IBM and NUS to Establish AI Research and Innovation Center in Singapore

A key focus will be on fostering sustainable AI technologies through an “open innovation” approach

IBM and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have announced plans to establish a cutting-edge AI research and innovation center at the NUS School of Computing. This partnership, which was unveiled at IBM Think Singapore 2024, is IBM's first full-stack AI infrastructure system installation on an Asia-Pacific university campus.

The center aims to accelerate AI-driven scientific research by leveraging IBM’s advanced AI infrastructure and open-source models, including its flagship Granite series. It will serve as a platform for Singapore’s academic, research, and industry sectors to conduct AI research with significant translational potential, supporting the nation’s National AI Strategy. A key focus will be on fostering sustainable AI technologies through an “open innovation” approach. The center will also work on developing tools and methodologies to build trust in AI, ensuring broader and more impactful adoption of these technologies.

The collaboration includes the installation of AI-optimized computing infrastructure at NUS, powered by IBM’s AIU accelerators, the IBM watsonx platform, and the Red Hat hybrid cloud platform. This infrastructure will be accessible to NUS’s Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), local startups, and SMEs, promoting deep tech entrepreneurship and innovation. IBM and NUS share a vision of advancing AI and sustainable computing, aiming to strengthen Singapore’s position as a leader in AI research and innovation while addressing global challenges like sustainability and AI trust.