Comparing the Participation of National Science and Technology Research-Intensive Universities in Defense Industrial Sectors

Abstract

This thesis compares how leading science and technology universities can participate and interact with countries' defense industrial sectors. Implicit to this aim, we are looking at successful models for such leading institutions to make meaningful contributions to countries' efforts at maintaining modern and efficient defense industrial sectors. To this end, the thesis looks at and compares leading universities in Singapore and South Korea and seeks to uncover the extent to which they participate in their respective nations' defense industry efforts and, in particular, how they aid attempts at producing critical national security technologies. The thesis employs a comparative approach, utilizing publicly available data to understand the areas of collaboration and involvement of national science and technology leading universities with domestic defense industries. The thesis selected leading universities in South Korea, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Singapore, including the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), to make a detailed comparison. This research aims to look at the level of influence by governments or industries – specifically, the defense sector – on the University's R&D centers and the level of integration between these institutions and the defense industrial sector. The thesis looks particularly at the extent to which university Research and Development (R&D) centers are orientated towards defense sector needs and assist and participate in shaping the existing defense sector (in both South Korea and Singapore).

Date of Award	Jun 2022
Original language	American English