Materials technology plays an important role in many industry sectors. It is a critical element to focus on when one seeks to achieve a quantum leap in technology development. For Singapore, the focus on high-value-added advanced manufacturing and building up of expertise in materials technology is an important goal in the planning on science and technology, in particular, a plan that consists of both short-term approaches to harvest materials technology for relevant applications, as well as a long-term strategy in prepositioning materials technology to lead in future industries.

The first official program for materials science started in 1991 from the Division of Materials Engineering in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). National University of Singapore (NUS) began its program for materials science in 1996. Both NTU and NUS have created strong undergraduate and postgraduate programs in materials science today, and both universities have also been listed among the world's top rankings. Besides world-class universities, there is a need to have a world-class research institute to bridge the gap between the academia and industry. On September 8, 1997, Singapore's largest materials institute, the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) was formed by the then National Science and Technology Board, now known as the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). This year, IMRE celebrates the 25^th anniversary of its founding. Figure 1 shows the construction of and the completed IMRE building IMRE in 1999 and the current premises Fusionopolis 2.

Materials technology was relatively new to Singapore in the early 1990s. The country established its first five-year National Technology Plan in 1991. Among the strategic areas identified then for development included polymers, composites, coatings, electronics materials, and optical materials. The achievements we see today in research and industry in these areas are thanks to the R&D activities planned and initiated three decades ago.

Our quest to create an impact in industry through materials technology in the early 1990s led to the planning of a materials-focused research institute. This research institute should have strong linkages with the universities for upstream research and manpower development as well as a close working relationship with industry. The ultimate goal is to build up core competencies in materials technology and to enhance the growth of locally based industries through materials research and engineering. Although there are no industrial sectors that can be clearly labeled as “Materials”, the fact that materials is the enabling technology of all industries and that materials research forms the building block fundamental to innovation, has led to the emphasis on multidisciplinary R&D activities in materials technologies.

The formation of IMRE showed a strong determination to steer materials science and technology to be a prime driving force for initiating new technology and improving existing technology. IMRE was part of a master plan to build up Singapore as an R&D hub for materials research by strengthening knowledge infrastructure and expanding the local talent pool. In the early formative years of IMRE, the institute carried out its activities in several locations, including the Science and Engineering Faculties in the NUS. The institute leveraged the relevant research teams and facilities at NUS to jump-start its R&D activities, and most importantly, to accelerate talent development. The symbiosis between IMRE and the locally based universities becomes even more apparent with joint appointments of staff. The joint appointment scheme provides an avenue to accelerate the exchange of technical expertise as well as to optimize the sharing of R&D facilities. The framework provided a fluid, dynamic, and conducive environment that allows researchers from different corners of the community to work together and share resources. It is through this framework that R&D manpower was nurtured through the co-supervision of students. Many of the young talents co-supervised by the universities and the research institutes therefore have the opportunities to be exposed to top academic research as well as application-oriented studies. Many of them have become leaders in the ecosystem.

To support the national objective to strengthen industry, significant research activities under A*STAR were steered toward platform- or use-inspired basic technologies with an emphasis on applications. It was imperative to bridge materials science research with engineering, and to couple these more tightly with manufacturing to develop knowledge-intensive industries. Attracting new companies that utilize high-performance materials with novel properties and functions is one of the key strategies to sustain advanced manufacturing in the long term. Therefore, development of manpower to support industry has been part of the long-term strategy, which dovetails the manpower plan of the institutes of higher learning. With all the holistic approaches for enhancing R&D capabilities in place, intellectual properties in materials science have expanded over the years. This is especially important in establishing a strong foundation for high-value-added manufacturing as well as a magnet to attract top research talent and R&D investment.

To showcase the recent advances in materials science in Singapore, we present this special issue of Advanced Materials on the topic of “Materials Science in Singapore”. This issue brings together contributions from leading experts from IMRE as well as our valued collaborators in the universities, NTU, and NUS.

材料技术在许多工业领域发挥着重要作用。当一个人寻求实现技术发展的巨大飞跃时，这是一个关键要素。对新加坡而言，专注于高附加值的先进制造业和建立材料技术专业知识是科学技术规划的重要目标，特别是一项包括收获材料技术的短期方法的计划相关应用，以及预先定位材料技术以引领未来行业的长期战略。

材料科学的第一个官方项目始于 1991 年，由南洋理工大学 (NTU) 材料工程系启动。新加坡国立大学 (NUS) 于 1996 年开始其材料科学课程。NTU 和 NUS 都在今天创建了强大的材料科学本科和研究生课程，两所大学也都跻身世界前列。除了世界一流的大学，还需要有一个世界一流的研究机构来弥合学术界和工业界之间的差距。1997 年 9 月 8 日，新加坡最大的材料研究所——材料研究与工程研究所 (IMRE) 由当时的国家科学技术委员会成立，现称为科学、技术和研究局 (A*STAR)。今年，^{成立一周年}。图1 显示了 1999 年建设和完成的 IMRE 大楼 IMRE 和当前的场所 Fusionopolis 2。

材料技术在 1990 年代初期对新加坡来说相对较新。该国于 1991 年制定了第一个五年国家技术计划。当时确定的发展战略领域包括聚合物、复合材料、涂料、电子材料和光学材料。我们今天在这些领域的研究和工业领域所取得的成就要归功于三十年前计划和发起的研发活动。

在 1990 年代初期，我们寻求通过材料技术在行业中产生影响，这导致了一个以材料为重点的研究机构的规划。该研究所应与大学在上游研究和人力开发方面保持密切联系，并与工业界保持密切的合作关系。最终目标是建立材料技术的核心竞争力，并通过材料研究和工程促进本地产业的发展。尽管没有可以明确标记为“材料”的工业部门，但材料是所有行业的使能技术，材料研究是创新的基石，这一事实导致了对材料多学科研发活动的重视技术。

IMRE的成立表明了将材料科学和技术引导为开创新技术和改进现有技术的主要动力的坚定决心。IMRE 是通过加强知识基础设施和扩大当地人才库将新加坡建设为材料研究研发中心的总体规划的一部分。在 IMRE 的早期形成阶段，该研究所在多个地点开展了活动，包括新加坡国立大学的科学与工程学院。该研究所利用新加坡国立大学的相关研究团队和设施来启动其研发活动，最重要的是加速人才培养。IMRE 与本地大学之间的共生关系随着员工的联合任命变得更加明显。联合任命计划为加速技术专长交流以及优化研发设施共享提供了途径。该框架提供了一个流动、动态和有利的环境，使来自社区不同角落的研究人员能够一起工作和共享资源。正是通过这个框架，通过学生的共同监督培养了研发人力。许多由大学和研究机构共同培养的青年人才因此有机会接触顶尖的学术研究和应用型研究。他们中的许多人已成为生态系统的领导者。和有利的环境，使来自社区不同角落的研究人员能够一起工作和共享资源。正是通过这个框架，通过学生的共同监督培养了研发人力。许多由大学和研究机构共同培养的青年人才因此有机会接触顶尖的学术研究和应用型研究。他们中的许多人已成为生态系统的领导者。和有利的环境，使来自社区不同角落的研究人员能够一起工作和共享资源。正是通过这个框架，通过学生的共同监督培养了研发人力。许多由大学和研究机构共同培养的青年人才因此有机会接触顶尖的学术研究和应用型研究。他们中的许多人已成为生态系统的领导者。许多由大学和研究机构共同培养的青年人才因此有机会接触顶尖的学术研究和应用型研究。他们中的许多人已成为生态系统的领导者。许多由大学和研究机构共同培养的青年人才因此有机会接触顶尖的学术研究和应用型研究。他们中的许多人已成为生态系统的领导者。

为了支持加强工业的国家目标，A*STAR 下的重要研究活动被引导到以应用为重点的受平台或使用启发的基础技术。必须将材料科学研究与工程联系起来，并将它们与制造业更紧密地结合起来，以发展知识密集型产业。吸引使用具有新特性和功能的高性能材料的新公司是长期维持先进制造的关键战略之一。因此，发展人力支持产业已成为长期战略的一部分，与高等院校的人力资源规划相吻合。借助所有提高研发能力的整体方法，多年来，材料科学的知识产权不断扩大。这对于为高附加值制造奠定坚实的基础以及吸引顶尖研究人才和研发投资的磁石尤为重要。

为了展示新加坡材料科学的最新进展，我们以“新加坡材料科学”为主题，推出本期 Advanced Materials 特刊。本期汇集了来自 IMRE 的领先专家以及我们在大学、NTU 和 NUS 的重要合作者的贡献。