By Radha Basu, Senior Correspondent

IN A practice begun by former A*Star chairman Philip Yeo, Singapore has lured several world renowned researchers here to jump-start its fledgling biotechnology research industry over the years.

But this policy to attract the 'whales' of the science world may not have yielded lasting results.

'Whales by nature migrate,' says Professor Jackie Ying, who, ironically, is often referred to as one of the biggest 'whales' lured here. 'If people are only here part-time or leave after two or three years, it is difficult to create a sustainable impact.'

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