Sharpa AI Robotics Summit boosts Singapore innovation

AI robotics pioneer Sharpa strengthens engagement with Singapore's innovation ecosystem at inaugural “AI Robotics Summit"

28 Apr 2026 3 min read

This press release was issued by Sharpa.

Sharpa, the AI robotics unicorn, announced strategic partnerships with A*STAR, JTC and Grab to develop the Physical AI industry in Singapore and beyond during a landmark ceremony attended by Minister of State (MOS), Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Alvin Tan. Sharpa builds general-purpose, autonomous, AI robots capable of human-like dexterity to assist consumers and businesses with repetitive, physically demanding, or hazardous tasks. Its flagship robot, North, made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2026.

The ceremony, held at the National Gallery, featured an AI Robotics Summit where MOS Alvin Tan performed a synchronised ribbon-cutting ceremony with the autonomous robot North. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Sharpa is scaling its operations in its global headquarters of Singapore by recruiting dozens of AI scientists, mechatronics and solution engineers here over the next three years. This expansion will focus on R&D and pilot programme deployment with industrial partners across the region.

“The anchoring of Sharpa’s global headquarters in Singapore will spur the development of our embodied AI industry, foster deeper partnerships with our research ecosystem, and create high-value opportunities for local AI and engineering talent. We welcome high-growth enterprises with the potential to become the next generation of globally leading companies, to build, innovate and scale their businesses from Singapore.”

Jermaine Loy

Managing Director

EDB

“Singapore offers a premier environment for deploying Physical AI, thanks to its unique ecosystem of world-class universities, proactive government agencies, and visionary industrial partners. We are tapping into this rich talent pool to develop and deploy the robotics solutions that will solve real pain points across various industries.”

David Li

Founder

Sharpa

To holistically advance Singapore’s robotics landscape—from upstream research to real-world deployment—Sharpa formalised partnerships with key stakeholders during the AI Robotics Summit:

A*STAR: Sharpa will collaborate with A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR I2R) on the co-development of AI-enabled robotic capabilities for container handling tasks such as twist-lock coning and de-coning, as part of efforts to advance embodied AI solutions for future port operations.
JTC: Sharpa will deploy a fleet of North robots within the Punggol Digital District (PDD) across various retail and F&B settings and open an Innovation Lab.
Grab: Sharpa and Grab will explore the use of robotics in F&B operations and logistics at PDD.

At the Founders Dialogue during the AI Robotics Summit, Grab CEO Anthony Tan and Sharpa Founder David Li discussed how AI robotics can help safeguard Singapore’s vibrant food culture.

Keynote speeches and panel sessions featured academic and industry experts, including Executive Director Meng Fai Tung from the Singapore National Robotics Programme (NRP) and Provost's Chair Professor David Hsu from the National University of Singapore, and discussed how robotics will redefine the Republic’s economic and social landscape.