Lianhe Zaobao, 我国未来五年拨5亿5600万元 加强社会科学与人文学研究

(Summarised translation)

The Singapore government will allocate S$556 million over the next five years to further strengthen the local social sciences and humanities research ecosystem and assist academic talents in conducting research projects that are valuable to Singapore.

Education Minister Desmond Lee made the announcement on Thursday (February 26) at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Social Science and Humanities Ideas Festival, held at Singapore Management University. This new allocation represents a 21% increase of S$99 million over the S$457 million allocated for the 2021-2025 financial year.

The new round of funding will continue to support the Social Science Research Council to promote locally relevant research covering a range of areas, including the evolving geopolitics amidst global shifts, Singapore’s public housing, and insights into Singapore’s ageing population.

In an interview, Yow Wei Quin, Head of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Cluster and Professor of Psychology at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said that the increased funding will make it easier for universities to conduct and continue to promote large-scale interdisciplinary applied research, improving local policies, systems and technologies in ways that are human-centred, responsible and relevant to Singapore’s evolving needs.

She said, “Just like the new Design and AI tracks at SUTD, our research on using artificial intelligence to reduce cognitive decline and loneliness, and to increase social engagement among older adults illustrates how social science, humanities, and technology can come together to address the pressing challenges of an ageing society.”