<\/p>\nthe $457 million set aside in the last five years<\/p>\n
<\/a> to support key initiatives launched by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). <\/p>\n
The SSRC was set up in 2016 to provide direction for social science and humanities research as Singapore matures as a nation, such as in the areas of ageing and social mobility.<\/p>\n
Announcing the increase in spending on Feb 26, Education Minister Desmond Lee said: \u201cWe live in times of great complexity and uncertainty, and amidst these changes, social science and humanities research can help us to make sense of what\u2019s going on, chart our course, identify trends, avoid pitfalls, and seize opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, he said, such research can inform efforts to build resilience to climate change, mitigate risks and harness opportunities arising from artificial intelligence for jobs and society, support an ageing population, and strengthen trust between communities in a turbulent world. <\/p>\n
Mr Lee was speaking at the launch of the 2026 Social Science and Humanities Ideas Festival, held at the Singapore Management University. <\/p>\n
The festival, which runs from Feb 26 to March 27, will feature more than 100 researchers sharing insights on themes such as mental well-being and adaptation to emerging technologies.<\/p>\n
In addition to producing strong scholarship, the Government wants to support applied research that can achieve real-world impact and help overcome Singapore\u2019s challenges, Mr Lee said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo do so, we must grow our own pool of world-class researchers who understand Singapore\u2019s unique context and can harness research to make a difference.\u201d <\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s social science and humanities research can also help to address global challenges, he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Lee said the $457 million set aside for such research from 2021 to 2025 has supported close to 80 research projects in areas such as behavioural science, medical humanities, and sustainability, and trained many local researchers, including around 200 PhD students.<\/p>\n
He said work in the social science and humanities has contributed to efforts to improve lives in Singapore. <\/p>\n
For example, NUS social work professor Irene Ng\u2019s research on the lived realities of in-work poverty among young platform workers informed enhanced protection for platform workers, through the Platform Workers Act passed in September 2024. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, SMU\u2019s Centre for Research on Successful Ageing, led by SMU sociology professor Paulin Straughan, works with government agencies to use research insights to advance the holistic well-being of older people in Singapore, he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo I would encourage my colleagues from government agencies as well as our researchers to actively seek out and deepen such collaborations to address Singapore\u2019s challenges and to make a contribution to global efforts,\u201d said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
Since SSRC was founded in 2016, it has awarded funding to 54 research projects under the Social Science Research Thematic Grant, 21 early-career researchers, and 48 Graduate Research Fellowship projects. <\/p>\n
The research projects span topics such as evolving geopolitics in a changing world order, public housing and insights on ageing in Singapore. <\/p>\n
Mr Lee said the new tranche of funding will further strengthen the core of Singaporean researchers through initiatives such as the Graduate Research Fellowship. <\/p>\n
Launched in 2021, the fellowship aims to encourage early-career Singaporean researchers based overseas for their PhD or postdoctoral training to return and take up appointments in local educational institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this new tranche, we are looking to invest more in such initiatives to further expand our talent pipeline for outstanding Singaporean researchers,\u201d said Mr Lee. <\/p>\n
He cited upcoming projects supported by SSRC, such as a study of regional challenges like cyber vulnerabilities that cut across borders, to provide insights into how Singapore and other countries in South-east Asia can strengthen regional resilience.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Ideas Festival, supported by the SSRC and jointly organised by the autonomous universities, the University of the Arts Singapore and research institutions, draws upon the work of local social science and humanities researchers to look at critical issues facing Singapore and the world. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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