Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Ordinating Minister for Security and Defence, Dr Tony Tan accompanied by the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Finland from 19 to 24 May 2005.
The delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education, SPRING Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
The visit to Finland was part of the work of the Ministerial Committee on Research and Development (R&D), which was formed last year to review Singapore’s R&D direction and strategies. The objective of DPM Tan’s visit was to study how the two countries organize their resources to sustain strong science and technology developments in various sectors, and how this helps to promote and strengthen their economic growth.
In Finland, DPM Tan met officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Education. He will also be visiting various Finnish S&T institutions, the University of Helsinki, TEKES, VTT and Nokia.
Before arriving Helsinki, Tony Tan, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and the delegation had first paid a visit to Sweden.
