It is an autonomous research institute under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. Its predecessor, the Science and Technology Agency of Singapore, was established in 1991. According to its website, the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research was established with the objective of facilitating the integration of research and talent in Singapore to assist Singapore in its transformation and progress towards a knowledge-based economy. The two councils of biomedical research and science and Engineering Research under the Research Bureau integrate a number of subordinate research institutes to carry out scientific research in related aspects.