Singapore cannot be a strong country without its scientists and technologists, said Acting Minister for Social and Family Development and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing on Friday.
Mr Chan was speaking at the Singapore Science Centre during the awards ceremony of the fourth annual Singapore Amazing Machine Competition.
"There cannot be a strong Singapore with a strong economy or strong defence system without a strong hall of scientists and technologists among us," he said. "Many of the things you do today may seem basic, but they form the building blocks of the things that we need to achieve in the coming years."
Referring to the newly announced plans to redevelop Paya Lebar and the eastern part of the island, he called students in the audience the "new builders of Singapore," and urged them to maintain and grow their passion in science and technology.
About 200 students from 20 schools took part in this year's Singapore Amazing Machine Competition. Participants had to create from mostly recycled materials a machine that could take a photo or video, while incorporating as many scientific concepts as possible.