SINGAPORE – A new artificial intelligence park, complete with shared workspaces and housing facilities, will be developed in one-north to draw promising start-ups to set up in Singapore. <\/p>\n
Kampong AI, as the park is called, will accelerate collaboration and serve as a centre of gravity for AI excellence, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on March 2. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a focal point where talent, problem owners, researchers and resources can come together to create synergy and nurture a deep ecosystem,\u201d said DPM Gan during the debate on the Ministry of Trade and Industry\u2019s budget. <\/p>\n
Kampong AI will comprise two refurbished blocks within LaunchPad @ One-North \u2013 one block measuring 14,500 sq m with office units and event spaces that can accommodate 70 companies, and another block with 200 residential units. <\/p>\n
The launch is part of JTC\u2019s larger refreshed masterplan for LaunchPad, said the agency on March 2. The revamp also includes new event spaces, sports facilities, networking areas and eateries. <\/p>\n
The AI park \u2013 together with two other initiatives called <\/p>\n AI Missions and Champions of AI<\/p>\n <\/a> \u2013 will position Singapore as a place where AI solutions are built, proven and scaled, said DPM Gan. <\/p>\n Through the AI Missions, the Government seeks to drive nationwide AI transformation in four sectors: advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance and healthcare. <\/p>\n Champions of AI, on the other hand, will provide tailored support including leadership and workforce training to firms that aspire to use AI to comprehensively transform their businesses.<\/p>\n Over the years, LaunchPad @ One-North has evolved into a thriving community of start-ups.<\/p>\n Ride-hailing operator Grab, gaming firm Razer and A*STAR are located within walking distance of LaunchPad @ One-North, which has housed over 2,400 start-ups since its beginnings in 2015. These start-ups include tech unicorns such as e-commerce platform Carousell, data and analytics firm Patsnap and cross-border payments firm Nium.<\/p>\n The new AI blocks will be linked to the existing seven blocks by a covered walkway, which is due to be completed by 2028. These new covered linkways between blocks will also allow pedestrians to walk to one-north and Kent Ridge MRT stations within 10 minutes, said JTC.<\/p>\n A pilot phase of Kampong AI will be launched later in March to let AI firms and start-ups use the existing workspaces in Blocks 67, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79 and 81 Ayer Rajah Crescent. <\/p>\n Kampong AI will be the first start-up community in Singapore with work and living spaces under one roof, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang on March 2, adding that the park will be ready by 2028. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is crucial for our budding community of AI leaders and practitioners to have a space to share ideas and build new products,\u201d said Ms Gan, agreeing with Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC). <\/p>\n During the debate on March 2, Mr Saktiandi had said that Singapore\u2019s growth must be supported by AI diffusion across sectors, among other productivity measures.<\/p>\n Firms and organisations such as Weston Robot, SoftBank Robotics, the National Robotics Programme\u2019s Embodied AI Centre and the Singapore AI Safety Hub are among potential occupants that have expressed interest in setting up shop at Kampong AI. <\/p>\n They can prototype, test and refine solutions such as robots and autonomous devices before scaling for commercial use, said JTC. <\/p>\n The refresh of LaunchPad @ One-North came on the back of a series of JTC engagements, where start-ups, accelerator programmes, venture capital firms and government agencies highlighted AI as a critical and disruptive technology that will impact all industries. <\/p>\n \u201cThey urged Singapore to foster a vibrant start-up community of AI leaders, practitioners and researchers who will innovate with AI at the frontier, and bring these opportunities to Singapore and Singaporeans,\u201d said JTC.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n