Singapore: The fifth BioSpectrum Asia Pacific Awards 2013 were given away at a glittering ceremony at Hotel Fort Canning, Singapore, on March 15, 2013. Industry leaders and heads of companies from the Asia Pacific life sciences industry were present on the occasion. (Read profiles of previous years' award winners)

The event provided an opportunity to cheer the best in the industry and network with the leaders. "For the fifth year in a row, the eminent members of the international jury, which included some of the past awardees, have announced their unanimous choices," said Mr Narayanan Suresh, chief editor, BioSpectrum Asia.

This year, the BioSpectrum Asia Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Professor Sir George Radda, one of cornerstones of Singapore's bioscience industry. Reacting to the announcement, Prof Radda said, "I am pleased to receive this award. I have never worked for recognition or awards and I am delighted to know that my association with Singapore is acknowledged by the regional industry."

Prof Radda retired from UK Medical Research Council and took up the responsibility of providing direction to the city state's nascent bioscience industry. He joined the international biomedical advisory council of Singapore and helped strategise the growth of the industry. Since 2008, he has been the chairman of Singapore's Biomedical Research Council. Prof Radda, who has done pioneering work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods used to study the human body, has worked to change the research community's mindset in the country. "Scientists were committed to their science and didn't really appreciate that there was tremendous importance in application of that science and this mindset has changed in the last three years," he says.

Much of this has helped Singapore evolve as one of the forerunners in the bioscience industry in the world. Commenting on Prof Radda's contribution to Singapore, Professor Steven Myint, senior fellow at A*Star & chairman, Plexpress Oy, said: "The most important thing to state about George is that he is an outstanding human being who is willing to give his experience and wisdom to a new generation. Singapore has greatly benefited from this."