Singapore Science Park and one-north | Kelvin Eng's Portfolio

The Symphony of R&D: Innovating the Future at Singapore Science Park and one-north

Originally posted on 27 August 2024 on CapitaLand's Workspace Content Studio

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Geneo at Singapore Science Park 1.

Strong, innovative, and vibrant.

As outlined in the Singapore Budget 2024, these are more than just feel-good buzzwords. These are the core traits that Singapore’s economy must embody to remain highly competitive on the world stage and thus provide quality jobs and better lives for all Singaporeans.

To achieve this vision of Singapore’s shared future, the government has adopted a razor-sharp focus on research and development (R&D), which is integral for sparking innovation across the economy. This is especially crucial in the context of land-scarce Singapore, where the lack of natural resources makes it necessary for the government to invest in its people and build a robust knowledge economy.

Dedicated facilities like Singapore Science Park (SSP) and one-north drive Singapore’s knowledge economy, purpose-built with the necessary infrastructure to support R&D activities.

Singapore Science Park and one-north are located within the Greater one-north region. Image credit: Singapore Science Park

Both parks are concentrated within the Greater one-north nexus, where they are strategically located next to key research and tertiary institutions, national agencies, public research institutions, and the technology startup community — perfect for amplifying their research capabilities through collaborations and partnerships to hone Singapore’s innovative edge on an international scale.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Beyond science: Harmonising R&D and innovation

Singapore Science Park and one-north do not exclusively cater to science-based industries. Instead, both Greater one-north parks holistically support a broad range of technological advancements across a variety of fields, including sustainability, biomedical and chemical sciences, agrifood and food technology, infocomm technology (ICT), engineering & electronics (E&E), and more.

Further enhancing the parks’ R&D capabilities is their proximity to leading research institutes and universities, such as National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital (NUH), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), [MW1] the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE). Specific to Singapore Science Park, these institutions are located directly opposite the park, providing easy access to tenants.

NUS Enterprise at The Curie in Singapore Science Park 1 serves as an incubator for budding technology entrepreneurs. Photo credit: NUS Enterprise

Head into Singapore Science Park itself and you will find NUS’ entrepreneurial arm NUS Enterprise located at The Curie. The result of a partnership between NUS Enterprise and CapitaLand, NUS Enterprise@Singapore Science Park is instrumental in establishing Singapore’s first Deep Technology Hub in Singapore Science Park.

Singapore Science Park was chosen for its range of facilities and ecosystem offerings, and along with NUS’ research expertise, NUS Enterprise is empowered to provide budding tech entrepreneurs a platform to develop and commercialise complex, deep technologies. These technologies include future health, food-tech, sustainable solutions, and connected devices.

Thanks to the conducive research-oriented environment at Singapore Science Park, NUS Enterprise has nurtured at least 3,000 local startups. These include food tech brands that have gone on to achieve significant success in their respective fields, including healthy carbohydrate engineer Alchemy Foodtech and food waste recycler KosmodeHealth.

NUS Enterprise is also credited for having nurtured eleven unicorns, such as mobile marketplace Carousell and agritech company Singrow. In particular, NUS Enterprise cultivated Singrow’s strawberry cross-breeding efforts over three years and six generations to produce the world’s first tropical-resilient Crystal strawberry.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Research hubs for the world’s leading companies

Thanks to Singapore Science Park and one-north’s favourable research and innovation ecosystems, they have successfully wooed some of the world’s leading companies to set up their operations here.

Artist’s impression of Geneo at Singapore Science Park 1.

Singapore Science Park, for one, has been acclaimed as a dynamic nexus for key growth industries for four decades, boasting a vibrant tenant roster of over 350 multinational corporations, local companies, startups, and research institutions.

Below is a selection of the biggest names that are based in Singapore Science Park:

Acumen Diagnostics: Medical technology firm Acumen Diagnostics is credited for being one of the world’s first manufacturers of patented test kits and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to combat COVID-19. Acumen Diagnostics is located at The Gemini in Singapore Science Park 1.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV): Singapore Science Park 1’s first tenant in 1982, DNV is an independent global specialist in assurance and risk management for maritime, oil and gas, renewable energy, electrification, and healthcare.
Dyson: High-end household appliance manufacturer Dyson located its Singapore Technology Centre in Ascent at Singapore Science Park 1, serving as a hub for digital, engineering, and global cybersecurity innovations. Dyson also built its Cyber Fusion Centre here to conduct R&D for new-age technology like Operational Technologies (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT).
Ferrero: Italian chocolate and hazelnut confectionery Ferrero established its first Asia-Pacific innovation centre in The Oasis at Singapore Science Park.
Johnson & Johnson: Pharmaceutical and medical device giant Johnson & Johnson moved its headquarters to Ascent at Singapore Science Park in 2018. It also used these premises to establish a Leadership Lab, Design Lab, and Human Performance Institute.
Merck Group: Pharmaceutical giant Merck Group established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Ascent at Singapore Science Park.
Musim Mas: Musim Mas is a world leader in integrated, sustainable palm oil solutions. It is headquartered in The Rutherford & Oasis at Singapore Science Park.
NUS Enterprise: The entrepreneurial division of NUS, NUS Enterprise is an incubator for startup development. The result of a partnership between NUS Enterprise and CapitaLand, NUS Enterprise@Singapore Science Park is instrumental in establishing Singapore’s first Deep Technology Hub in Singapore Science Park.
Roceso Technologies: World-renowned neurorehabilitation technology leader Roceso Technologies is located at The Curie in Singapore Science Park 1. Roceso Technologies utilises soft robotics to develop solutions to neurological conditions that impair the human body.
Shopee: Located within the upcoming life science & innovation cluster Geneo, 5 Science Park Drive is home to e-Commerce giant Shopee who established their presence in Singapore, 2019.
Shimadzu: Shimadzu is a global manufacturer of precision instruments, measuring instruments, and medical diagnostic equipment. Shimadzu’s Asia-Pacific operations are located in Singapore Science Park, with its Ultra-Fast Mass Spectrometry (UFMS) Future Lab and Shimadzu-Changi General Hospital Clinomics Centre (SC3) set up in Cintech IV.
Singrow: Agritech startup Singrow is located at The Chadwick in Singapore Science Park 1, specialising in indoor vertical farming and genomics technologies. Singrow is credited for developing the world’s first climate-resistant strawberry.
Umami Bioworks: Located within The Rutherford at Singapore Science Park 1, Umami Bioworks uses stem cell technology to cultivate seafood in the laboratory as a green alternative to commercially farmed seafood.

Dyson’s Technology Centre in Ascent at Singapore Science Park 1. Photo credit: TechCrunch

And with Singapore Science Park’s upcoming life sciences and innovation hub Geneo nearing completion with a projected Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in Q1 2025, expect to see this roster expand with even more industry greats. For most tenants, they selected Singapore Science Park for its potential to foster collaborations and partnerships, along with its favourable location that places it in proximity with amenities and key transport nodes.

Singrow vertical farming strawberries.png

Singrow’s indoor vertical farming facilities at The Curie in Singapore Science Park 1. Photo credit: Singrow

As the Shimadzu team shared in a spotlight piece on their Singapore operations,

"The Singapore Science Park provides a conducive environment that actively encourages collaboration and fosters potential partnerships with nearby institutions. Additionally, its convenient accessibility, diverse food options, and overall ease contribute to a pleasant and enjoyable experience for our collaborators at the UFMS Future Lab and SC3."

Musim Mas concurs with Shimadzu on Singapore Science Park’s potential for collaborations, having partnered with experts in the park to craft affordable chocolates using specialty fats derived from its sustainable palm oil. Precision biotherapeutics company Hummingbird Bioscience also appreciates the park’s vibrant community of research and collaboration partners, alongside its buildings’ flexible space planning capabilities:

"The open floor plan of areas available for leasing in Science Park allowed for flexibility to plan our lab and office spaces and maximise space efficiency."

Singapore Science Park’s comprehensive roster of industry leaders is similarly reflected in the nearby one-north. Below is a selection of prominent brands who call one-north their home:

Bandai Namco Studios Singapore: Bandai Namco is a major Japanese video game developer who located its Singapore division at Infinite Studios.
Canon Singapore: Canon is one of the world’s leading camera manufacturers, positioning its Singapore operations in Galaxis at one-north.
Eurofragance: Eurofragance is a multinational B2B boutique perfumery house that opened its Asia-Pacific Creative Centre in Nucleos at one-north in 2016.
Fujitsu Asia: Fujitsu is a Japanese multinational technology company that manufactures consumer and industrial electronics, having located its Asian operations to Nexus @one-north.
McCormick Ingredients: McCormick is a global food seasoning manufacturer which established its Southeast Asia division in Nucleos at one-north.
National Healthcare Group: One of Singapore’s largest group of healthcare institutions, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) is located in Nexus @one-north.
Xiaomi Technologies: Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing firm whose Singapore operations are located in Nexus @one-north.

Similar to Singapore Science Park, one-north is equipped with infrastructure that is conducive for innovation activities. Specific to CapitaLand, the five buildings we manage in the area — Galaxis, Infinite Studios, Neuros and Immunos, Nexus @one-north, and Nucleos — are designed to cater to the research and innovation needs of a broad range of industries.

Take Eurofragance, an international B2B boutique perfumery house, as an example. Situated in Nucleos at one-north, Eurofragance selected this location to establish a Creative Center dedicated to the innovation of unique fragrances that elevate brand identity. Nucleos was chosen for its flexible modular units, along with lab-friendly features that are conducive for the company’s innovation efforts. Aside from these practical facilities, Eurofragance also enjoys the greenery that lines the building’s surrounding landscape. As Eurofragance perfumer Ivan Wong shared,

"[Nucleos] is surrounded by greenery and it’s also near a park with flowers that I like to visit so I can stop and smell the flowers."

Indeed, verdant landscapes offer tenants respite from their busy schedules, enabling them to rejuvenate and recharge before heading back to their workspaces. The Grab Headquarters also follows this trajectory of weaving elements of nature into its design, boasting pockets of greenery both on the ground and in a mid-level Sky Garden. These are further integrated with communal spaces and public pedestrian thoroughfares to encourage social interactions and idea exchanges.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Work, live, and play all in one

Aside from having natural landscapes, Singapore Science Park and one-north take a huge step further to ensure that tenants can live, work, and play — all within the same space. In essence, both parks are self-contained spaces that house commercial, recreational, and residential facilities.

By constructing the parks as self-contained spaces, the boundaries between each individual property element are blurred, enabling tenants to live, work, and play under one roof without needing to travel beyond the parks.

At Singapore Science Park, this is made evident through the array of lifestyle amenities distributed across the park. Tenants can also head over to the nearby One@Kent Ridge to access even more amenities and daily conveniences.

To foster cross-company collaborations, Singapore Science Park is also equipped with event spaces for corporate events, conferences, and other special functions.

Artist’s impression of Geneo weaving verdant greenery into its self-contained ‘city’ concept.

In keeping with the evolving needs of scientists, researchers, and innovators, CapitaLand added Geneo, a new life sciences and innovation cluster, to Singapore Science Park. Built with a ‘city’ concept in mind, Geneo serves as an intersection between work, life, and play. This begins with a grand event plaza that connects all five of its Grade A buildings — 1, 1A, 1B, 5, and 7 — and boasts 39,000 sq ft of retail and dining options across three levels.

Artist’s impression of Geneo’s grand event plaza, which connects its five buildings to a plethora of lifestyle amenities.

Bearing an open-air concept, the European piazza-style event plaza features an amphitheatre that seats up to 300 and will be the venue of choice for upscale community events and tenant activities like alternative food festival Flavours of Tomorrow and German beer festival Oktoberfest.

Geneo plays host to a 250-unit serviced apartment complex managed by Citadines.

Geneo also plays up the ‘live’ component by introducing a 250-unit serviced apartment complex managed by Citadines at 7 Science Park Drive, serving as Singapore Science Park’s first lodging facility. A 300-unit condominium will join Citadines Science Park Singapore in the near future, further contributing to the self-containment of the park’s neighbourhood.

End-of-trip facilities like bicycle parking and lockers are available at 7 Science Park Drive.

End-of-trip facilities like bicycle parking, lockers, and shower rooms are also available at 7 Science Park Drive, offering tenants a healthy and eco-friendly means to navigate Singapore Science Park.

The outdoor gym at 5 Science Park Drive at Geneo, Singapore Science Park.

Further enlivening the vicinity is Kent Ridge Park, a verdant green belt wedged between Singapore Science Park 1 and 2. The Canopy Walk is the park’s mainstay feature, an elevated boardwalk where tenants can clock a refreshing workout amidst nature before and after work.

Kent Ridge Park’s Canopy Walk is perfect for morning strolls amidst stunning views of Singapore Science Park.

Photo credit: @life_is_all_about_me on Instagram

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Amplifying Singapore's knowledge economy, hand in hand at the Greater one-north

Facilities, amenities, and world-class companies congregate in Singapore Science Park and one-north to serve as enablers of Singapore’s knowledge economy. In attracting the globe’s best science and technology companies into Singapore, both parks are instrumental in creating high-value jobs that boost the country’s economy and amplifies its international reputation as a leading innovation hub.

By bringing the public and private sectors together within both parks, Singapore Science Park and one-north foster collaboration between these previously-disparate sectors, enabling innovative ideas to thrive and even potentially expand on an international scale.

Join this exciting nexus of growth and discovery today. Check out Singapore Science Park’s array of top-notch properties, alongside Geneo’s collection of Grade A buildings, purpose-built with state-of-the-art amenities that are tailored to the needs of modern technology-first businesses of the future.

Beyond Geneo and Singapore Science Park, browse Capitaland’s extensive portfolio of properties at Changi Business Park and International Business Park.