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THE Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a think tank that focuses on Singapore policies, will merge with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy by early next year.
IPS will operate as an autonomous research centre within the LKY School, which is part of the National University of Singapore, and retain its management board.
It will also continue to decide on its strategic direction and areas of research, Ms Elizabeth Quah, the director of strategic planning at the LKY School, said on Wednesday after the decision was announced in a joint press statement.
The move comes after a review by the IPS Board of Governors over the past few months. A formal deal was struck early last month, said Ms Quah.
Said IPS chairman Professor Tommy Koh: 'The main reason for this merger is to embed IPS in a larger institution which can provide the additional resources for its next phase of growth.'
The merger will also expand the think tank's research capacity, he added.
The IPS, established in December 1987 as an independent think tank, has been funded by a $5 million endowment fund, as well as payments from projects that it takes up. It currently has about 20 staff members, including researchers.
Mr Arun Mahizhnan, acting director of IPS, said the merger of the two think tanks was born out of a shared interest.
'It is indeed advantageous to join the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy... there is a synergy between the institutions in the public policy domain,' he said, adding that the IPS will maintain the same level of autonomy.
Professor Kishore Mahbubani, the dean of LKY School, said the merger was a 'very good strategic fit for both institutions'.
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