To get more Singaporeans into the medical technology or medtech industry, the Employment and Employability Institute and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) have set aside $10 million for the next two years.

This is to fund the MedTech Industry Transformation Initiative, which will help firms improve productivity by changing their processes, and attract and train local workers.

Supported by the Economic and Development Board, the scheme is expected to benefit about 1,500 local workers. Three companies - Baxter Healthcare SA (Singapore Branch), Becton Dickinson Medical and Edwards Lifesciences (Singapore)- have signed on for the pilot phase. Together, they employ 40 per cent of the 10,000-strong medtech workforce here.

"Going forward, WDA will continue to work closely with the industry to develop skills upgrading programmes for local talents to acquire the skills and knowledge required by MedTech companies," said WDA acting chief executive Goh Eng Ghee. Singapore's medtech industry's output has risen from $1.86 billion in 2002 to $4.25 billion in 2012.