SMU launches a new force in international tax research
SMU has teamed up with the Tax Academy of Singapore to launch the Singapore Tax Academy Research Initiative (STARI), housed at the University’s Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL) Centre for Commercial Law in Asia.
Supported by a grant from the Tax Academy, STARI seeks to contribute solidly to the international tax scholarship landscape while building local expertise and industry engagement.
STARI’s mandate is clear and multifaceted:
- Advance international tax research with a strong emphasis on issues impacting Singapore and the broader Asian region
- Enhance local academic capacity in taxation by empowering Singapore-based tax professionals to engage in research
- Build bridges with global thought leaders through partnerships and contributions from renowned scholars.
Helming STARI is SMU Assistant Professor of Law Vincent Ooi, who has identified core research areas that include harmful tax competition, the global minimum tax, digital economies, cryptocurrency taxation, and environmental taxation. These research areas touch on key issues given current global reforms, such as the 15 percent global minimum corporate tax and updates to the UN Model Double Tax Convention.
Raising the quality of tax research
To nurture local talent and raise scholarly output, STARI will launch a Research Affiliates Programme starting in October 2025. The programme features Academic Writing Workshops that will run annually over three years, intended to help sharpen tax professionals’ academic research and publishing skills.
Participants will also benefit from one-on-one consultations with SMU faculty and visiting professors, as well as enjoy opportunities to present papers at public seminars and receive feedback from academic peers.
Fostering exchanges between tax experts
STARI’s reach extends beyond research and training. It establishes two expert panels: the Academic Expert Panel and Technical Expert Panel, complemented by Senior Research Affiliates from academia and industry to ensure a rich exchange of perspectives. The Technical Expert Panel is Chaired by Mr Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of the Tax Academy of Singapore.
Its planned programme of Annual Conferences and Visiting Academic Seminars will foster dynamic exchanges between regional and international voices.
STARI Visiting Professor Michael Dirkis on a panel with local and overseas tax experts.
The first conference, held alongside STARI’s launch on 11 August 2025, featured Professor Michael Dirkis from the University of Sydney as the inaugural STARI Visiting Professor. Following Professor Dirkis’ keynote address, he engaged with the audience in a panel discussion that included other tax scholars – Professor Zhu Yansheng (Xiamen University) and Dr Leopoldo Parada (King’s College London), moderated by Associate Professor Darren Koh (Singapore University of Social Sciences). Further seminars featuring speakers across Europe, Asia, and Australasia are already scheduled for the coming months.
