Amazon Web Services unveiled a first-of-its-kind Innovation Hub in the Asia-Pacific on June 26, seeking to win over regional customers that are expanding in AI, quantum computing, robotics and blockchain.
The sprawling 8,000-square-foot facility is another multi-million-dollar investment in Singapore, adding to last year’s pledge of US$9 billion to build cloud infrastructure in the Republic by 2028.
The new innovation hub is aimed at both public and private sectors, offering business leaders the opportunity to engage with AWS and Amazon-wide technologies, alongside over 30 partner solutions.
About 1,000 visitors a year can explore different technologies from generative AI and quantum computing to robotics and blockchain at the facility. Two hundred students from Singapore’s tertiary educational institutes will also be invited to the hub.
The facility is a living showcase of over 50 real-world customer use cases for cloud technology as well. They will continually evolve to reflect technology changes and evolving needs in the region.
One use case today is a mini-bike manufacturing line showcasing AWS’s E-bike Smart Factory. It illustrates how digital twin technology and generative AI-powered shop floor assistants can overcome operational hurdles.
Separately, to combat misinformation, ST Engineering’s AGIL Trust, an AI-powered suite available on AWS, enables rapid fact-checking and deepfake detection.
There is also a model rocket for Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite initiative, which highlights efforts to provide fast, affordable broadband to underserved communities globally.
This new facility in downtown Singapore is meant to integrate with AWS’ existing global innovation offerings, such as the AWS Builders Studio in Melbourne, where customers build and test prototypes, and the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, providing expert guidance across the AI lifecycle.
It also complements the cloud giant’s pop-up collaborative spaces for starters, called the AWS GenAI Lofts, which have already been held in Bengaluru and Seoul. Upcoming stops in 2025 will occur in Osaka and Bengaluru again.
Jaime Vallés, vice-president for AWS Asia-Pacific and Japan, said: “Technological innovation is critical to the growth of Asia, and we need innovation to transform customer experiences while also delivering real business value.”
AWS also unveiled a new initiative called AI Springboard initiative, a partnership with Digital Industry Singapore (DISG).
It will support 300 Singapore-based enterprises in integrating and scaling AI adoption over the next year, offering up to S$600,000 in support for each company, including AWS cloud credits and training as well as government co-funded consultancy services.
AWS is a key partner to Singapore’s big AI push. Earlier this month, rival Google Cloud also partnered DISG to full-fledged national programme to establish AI centers of excellence within 300 digitally-mature, Singapore-based companies over the next 12 months.
This aims to create AI-driven intellectual property, products, and services that boost their competitiveness and unlock new revenue opportunities.
