increase in R&D activities in Singapore”.
6. “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,” said Mr Cem
Peksaglam, President and Managing Director of Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd.
7. “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,” said Mr Soo Ye Wah, Managing Director, Dou
Yee International Pte Ltd
8. Said Mr. Andrew Chong, Deputy Regional President, Infineon
Technologies Asia Pacific, “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.“
Background
9. The A*CAR consortium is modelled on the successful A*STAR
Aerospace Programme launched in January 2007. The A*STAR Aerospace
3

programme brings together four aerospace giants of Boeing, EADS, Pratt &
Whitney, and Rolls-Royce in a first consortium of its kind to engage in precompetitive
research across Singapore's aerospace industry. The consortium
has since been expanded to include four new members, namely the 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 further clarification and queries, 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 Zann Hong
Division of Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 63505436
HP: +65 90888438
Email : zann.hong@sg.bosch.com
David Ong
Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte
Ltd
Tel: +65 68763070
Email: david.ong@infineon.com
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
Desmond T.C. Ang
Dou Yee International Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6249 6107
Email: desmond.ang@douyee.com.sg
Richard P. Blundell
Think Global AS
Tel: +44.20.7352.2520
Mobile:+44.77.88.646.615
Email: richard.blundell@think.no
About the 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,
4

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.
About the 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.
About 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
About 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.
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system
solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency,
5

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).
6