Nano technology big in Singapore

Some 40 local and foreign nano technology companies have set up shop here, dealing in anything from chemical engineering to cosmetics, a significant increase from just 10 companies three years ago.

‘The beauty about nanotech is that it is an enabling technology - it can be applied in any industry,’ said Spring group director of quality and standards Teo Nam Kuan.

Consumer demand for the industry is expected to grow to $1.05 trillion globally by 2010, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran at the opening of the one-day Nanosymposium on Monday at the Biopolis.

But with such a wide array of applications, nano technology - the art of producing things on a molecular scale - unfortunately still lacks a unified set of standards and protocols, he noted.

The majority of nano technologies have yet to be commercialised, as uniform standards have yet to be established.

Interestingly, there are over 16,000 standards governing the production and use of anything from credit cards to DVDs and social enterprises, but none for nano technology. (story)

Al-Jazeera coming to Singapore televisions

The Arab broadcaster’s English news service will be available to subscribers of Singapore Telecommunications’ (SingTel) pay-TV service, the Media Development Authority (MDA) said in a statement.

‘MDA has approved SingTel’s application to offer the Al-Jazeera English channel on MioTV - its IPTV (Internet Protocol television) service,’ Amy Chua, MDA’s director for media content division, said in the statement.

Officials did not say when Al-Jazeera would go on the air.

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera has said it will provide an alternative perspective to international news channels based in Europe and the United States. (story)

Education institute makes bid for University status

The local branch of an Australian school has launched a bid to become the newest member of Singapore’s fraternity of foreign universities. JCU Singapore, the 1,100-student strong offshoot of James Cook University, wants to apply to become an institute of higher learning. The designation would allow the Singapore campus to call itself a university - it’s currently barred from doing so - and place it on par with schools like University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the S. P. Jain Center of Management.

‘It seems like an anomaly,’ said JCU vice chancellor Sandra Harding.

‘The Singapore campus… is run like the main campus, the degrees offered here are the same as in the campus in Australia and the same standards are applied.’

Professor Harding and chancellor John Grey are in Singapore to meet with education authorities. (story)