Singapore's latest push to become an Asian center for research and development by pumping millions of dollars into state-of-the-art infrastructure and opening its doors to foreign talent is already attracting some Japanese companies.
     So far three Japanese firms have set up operations at the wealthy city-state's second research and development complex, Fusionopolis, since it opened in October.
     Dubbed ''Singapore's science and technology powerhouse,'' it is focusing on research in ''infocomm'' technology, physical sciences and engineering.
     About 1 kilometer away is Biopolis, focusing on biomedical research, which opened in 2003.
     Both are part of a sprawling development called ''One-North'' that is targeted to promote research and development in Singapore in the 21st century.
     Fusionopolis itself is being built in six phases on 30 hectares. The futuristic two-tower complex of the first phase was completed last month, but the second phase is only expected to be ready in 2012.
     The three Japanese companies that have set up operations there are Panasonic Electric Works Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Panasonic Electric Works Ltd., Seiko Instruments Inc. and Nitto Denko Corp., said Nur Sahara, a spokeswoman for Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research.
     Nitto Denko on Wednesday officially opened its Asia technical center at the complex where it will conduct research into organic electronics, a new upshoot of the electronics industry, company officials said.
     Singapore is its fourth global R&D site after Japan, the United States and a facility in Europe, they said.
     The Osaka-based company plans to invest S$10 million (US$6.6 million) over the next three years to conduct research in collaboration with local research institutions.
     One of its initial projects is developing a sensory device for the healthcare industry that could be commercialized in about five years to cater to expected strong demand for such products due to an ageing society in many developed countries.
     Yasuo Ninomiya, Nitto Denko's chief technology officer, said the company chose Singapore due to the availability of a ''pool of local and foreign talent to tap, a strong R&D infrastructure and intellectual property laws.''
     As for the other two Japanese companies, Panasonic Labs will be doing research into new technology for energy systems while Seiko Instruments is looking at data storage and microelectronics.
     The three are among 13 companies that have set up operations at the complex, which also houses several of Singapore's state-run research institutes.
     Besides pouring huge investments to lay out the infrastructure to attract foreign companies to conduct research, Singapore has also aggressively lured foreign researchers to overcome a shortage of researchers due to the country's small population of 4.8 million, of which about 1 million are foreigners.
     More than 2,500 researchers are working at Fusionopolis and Biopolis, more than half foreigners from more than 50 countries.
     ''The government has made major investments in research and development in order to foster our economic growth and long term competitiveness,'' Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said when he opened Fusionopolis.
     Last year, Singapore recorded its highest-ever gross domestic expenditure on research and development at S$6.3 billion, a 26 percent jump from 2006.
==Kyodo