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The Evolution from a Three-Man Laboratory to Singapore's
Foremost Applied R&D Organisation
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Dr Goh Keng Swee, then Minister for Defence, saw the importance of creating the technological edge for Singapore. Realising that future warfare would enter the realm of science and technology, he handpicked 3 engineers to form the Electronics Test Centre (ETC). Its task was to build up secret-edge R&D capabilities for Singapore, focusing on key areas such as electronic warfare, guided systems and cryptography. These continue to remain our core competencies till today. Needing a head, the late Dr Tay Eng Soon, who till then was an engineering lecturer at the then University of Singapore, was tasked to lead ETC.
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Defence Science Organisation
was formally established with the appointment of the late Dr Tay Eng Soon as its first Director. By then, the organisation had grown to a staff strength of 50. Expertise within the organisation also grew and became more diversified to meet the needs of a growing Singapore Armed Forces. |
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Mr Tham Choon Tat took over as Director of Defence Science Organisation after the late Dr Tay Eng Soon went into politics. Under Mr Tham's leadership, the organisation's capabilities continued to expand as the Singapore Armed Forces' reliance on technologies grew. New capabilities that were initiated include command and control. |
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Professor Su Guaning took over as Director of Defence Science Organisation. |
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Brigadier-General (NS) Lee Hsien Loong, then Minister for Trade and Industry and Second Minister for Defence (Services) officiated the opening of the DSO building. The occasion marked the first time that DSO's existence was publicly acknowledged.
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In the same year, the organisation bagged both the inaugural Defence Technology Prize (Individual) and Defence Technology Prize (Team). |
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Defence Science Organisation became incorporated as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and was renamed DSO National Laboratories.
The corporatisation aimed to embrace the best commercial practices to recruit and retain talented people, and set new levels of service for its customers. During this period, DSO's efforts saw the rapid build-up of indigenous defence science and technology capabilities to enhance Singapore's defence.
In the same year, DSO celebrated its 25th
Anniversary.
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Mr Quek Tong Boon took over as the Chief Executive Officer of DSO.
Dr Tony Tan, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, officiated the opening of DSO's second building at Marina Hill. The complex is home to many state-of-the-art facilities for research on a myriad of cutting-edge technologies. With its establishment, staff who were previously housed at three separate locations on the island, were brought together.
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In the same year, DSO organised its first Technology Showcase and its first international symposium - the Singapore International Symposium on Protection Against Toxic Chemicals (SISPAT). |
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DSO's corporate logo took on a new look. The new logo was launched by Mr David Lim, then Minister of State for Defence, and Information and the Arts.
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DSO was admitted as a member of the Singapore Quality Class (SQC), which gives recognition to organisational excellence. The admission to SQC follows the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board's assessment of DSO's strategic initiatives based on the Singapore Quality Award framework. |
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DSO enhanced its new mission statement to steer the organisation towards developing technologies and solutions that can provide technological surprises to sharpen the cutting edge of Singapore's national security.
:: Our Vision and
Mission ::
In the same year, DSO celebrated its 30th Anniversary in October. Kicking off the year-long celebration was the launch of a commemorative book entitled "Creating
the Technology Edge". Co-authored by Dr Melanie Chew, a writer and military historian, and Professor Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, Professor of Physics at the National University of Singapore, the commemorative book was launched by then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan at the DSO 30th Anniversary Dinner & Dance on 4 October 2002.
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DSO began the new year by celebrating its people with the launch of its new centrepiece "Tropical Brainforest". Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Co-chairman, Economic Development Board, unveiled the new sculpture-cum-water feature on 24 January 2003 in the second event to commemorate DSO's 30th Anniversary.
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Made of local granite from Singapore's own Mandai Quarry and created by local sculptor, Ms Han Sai Por, the centrepiece symbolises DSO's unique brand of passion, and the indigenous and diverse talents that make up DSO. Together with the water feature, it depicts the creative forces that drive DSO and our aspiration to be a wellspring of innovation capable of continuous tropical technological surprises.
In the same year, DSO organised Defence Science Matters!, a public exhibition jointly organised with the Singapore Science Centre. Held over a period of two months, the exhibition showcased defence technologies and solutions developed by Singapore's very own defence scientists and engineers, as well as the scientific principles behind these technologies and solutions. The event was launched by RAdm (NS) Teo Chee Hean, then Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence.
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In October, the Defence Medical Research Institute (DMRI), which was under the purview of the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), joined DSO. Under the arrangement, DSO's Centre for Chemical Defence integrated with DMRI to form a new cluster known as the Defence
Medical & Environmental Research Institute
@ DSO National Laboratories (DMERI@DSO). |
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On 1 February 2004, Mr Quek Gim Pew took over as Chief Executive Officer of DSO National Laboratories.
The 15 Centres of Excellence were reorganised into 5 Divisions - Guided Systems, Electronic Systems, Information, Sensors and DMERI. The move provides broader themes that aim to guide DSO in focussing its R&D effort on core, mission-critical areas that are of strategic importance to the SAF. |
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DSO supported the SAF's humanitarian mission to the tsunami-hit Aceh province by setting up a mobile public health laboratory in Bandar Aceh to perform rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. |
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DSO was featured in two TV documentaries. The story of the Singapore Armed Forces' technological journey, "Cutting Edge", profiled DSO as its primary defence R&D laboratory. DSO's capability against biological agents was recognised in "Without Warning", a docu-drama on national security.
DSO's repertoire of technologies for military, defence and national security was showcased to Prof S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, during his familiarisation tour of DSO. |
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