Kampong AI: New park in one-north to house work, living facilities for AI start-ups
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An artist's impression of Kampong AI, a space for AI start-ups with shared workspaces and housing facilities within LaunchPad @ One-North.
PHOTO: JTC
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.
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.
“It is a focal point where talent, problem owners, researchers and resources can come together to create synergy and nurture a deep ecosystem,” said DPM Gan during the debate on the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s budget.
Kampong AI will comprise two refurbished blocks within LaunchPad @ One-North – 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.
The launch is part of JTC’s larger refreshed masterplan for LaunchPad, said the agency on March 2. The revamped masterplan also includes new event spaces, sports facilities, networking areas and eateries.
The AI park – together with two other initiatives called AI Missions and Champions of AI
Through the AI Missions, the Government seeks to drive nationwide AI transformation in four sectors: advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance and healthcare.
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.
Over the years, LaunchPad @ One-North has evolved into a thriving community of start-ups.
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.
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.
A pilot phase of Kampong AI will be launched later in March to allow AI firms and start-ups to use the existing workspaces in Blocks 67, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79 and 81 Ayer Rajah Crescent.
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.
“It is crucial for our budding community of AI leaders and practitioners to have a space to share ideas and build new products,” said Ms Gan, agreeing with Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC).
During the debate on March 2, Mr Saktiandi had said that Singapore’s growth must be supported by AI diffusion across sectors, among other productivity measures.
Firms such as Weston Robot, SoftBank Robotics, the National Robotics Programme’s Embodied AI Centre and the Singapore AI Safety Hub are among potential occupants that have expressed interest in setting up shop at Kampong AI.
Companies will be able to prototype, test and refine solutions such as robots and autonomous devices before they are scaled for commercial use, said JTC.
The refresh of LaunchPad @ One-North came on the back of a series of engagements held by JTC, where start-ups, accelerator programmes, venture capital firms and government agencies highlighted AI as a critical and disruptive technology that will impact all industries.
“They 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,” said JTC.
In February, Lorong AI set up its second site at Block 69 Ayer Rajah Crescent,
Singapore is home to more than 4,500 start-ups and over 500 global venture capital firms and angel investors.
“Start-ups based here benefit greatly from location density, where they can access funds, talent and opportunities within a vibrant ecosystem,” said JTC.
As part of the agency’s new masterplan, a new LaunchPad will also be set up within Punggol Digital District starting from late 2026.
Tower 88 in Punggol Digital District (PDD) where LaunchPad @ PDD will be located. It will house start-ups looking to test-bed solutions in smart city solutions, robotics and cybersecurity.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JTC
This new space will house start-ups that provide smart city solutions including robotics and cybersecurity. The estate’s master operating system, called Open Digital Platform (ODP), allows plug-and-play of any compatible technology so different systems can “talk” to one another for anything from energy consumption monitoring to robot management.
Said JTC: “When innovations are ready for real-world pilots, ODP will link it to the district’s infrastructure – such as lifts, gantries and doors – for deployment throughout the district.”
For instance, Singapore-based start-up dConstruct Robotics is aiming to pilot applications such as autonomous delivery within the districts, where robots will navigate buildings, clear security gantries, and take lifts to deliver parcels or food to users.
