08 Feb SIIA ranked best independent think tank in Asia
Maintains position as top think tank in ASEAN
Singapore, 8 February 2018: Under Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship, there are high expectations for ASEAN to outperform; but this will not be easy. Geo-political trends, such as the pull of US-China tensions, challenge ASEAN’s position in the region. Economically too, a more integrated ASEAN can better respond to emerging issues.
“It is an unpredictable time both politically and economically. ASEAN think tanks need to play their part to help tackle the region’s problems,” said Associate Professor Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). “It is also important, now more than ever, that ASEAN speak authoritatively with one voice on issues that impact the region,” he added.
In the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index released last week, the SIIA was ranked as the Best Independent Think Tank in Asia. The institute was also the only Singapore think tank in the list. The SIIA also maintained its position as the best think tank in ASEAN, ranking 47th – a jump up of six spots from last year – in a global ranking of think tanks excluding those in the US.
Commenting on the results of the annual survey, Prof Tay said, “We are humbled to be recognised as the ASEAN voice on international issues, and we will continue to contribute ideas and analysis of ASEAN’s progress in meeting challenges and responding to key megatrends felt in the region and globally.” The SIIA, founded in 1961, is the country’s oldest think tank.
The SIIA also came in first in ASEAN in various categories including Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program, Top Domestic Economic Policy, Top Transparency and Good Governance, Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by a Think Tank, and Best Use of Internet.
“One of the megatrends facing ASEAN is the rapid unfolding of Industry 4.0 which will have a profound impact on the way businesses and people in ASEAN work and live. The SIIA is privileged to be working with different stakeholders in the region including supporting Singapore’s chairmanship agenda in addressing these emerging and critical issues,” said Ms Chen Chen Lee, Director of Policy Programmes of the SIIA.
The other Singapore think tanks that made it to the top 100 in the same list are the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Centre on Asia and Globalization (LKY), Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI), and the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS).
Topping the list as the Think Tank of the Year 2017 was The Brookings Institution from the US.
The annual Global Go To Think Tank Index ranks think tanks based on criteria such as the commitment of their leadership, quality and reputation of their staff as well as their research and analysis. A total of 7,500 think tanks and over 8,500 journalists, policy-makers and donors worldwide were invited to participate in the 2017 rankings. The peer review survey is in its 11th year.
Download report: 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index
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