Singapore's defence engineers now under one roof to promote and foster team work

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PHOTO: NG ENG HEN / FACEBOOK
The Defence Science Technology Agency (DSTA) Integrated Complex was officially opened by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen (centre) on Tuesday (March 29).

SINGAPORE - Some 3,000 defence engineers and technical staff now work out of spanking new premises, which will house Singapore's top brains in defence technology.

The Defence Science Technology Agency (DSTA) Integrated Complex along Depot Road will bring the Republic's defence engineers under one roof, allowing them to work seamlessly with one another. Previously,they were spread over three locations, including Depot Road, Bukit Merah and Science Park.

But the new 12-storey building, spanning three football fields, is not about creating a space that is big enough to house everyone, said DSTA chief executive Tan Peng Yam.

It is aimed at promoting and fostering team work, he added.

The new building was officially opened by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday (March 29).

Given today's security threats from extremists, cyber warfare, biological pandemics and hybrid warfare, Dr Ng said defence engineers and scientists need to take a cross-disciplinary approach to problem-solving and innovation.

He said the design of the building will "break down the barriers" between engineers, technologists and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Noting that this year also marks 50 years since Singapore's defence technology community was set up, Dr Ng credited the community players who "dared to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals".

He said that DSTA boosted the Republic's defence science capabilities which proved invaluable in upgrading and building not just discrete components of the Singapore Armed Forces but also integrating them to multiply their effectiveness.

With a "significant and permanent reduction" in the SAF's manpower pool after 2030, the military will increasingly use more robotics and unmanned platforms, said Dr Ng, urging defence engineers to continue to build up the armed forces.

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