Kampong AI: New park in One-North to house work, living facilities for AI startups

A new artificial intelligence (AI) park, complete with shared workspaces and housing facilities, will be developed in One-North to draw promising startups 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 2 March.

“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 2 March. The revamp 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 – will position Singapore as a place where AI solutions are built, proven, and scaled, said DPM Gan.

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 startups.

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 startups since its beginnings in 2015. These startups 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 let AI firms and startups use the existing workspaces in Blocks 67, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, and 81 Ayer Rajah Crescent.

Kampong AI will be the first startup community in Singapore with work and living spaces under one roof, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang on 2 March, 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 2 March, Mr Saktiandi had said that Singapore’s growth must be supported by AI diffusion across sectors, among other productivity measures.

Firms and organisations 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.

They can prototype, test, and refine solutions such as robots and autonomous devices before scaling for commercial use, said JTC.

The refresh of LaunchPad @ One-North came on the back of a series of JTC engagements, where startups, 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 startup 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, which is within LaunchPad @ One-North. Its first site in Chinatown opened its doors in 2025, and it has served as a hub for AI practitioners across industry, research, and the Government to network and exchange ideas.

Singapore is home to more than 4,500 tech startups and over 500 global venture capital firms and angel investors.

“Startups 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.

This will house startups that provide smart city solutions including robotics and cybersecurity. The estate’s master operating system, 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.

JTC said that when innovations are ready for real-world pilots, ODP will link them to the district’s infrastructure – such as lifts, gantries, and doors – for deployment.

For instance, Singapore-based startup dConstruct Robotics aims 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.
 

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.