University Awards

Outstanding Service Award

In this era of geostrategic shifts and rapid technological change, there are great opportunities as there are increased risk of disruptions. NUS’ mission to transform the way people think and do things will be decisive in determining which trajectory Singapore will be on. ” Mr LIM Chuan Poh
MBA (Cornell University)
MA (Cambridge University)
BA (Hons) (Cambridge University)
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Current Portfolio

  • Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
  • Chairman, Governing Board, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
  • Board Member, National Research Foundation; and NTU
  • Board and Council Member, Science and Technology in Society forum
  • Member, World Premier International Initiative Programme Assessment and Review Committee
  • Special Committee Member, Japan Science and Technology Advisory Committee
  • Founding Member, Frost and Sullivan Board of Governors of the Economic Development Innovation Council

Lifetime Achievements

  • Mr Lim carved an illustrious 23-year career with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). During his term as the Chief of Army followed by Chief of Defence Force from 1998 to 2003, then LG (NS) Lim oversaw the operational deployment of SAF Peacekeeping Troops to Timor Leste
  • In response to heightened global security climate, LG (NS) Lim worked closely with the Home Front agencies and led SAF efforts to put in place plans and measures to counter the threats of catastrophic terrorism
  • LG (NS) Lim also spearheaded the growth and development of the SAF as a technologically ready and advanced integrated force capable of a spectrum of operations. He further contributed to defence diplomacy by hosting the inaugural Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference and the first Chiefs of Defence Conference to be held outside the United States

Service to Nation and International Community

  • As former Permanent Secretary (Education), Mr Lim oversaw the transformation of publicly funded universities into Autonomous Universities (AUs) to enable them to reach new peaks of excellence
    • He reviewed the university research framework that led to the creation of the Academic Research Council and a new Academic Research Funding Framework. A specific proposal of the review was the hosting of Research Centres of Excellence by the AUs to catalyse their evolution into research-intensive universities
    • He oversaw the framework for the polytechnics to tie up with top foreign institutions to offer degree programmes in specialised areas
    • He guided the establishment of the Duke-NUS Medical School
  • Mr Lim steered the launch of various initiatives between NUS and A*STAR including the schemes of A*STAR-Academia Pathways such as the Joint Appointment Scheme (Research and Academic Dual Career Track), and the Singapore International Graduate Award. NUS and A*STAR also established several research partnerships and joint research units such as the Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology, Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine, and five joint laboratories between NUS Engineering and A*STAR’s SIMTech
  • At A*STAR, Mr Lim pioneered an open innovation framework, which reflects that no single entity has all the resources, capabilities and research required to solve the ‘big questions’. His inspirational vision is that new knowledge creation and innovation are hugely accelerated when scientific communities around the world galvanise to work collaboratively towards a common purpose

Awards and Accolades

  • Honorary Doctor of Science, Cranfield University (2017); University of Warwick (2016); and Loughborough University (2008)
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws, Arizona State University (2012); and Monash University (2009)
  • Order of the Legion of Honour, France (2016)
  • Fellowship under the Invitation Programme for Leaders by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010)
  • Fellowship of Imperial College (2010)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (2003)
  • Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (The Grand Meritorious Military Order – 1st Class) (2001)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Thailand (2001)
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander), US (1999 and 2001)
  • Public Administration Medal, Gold (Military) (1999)
 Honour Roll Recipients