Tay Kheng Soon calls for bold innovation to foster startups and academic collaboration.
SINGAPORE: Renowned architect and sociopolitical commentator Tay Kheng Soon has urged Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to implement his vision of transforming Singapore’s autonomous universities into “enterprise campuses” that foster collaboration between academic institutions and startups.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Tay proposed that combining universities with startup ecosystems would help cultivate “a new generation of bold and innovative individuals who will drive Singapore’s future.” He believes that co-locating startups with students, laboratories, and professors would create a dynamic environment that nurtures creativity and innovation.
Mr Tay, who also serves as an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore, has even produced a YouTube video to explain the concept—one that he claims has been seen by Prime Minister Wong.
Appealing directly to Wong, Tay emphasized the urgency of his proposal, arguing that Singapore needs “big bold steps” rather than incremental changes if the country is to become the “financial and innovation heart of Southeast Asia” in the next decade. “It is survival,” he insisted.
Mr Tay has previously discussed this idea with other political figures, such as National Development Minister Desmond Lee and Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai, who met with him last year to explore the concept. In 2017, they had discussed an earlier proposal of his—a food street made from shipping containers rented at a flat fee—but that idea was dismissed due to concerns about disrupting existing rental markets.
The viability of Tay’s “enterprise campuses” idea remains uncertain, but his ongoing advocacy highlights a growing call for bold, innovative strategies in Singapore’s development plans. Whether this vision will materialize to reshape the country’s academic and entrepreneurial landscape is still to be determined.
