1 October 2009

EADS and EDB to offer scholarships to Ph.D. students from NTU and NUS

●  First Joint Industry Postgraduate Programme (JIP) to develop postgraduate talent for the aerospace industry
● First JIP with joint participation by NTU and NUS

Singapore, 1 October 2009 – EADS and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) today announced the sponsorship of Ph.D. students under the EDB Joint Industry Postgraduate Programme (JIP) through the signing of a Joint JIP agreement with NTU (Nanyang Technological University) and NUS (National University of Singapore).

Mr Gan Yeow Beng, VP and Head of EADS Innovation Works (IW) Singapore, signed the Joint JIP agreement with Mr Sia Kheng Yok, Director of Transport Engineering, EDB; Prof Pan Tso-Chien, Dean, College of Engineering, NTU; and Prof Chan Eng Soon, Dean Faculty of Engineering, NUS. The ceremony was witnessed by Dr Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer of EADS; Mr Leo Yip, Chairman of EDB; Prof Bertil Andersson, Provost of NTU; and Prof Tan Eng Chye, Provost of NUS and Deputy President (Academic Affairs).

Dr. Botti remarked, "This is an important step for our Innovation Works Singapore research centre as we move beyond the ramp-up phase. The professional development of young talents in local universities is an element of our strategy to build upon our existing strong links with both NTU and NUS. We are pleased that our Singapore partners remain committed to R&T and the co-funding provided by EDB is proof of this on-going and positive relationship."

The agreement allows EADS to increase its research partnership with NTU and NUS as well as to secure young talents for EADS IW Singapore, its corporate research centre in Singapore.

A total of six students from NTU and NUS will be supported. Upon graduation, the students will be employed by EADS for three years and will start work in EADS IW Singapore.

Initial topics of interest include electromagnetics, signal processing, data stream mining and reconfigurable real-time embedded systems. The students will be mainly working in the universities but will be jointly supervised by both a university professor and a researcher from EADS IW Singapore.

"We are delighted that EADS, NUS and NTU are working together to train more R&D talent in science and technology. Graduates of this programme will have the opportunity to work with EADS, a global leader in aerospace and defence. Collaborations such as this will contribute to the depth of talent capabilities in Singapore,” said Mr Leo Yip, Chairman, EDB.

"This joint scholarship programme is a great opportunity for our PhD students to learn from EADS and EDB and better prepare themselves for success in this globalised hi-tech world,” says Prof Bertil Andersson, Provost of NTU. "We hope this will inspire more students to join the dynamic aerospace and engineering industries in Singapore. "

Professor Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost says: "NUS is grateful for the continual support from EDB and EADS in providing an additional advantage that would allow our postgraduates to acquire turnkey industry experience in study and work environments. We are confident that the programme will strengthen the existing collaborative research efforts with all parties.”



About EADS

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of about 118,000. The Group includes Airbus as the leading manufacturer of commercial and also tanker, transport and mission aircraft, Eurocopter as the world's largest helicopter supplier and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. The Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA.

EADS Innovation Works Singapore is an extension of the Research Organization within the EADS Group ("EADS Innovation Works") driven by its Global Industrial Development strategy. It manages projects for the EADS business units and EADS Innovation Works while performing its activities in close cooperation with Singaporean scientific institutions.



About EDB
EDB is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre and grow the Singapore economy. We dream, design and deliver solutions that create value for investors and companies in Singapore. In so doing, we generate economic opportunities and jobs for the people of Singapore; and help shape Singapore's economic future.

'Host to Home' articulates how EDB is sharpening its economic development strategies to position Singapore for the future. It is about extending Singapore's value proposition to businesses not just in helping them improve their bottom line, but also in helping them grow their top line. EDB plans to build on existing strengths and add new layers of capablities to enable Singapore to become a ‘Home for Business’, a ‘Home for Innovation’ and a ‘Home for Talent’.

For more information on how EDB can help your business, please visit www.sedb.com



About NTU
NTU is a research-intensive university ranked among the top 25 technological universities in the world. NTU has four colleges comprising 12 schools in the field of Engineering, Science, Business and Humanities. As Singapore’s main science and technology university, NTU makes significant contributions to the nation's renewed drive for research and innovation spearheaded by the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF). NTU’s strengths in biomedical sciences, environmental and water technologies, and interactive and digital media mirror the NRF’s research focus.

NTU has a strong and broad international reach covering academic and research partnerships with top institutions in the US, Europe and Asia, such as MIT, Stanford University, Cornell University, Caltech, University of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University; Cambridge University, Imperial College and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology; and Peking University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Waseda University, and Indian Institute of Technology.

For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg



About NUS
A leading global university centred in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university which offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise.

NUS has 14 faculties and schools across three campus locations in Singapore – Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment, as well as special programmes which allow students to realise their potential.

The learning experience is complemented by a vibrant residential life with avenues for artistic, cultural and sporting pursuits. Over 30,000 students from 100 countries further enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives.

NUS has three Research Centres of Excellence and 21 university-level research institutes and centres. It also shares a close affiliation with 16 national-level research institutes and centres. Research activities are strategic and robust, and NUS is well-known for its research strengths in engineering, life sciences and biomedicine, social sciences and natural sciences. It also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community.