PROF LOW TECK SENG, PRINCIPAL & CEO OF REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC, WINS AN NSTA ACCOLADE FOR CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
15 September 2004 – Singapore – Professor Low Teck Seng, Principal & CEO of Republic Polytechnic has been identified by The Agency for Science, Technology and Research as one of the 11 outstanding research scientists and engineers to be awarded the 2004 National Science and Technology Awards (NSTA). Professor Low has been instrumental to the establishment of data storage capabilities in Singapore and the promotion of R&D partnerships between universities, research institutes and industry.
He is one of the two winners of the National Science & Technology Medal. These two winners of the prestigious National Science and Technology Medal this year have played strategic roles in the development of Singapore through the setup of research and development centres in industry and public sector as well as promoting research partnership and collaboration.
The award selection panels comprised key representatives from the industry, academia, defence and research institutes, and are chaired by distinguished leaders in science and technology, namely Mr Heng Swee Keat, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Industry, Prof Lim Pin, University Professor of NUS, Prof Cham Tao Soon, Distinguished Professor of NTU and Prof Leo Tan, President of Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS).
Details of Prof Low’s achievements can be found in the Annex.
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ANNEX I – Professor Low Teck Seng’s full citation
Professor Low Teck Seng
Principal and CEO
Republic Polytechnic
“For his contributions to the establishment of data storage capabilities in Singapore and promotion of R&D partnerships between universities, research institutes and industry”
Professor Low Teck Seng has contributed significantly in various capacities to shape Singapore’s R&D landscape over the last decade. In 1992, he founded the Magnetics Technology Centre (MTC) and subsequently grew the 20-man R&D team into a strong Data Storage Institute (DSI) with 180 research scientists and engineers. As the director of MTC and subsequently DSI, he expanded the scope of the R&D team from an initial focus on mechatronics and electronics to encompass magnetic sensors, media and an optical programme. Through his leadership and effort, Singapore built up world class strategic capabilities in data storage research, and was able to anchor key data storage manufacturers in Singapore. His contributions strongly impacted the data storage industry as well as other relevant industries in Singapore. The Institute is recognized by many as among the leading research organizations of its kind in the world. Many DSI Alumni are in key positions with industry R&D organisations.
Professor Low helped to forge strong partnerships with the data storage industry and universities through collaborations, consortiums and manpower training initiatives. From 1998 to 2000, he continued to strengthen the close relationship between research institutes and university as Dean of Engineering at NUS, by encouraging joint appointments of faculty members and research staff. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Temasek Laboratory at NUS, the Laboratory for Concurrent Engineering and Logistics, the Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering, the Large Scale Systems Laboratory and the Information Storage Materials Laboratory.
As the founding Principal and CEO of the Republic Polytechnic, Professor Low continues to lend his leadership, energy and deep insight to help shape Singapore’s R&D landscape by chairing and participating in various S&T panels, such as the Information Storage Technology Scan Panel and Thematic Strategic Research Programme Review Panel of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), as well as the Strategic Planning Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE).
For his contributions to the establishment of data storage capabilities in Singapore and promotion of R&D partnerships between universities, research institutes and industry, Professor Low Teck Seng is awarded the National Science and Technology Medal 2004.