Singapore Management University (SMU) has announced the launch of the Singapore Tax Academy Research Initiative (STARI), a collaborative effort with the Tax Academy of Singapore. The initiative, supported by a grant from the Tax Academy, will be managed by the Centre for Commercial Law in Asia at SMU’s Yong Pung How School of Law. It aims to advance international tax research, develop local academic expertise, and foster connections with global tax leaders.
Dennis Lui, CEO of the Tax Academy of Singapore, emphasised the initiative’s focus on the Asian context, stating, “Through STARI, we will conduct tax research in a rapidly developing international tax landscape. This industry-relevant research will enhance our training programmes, offering tax professionals deeper insights into regional complexities and emerging challenges.”
The initiative will be led by SMU Assistant Professor of Law Vincent Ooi and will cover various research areas, including harmful tax competition, Global Minimum Tax, and environmental taxation. Ooi highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that it will develop a Research Affiliates Programme and host Academic Writing Workshops to build research capacity among Singaporean tax professionals.
STARI will also collaborate with an Academic Expert Panel, featuring scholars from prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford and New York University. The initiative will host an Annual Conference and Visiting Academic Seminars to facilitate academic debate and industry exchange.
The first Annual Conference, held today, featured keynote lectures and panel discussions with international tax experts, marking the official launch of STARI.
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