Industry News

MyRepublic and Singapore Polytechnic have entered into a strategic collaboration to advance applied artificial intelligence (AI) innovation through a newly established automation sandbox. The partnership, formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to provide students and faculty with hands-on experience in developing AI workflows and deploying large language model applications.

The sandbox, powered by MyRepublic’s AI Automation Box, offers a secure environment for experimentation and prototyping. This initiative will not only focus on infrastructure but also on co-developing AI training programmes, consultancy engagements, and industry attachment opportunities. Lawrence Chan, Chief AI Officer at MyRepublic, emphasised the importance of this collaboration, stating, “We are providing industry-grade AI automation capabilities that empower educators and students to move beyond experimentation into deployment.”

Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development) at Singapore Polytechnic, highlighted the institution’s commitment to technology adoption, noting, “Real impact comes when teams have the skills, confidence, and hands-on experience to apply AI meaningfully.”

This partnership is set to accelerate AI adoption and strengthen industry-academia collaboration, positioning Singapore as a leader in applied AI capability development. Both organisations aim to drive innovation that results in measurable industry impact, supporting enterprises in exploring and building agentic workflows.

MyRepublic, known for redefining broadband and mobile connectivity, and Singapore Polytechnic, a leading educational institution, are poised to make significant contributions to the future of AI in Singapore through this collaboration.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has announced the release of the Town Hall Link site in Jurong Lake District under the Reserve List of the government land sales (GLS) programme for the first half of 2026. This site, previously part of a larger master developer plot, has been divided into separate parcels to potentially accommodate 1,200 new private homes and 84,000 square metres of commercial space, including offices and retail.

Located near the Jurong East MRT interchange and the future Jurong Lake District station, the site offers excellent connectivity with four MRT lines. The area is already home to amenities such as IMM Building, Westgate mall, and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, making it an attractive proposition for developers.

Wong Siew Ying, Head of Research and Content at PropNex, noted that whilst developers might be interested in the site, they may delay triggering it due to uncertainties in the Middle East affecting global markets. However, the site’s strong location, potential for growth, and limited housing supply in the area could drive interest.

The previous master developer site tender in 2024 did not result in an award due to low bids, attributed to market caution and high development costs. The division of the site into smaller parcels and government involvement in infrastructure may now reduce risks and encourage developer interest. The potential land cost is estimated to exceed $1.8b, suggesting that developers may form partnerships to manage financial commitments.

Scenic Group has announced the expansion of its Asia Pacific (APAC) team, based in Singapore, as part of its strategy to tap into the growing demand for luxury cruising in the region. The move underscores the company’s commitment to its global expansion strategy and long-term growth across APAC markets.

The Singapore office plays a crucial role in Scenic Group’s plan to cater to high-net-worth individuals and the burgeoning luxury cruise market in Asia Pacific. This expansion builds on the company’s established presence in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Leading the APAC team is Anthony Laver, General Manager Sales and Marketing APAC, based in Sydney, Australia. The team includes Quoc Huy To, Director of Finance Asia; Lim Yee Sher, Marketing and Partner Services Manager; Ally Grueter, Senior Sales Manager Charters and Partnerships; Dominic Tan, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager; and Sophia Lam and Jessie Tan, both Luxury Cruises Sales Managers.

Anthony Laver stated, “To support the strong demand for Luxury Scenic and Emerald Ocean and River Cruises, together with the significant growth in joint programmes with our valued travel partners, Scenic Group has expanded the Asia Pacific regional team.”

The team collectively brings over 60 years of industry expertise in luxury travel, including cruises and land journeys. Scenic Group continues to invest in marketing resources, cruise ship capacity, and partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality services and experiences.

As Scenic Group celebrates 40 years of innovation, it plans to further enhance its ultraluxury offerings with new ships and itineraries, including the launch of Scenic Ikon in 2028 and Emerald Astra in 2026.

A recent survey by ServiceNow has highlighted a significant gap between customer service preferences and business strategies in Singapore. Despite substantial investments in digital channels, 80% of Singaporean customers still prefer phone support when interacting with organisations. However, only 9% of businesses plan to prioritise phone channels over the next three years.

The survey, conducted by ThoughtLab, involved 1,485 Singaporeans and revealed that customers spend more time resolving issues via phone than any other channel. CK Tan, APJ Innovation Officer at ServiceNow, emphasised the need for businesses to offer “fast, effective, and empathetic support” to meet customer expectations.

The findings indicate that 52% of customers would switch brands after a poor experience, and 31% of organisations have reported revenue loss due to inadequate service. Despite these insights, many companies are set to focus on digital-only channels like self-service portals and chatbots, potentially neglecting customer preferences.

The survey also found that empathy is crucial in customer interactions. Whilst only 28% of executives acknowledged empathy as a challenge, 48% of customers cited it as a top frustration. This disconnect could lead to increased customer churn and financial losses.

ServiceNow’s research underscores the importance of aligning digital investments with customer needs, especially as Singaporean businesses continue to invest in AI and digital transformation under the national $37b Research, Innovation, and Enterprise plan. Tan noted that whilst AI offers opportunities to enhance customer experiences, it is essential for organisations to unify systems and data to truly understand and meet customer needs.

Peak Energy has expanded its solar capacity in Singapore by acquiring a 10MW portfolio from Maiora Renewable Energy. This acquisition aligns with Singapore’s upgraded 2030 solar target and addresses the increasing demand for stable, locally-sourced renewable energy amidst global fuel market volatility. The move strengthens Peak Energy’s position as a leading corporate and industrial rooftop solar platform in the region.

The acquisition comes at a time when Singapore’s reliance on imported natural gas has highlighted the need for energy security. By increasing locally-generated power capacity, Peak Energy aims to provide corporate electricity buyers with greater cost visibility and stability. Gavin Adda, CEO of Peak Energy, stated, “With Stonepeak’s backing, we combine operating assets with newly developed ones to offer corporates offsite PPAs on consistent terms from a bankable counterparty.”

Maiora Renewable Energy, which has operated in Singapore for over a decade, sees this transition as a strategic move to focus on expanding its renewable energy platform in Taiwan and the Philippines. Marzio Keiling, Managing Partner of Maiora, emphasised the importance of finding a partner with financial strength and long-term commitment.

Peak Energy is currently in discussions with Singapore-based industrial and commercial players for long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), providing a strong basis for price stability. As geopolitical uncertainties and potential changes to the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance influence corporate renewable procurement strategies, many companies are prioritising local renewable energy options. Peak Energy’s domestic portfolios offer a scalable solution for companies seeking affordable, low-carbon electricity with clear delivery timelines.

The Briefcase Index has published its 2026 ranking of the most employable degrees in Singapore, highlighting healthcare, education, and professional programmes as leading fields for fresh graduates. The rankings are based on data from the 2025 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey, released by the Ministry of Education on 5 March 2026.

The survey assessed undergraduate programmes across Singapore’s autonomous universities, including the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU), among others. The aim was to identify degrees with the strongest immediate job-market outcomes for graduates.

A spokesperson from Briefcase Index stated, “For students and families, employability is one of the clearest indicators of how well a degree translates into career outcomes. For employers and education-focused organisations, these rankings indicate which programmes are producing talent aligned with workforce demand.”

The top-ranked degree is the Arts and Science programmes in an Academic Discipline and in Education from the National Institute of Education (NIE), achieving a 100% full-time permanent employment rate. Other high-ranking degrees include NTU Medicine, NUS Dentistry, and NUS Medicine. SIT’s Physiotherapy (Honours) and Occupational Therapy (Honours) also featured prominently, with employment rates of 99% and 98%, respectively.

These rankings provide valuable insights for prospective students and their families as they navigate university admissions, offering a clearer picture of which degrees offer the best employment prospects in Singapore’s competitive job market.

Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited has announced its entry into a non-binding memorandum of understanding for the proposed acquisition of an Australian dental group. The acquisition, valued at $92.5m (A$144.5m), involves a network of over 40 dental clinics across several Australian states and territories, including New South Wales and Victoria. The agreement was signed on 11 March 2026.

The Australian Dental Group, which employs approximately 120 dentists, offers a wide range of dental services, from general dentistry to orthodontics and implantology. The acquisition will see Q & M Dental Group acquiring 100% of the issued share capital, with the purchase price to be settled through a combination of cash, capital injection, and new ordinary shares.

The acquisition aligns with Q & M Dental Group’s strategy to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, following its recent move into Thailand’s dental market. The Australian Dental Group’s established network provides a strategic base for further growth, both organically and through future acquisitions.

The sellers, comprising eight founding dentist-shareholders, will remain involved in the business, providing local expertise and supporting Q & M’s expansion plans. The acquisition also offers potential for clinician mobility within Q & M’s regional network, as Australian-trained dentists may practise in Singapore under certain conditions.

Q & M Dental Group has committed to a profit guarantee for the Australian Dental Group, with targets set over a seven-year period. The company will make further announcements as developments occur, including the signing of definitive agreements.

MetaComp, a Singapore-based pioneer in unified Web2.5 payments and wealth platforms, has successfully raised US$35m in its Pre-A funding round, backed by Alibaba Spark Venture and other institutional investors. This funding, completed in just three months, aims to accelerate the development of MetaComp’s regulated Web2.5 platform across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

The company, which achieved full-year net profitability in 2025, is focused on integrating traditional finance with digital assets under a unified regulatory framework. MetaComp’s platform offers hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions, as well as access to traditional and tokenised wealth management products. The funding will also support the expansion of MetaComp’s StableX Network, which facilitates real-time cross-border settlements.

The group’s proprietary Client Asset Management Platform processes over US$1b monthly and accounts for more than US$500m in wealth assets. In 2025, MetaComp processed over US$10b in payments and over-the-counter volume across 13 stablecoins.

Co-President of MetaComp, Tin Pei Ling, stated, “MetaComp was built on a single conviction that the future of cross-border finance is neither purely traditional nor purely digital—it’s the integrated Web2.5 architecture where fiat rails and stablecoin networks operate as one.”

With comprehensive licencing from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, MetaComp serves over 1,000 institutional and accredited clients globally. The company aims to leverage its new capital to further its AI strategy and develop future-ready infrastructure for Web2.5 payment and wealth services.

Rajah & Tann Singapore has announced the appointment of Abdul Jabbar Bin Karam Din as Deputy Managing Partner. With over 26 years as a partner, Jabbar is set to enhance the firm’s strategic development and streamline centralised services. His previous role as Head of the Corporate & Transactional Group saw him spearheading initiatives across various domains, including human resources and business development.

The appointment comes as the firm expands its reach through the Rajah & Tann Asia network, necessitating a cohesive alignment of strategic and operational resources. Managing Partner Ng Kim Beng expressed confidence in Jabbar’s capabilities, stating, “His appointment reinforces our leadership bench as we continue to build for the future and position Rajah & Tann for sustainable, long-term growth.”

Jabbar’s extensive experience spans corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and banking and finance. He is recognised in The Legal 500 for Corporate and M&A, with clients praising his “consistently sound” advice. Additionally, he has been acknowledged in the Lexology Index for Corporate Governance and Labour & Employment.

Rajah & Tann Singapore, a leading full-service law firm in Southeast Asia, is part of the Rajah & Tann Asia network, which includes over 1,000 fee earners across 10 countries. This strategic appointment aims to further solidify the firm’s position in the region, ensuring consistent processes and standards across its practice groups.

Empyrion Digital, a Singapore-based data centre developer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cypress Telecom Limited (CypressTel) and its affiliate DataShell to enhance digital infrastructure across Asia. This collaboration aims to leverage Empyrion’s data centre capabilities and CypressTel’s network services to meet the growing demand for scalable and secure infrastructure in the region.

Under the MOU, CypressTel will have the option to utilise data centre capacity from Empyrion Digital’s upcoming second data centre in Singapore. This agreement underscores Singapore’s role as a leading connectivity hub. Additionally, Empyrion Digital will provide data centre capacity to CypressTel at one of its forthcoming North Asia projects.

Mark Fong, CEO of Empyrion Digital, stated, “This strategic MOU with CypressTel and its affiliate DataShell strengthens our collective ability to support long-term digital capacity needs across Asia.” Connee Zhang, CEO of CypressTel, added, “With 140 Points of Presence (PoPs) and experience supporting deployments across more than 10,000 customers globally, CypressTel brings proven execution at scale to help enterprises and partners deploy faster and scale with confidence across Asia.”

Empyrion Digital is committed to sustainable practices and operates carrier-neutral data centres for hyperscale and enterprise customers across Asia. CypressTel, a global network service provider, offers a range of connectivity solutions, integrating network, cloud, and security into a single platform.

This partnership is poised to enhance digital transformation efforts across Asia, providing robust connectivity and infrastructure solutions to meet the region’s increasing digital demands.