Singapore, 11 August 2025 (Monday) – Singapore Management University (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL) and Tax Academy of Singapore announced the establishment of the Singapore Tax Academy Research Initiative (STARI) which will be undertaken by YPHSL’s Centre for Commercial Law in Asia.
Supported by a grant from the Tax Academy of Singapore, this initiative aims to both contribute to the international tax academic community and serve the body of tax professionals in Singapore through three main streams of work: 1) conduct world-class international tax research; 2) develop local academic capacity in taxation; and 3) build links with international thought-leaders in taxation.
Mr Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer, Tax Academy of Singapore, said, “Through the Singapore Tax Academy Research Initiative (STARI), we will conduct tax research in a rapidly developing international tax landscape with a focus on the Asian context. This industry-relevant research will also be used to enhance our training programmes, offering tax professionals deeper insights into regional complexities and emerging challenges. STARI will develop domestic tax research capacity as well as bring the best in international tax thought leadership to Singapore.”
Professor Lee Pey Woan, Dean of SMU YPHSL, said, “Taxation is a key commercial consideration for businesses and a crucial part of nation building. With global tax changes having significant implications for Singapore, there is a clear need for us to have thought leadership on international tax developments. Our law school is pleased to be able to contribute to strengthening Singapore’s position in international taxation through cutting-edge research and developing Singapore’s tax profession. We are particularly keen on supporting and promoting domestic academic research on taxation.”
Helmed by SMU Assistant Professor of Law Vincent Ooi, STARI will produce leading international tax research in a variety of areas, including the study of harmful tax competition, Global Minimum Tax, digital economy, crypto assets and environmental taxation. Such research is particularly timely, given international tax developments which potentially have a significant impact on Singapore, including the 15% global minimum corporate tax rate and amendments to the United Nations Model Double Tax Convention.
“For a start, we will develop a Research Affiliates Programme, with various Academic Writing Workshops designed to equip tax professionals with the necessary skills to conduct and publish academic research on taxation. The aim is to build academic research capacity in taxation among Singapore tax professionals and increase tax research output,” said Assistant Professor Ooi.
“The Research Affiliates will also benefit from consultation sessions with SMU faculty and visiting professors and present at public seminars, where academic commentators will provide feedback on their work,” he added. The Academic Writing Workshops are expected to begin in October 2025 and will run annually for three years.
STARI will collaborate closely with an Academic Expert Panel comprising international taxation scholars from leading global institutions and universities across Singapore. International panel experts hail from esteemed institutions such as the University of Oxford; University of Sydney; University of Melbourne; University of New South Wales; and New York University. In addition to academic engagement, STARI will maintain strong connections with the tax profession through its Technical Expert Panel and a network of Senior Research Affiliates, which includes prominent figures from the industry and professional practice. (Please see Annex 1 for more details.)
To enable a platform for academic debate and industry exchange, STARI will hold an Annual Conference and several Visiting Academic Seminars each year. The first Annual Conference, held today in conjunction with the launch ceremony of STARI, welcomed Professor Michael Dirkis of the University of Sydney, who delivered a keynote lecture as the inaugural STARI Visiting Professor, alongside Professor Zhu Yansheng of Xiamen University and Dr Leopoldo Parada of King’s College London. Associate Professor Darren Koh from Singapore University of Social Sciences served as moderator of the conference panel. A series of Visiting Academic Seminars with speakers from across Europe, Asia and Australasia is already lined up for the forthcoming months.
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Enclosure:
- Annex 1 – Members of STARI Expert Panels & Senior Research Affiliates
