Singapore has launched the South East Asia’s first industry-led smart cities development lab.
Initiated by CapitaLand and supported by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab aims to encourage thought leaders to collaborate with one another to co-create and test smart city solutions and innovations. They plan to build these solutions locally in collaboration with tech and environment companies within CapitaLand’s 5G-enabled Science Park located in Singapore.
Over the next three years, the lab hopes to benefit around 200 local companies. The lab will also focus on six key industry verticals: smart mobility, urban agriculture, sustainability, digital wellness, advanced manufacturing and intelligent estates.
Some key industry players which are involved in the initiative include: Amazon Web Services, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric and Cisco Systems- among others. CapitaLand and some other industry partners have invested S$10m in the Lab in order to initiate greater innovation and development in both Singapore and overseas.
Jane Lim, assistant chief executive at IMDA, said, “The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab reinforces Singapore’s strengths as a deep innovation ecosystem where tech, industry and government work together to co-create and accelerate solutions for smart cities solutions.”
Assistant chief executive officer at Enterprise Singapore, Eunice Koh, said that some of the solutions that come out of the lab could potentially be life-changing. “For instance, Smarten Spaces, a Singapore SME tech provider introduced by Enterprise Singapore, has been working with Kone on unique innovations that use contactless and other technologies to help building owners and managers providing a safe work environment for their tenants and employees.”