R&D manpower comprises all persons directly employed on R&D and those providing direct services. It includes persons who are mainly or partially engaged in R&D. The Survey’s reporting convention for the headcount of those engaged in R&D is the number of persons as at the last day of the one year reporting period.

R&D manpower comprises the three occupation groups defined and described below: researchers; technicians; and other supporting staff. Researchers are further sub-classified as follows:

• Research scientists and engineers (RSEs) comprise the researchers, excluding the fulltime postgraduate research students, who hold formal qualifications at the university degree level. RSEs are classified into three subcategories according to the highest level of the formal qualifications: PhD; master degree; and bachelor degree.

• Non-degree researchers comprise the researchers, excluding the full-time postgraduate research students, who hold formal qualifications below the university degree level.

• Full-time postgraduate research students (FPGRSs).

For more information, please refer to https://www.a-star.edu.sg/News-and-Events/Publications/National-Survey-of-R-D.aspx