A*STAR inks collaboration deals to develop digital solutions for smart cities

Surbana Jurong will incorporate technologies commercialised by A*STAR’s SME and startup licensees.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and urban and infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to co-develop digital solutions for the planning, design and maintenance of smart cities, with a focus on commercialisation, an announcement revealed.

Under the MOU, A*STAR and Surbana Jurong will jointly develop advanced digital capabilities for three key areas comprising planning of cities, residential towns and industrial parks, design and simulation of buildings, and services for efficient and sustainable operations and maintenance.

As part of the commercialisation partnership, Surbana Jurong will incorporate, into its service offerings, technologies commercialised by A*STAR’s SME and startup licensees, the parties said. Surbana Jurong will also expose local companies in its supply chain to overseas markets for new business opportunities, including the 40 countries in which the company has an existing market presence.

The upcoming Surbana Jurong Campus will also serve as a test-bed for new technologies in partnership with A*STAR, SMEs and startups, the parties added.

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As well, A*STAR and ST Engineering have signed an agreement to co-develop solutions for smart cities, an announcement revealed.

The long-term partnership will focus on technology co-development, adoption and commercialisation in four key areas comprising robotics, smart mobility, smart communications and healthtech. Examples of technologies that will be focused on include advanced material-handling robots for robotics, all-weather autonomous vehicles for smart mobility, satellite communications and the Internet of Things (IoT) for smart communications, as well as intelligent workflows and analytics for healthtech.

A*STAR will pull technological capabilities from across its research institutes to co-develop innovative solutions with ST Engineering. The partnership will drive new business outcomes in Singapore and overseas markets for ST Engineering and its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) partners.