R&D in Singapore? Research a little more into that first.

Just figured out that I have to be agitated to write like this. Here goes (before I run out of steam (so to speak)). (This rant has a strange. I'll get to it later.)

Not too long ago, I remember hearing the question about why there isn't very much R&D in Singapore. It's actually really simple. R&D implies trial and error. In Singapore, the vast majority of people don't like the error part of Trial and Error.

Most of the ones who expect results do not expect bad results, or answers like this;

'I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work!' **

It's encoded into our education system* from something like 20 years back. Things may have changed, but for a lot of the working crowd who went to school during those times of 'You fail and you'll be hearing about it for the rest of the year/your academic life/life.', it's deeply ingrained.***

In time, things may change; mistakes accepted and forgiven and maybe even encouraged. Until then, Singapore can look forward to more 'things must go right the first time' thinking, and hence, not a lot of R&D. Well, that and the fact that paper qualifications are more important here than work attitude.



* Mostly government schools

** From http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/thomas_alva_edison/

*** This quote fits well here: 'Our schools are not teaching students to think. It is astonishing how many young people have difficulty in putting their brains definitely and systematically to work....'****

**** From http://www.thomasedison.com/edquote.htm


For those of you still reading, the impetus of this is a failed chocolate brownie attempt! =P