Industry News

The Work Project (TWP) has announced the opening of a new floor at Parkview Square, Singapore, enhancing its luxury coworking and meeting room offerings. Situated at the Bugis fringe of the Central Business District, this expansion occupies Level 7, complementing TWP’s existing presence on Level 10. The move underscores TWP’s commitment to design excellence and premium hospitality within one of Singapore’s most architecturally celebrated landmarks.

Parkview Square, known for its cinematic Art Deco-inspired façade and home to the renowned Atlas Bar, provides a fitting backdrop for TWP’s vision of a refined, future-ready work environment. Sheena Goh, Head of Sales at The Work Project, highlighted the building’s unique appeal, stating, “Parkview Square stands out from the rest of the buildings in the vicinity by being intentionally historic and cinematic, housing the famous Atlas Bar.”

The new floor offers a curated range of workspace solutions, including private offices, dedicated desks, and collaborative areas. Designed with high-quality materials and ergonomic furnishings, the space reflects TWP’s hallmark approach to luxurious and functional work environments. Additionally, fully equipped meeting rooms are available for rental, serving as premium meeting spaces for businesses across Singapore.

The Work Project is a leading provider of flexible workspaces, focusing on empowering businesses and enhancing productivity. By prioritising client branding and individual work cultures, TWP ensures that every workspace becomes an extension of the company it serves. With this expansion, TWP continues to cater to the increasing demand for premium and sophisticated workspaces in Singapore.

Investment in Southeast Asia’s (SEA) tech sector reached $2.8b in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 110% increase from the same period last year, according to Tracxn’s latest report. This surge reflects a strategic shift towards mature enterprise assets, with late-stage funding dominating the landscape.

Late-stage investments accounted for $2.2b, highlighting a preference for established companies. Notably, DayOne secured a $2b Series C round, underscoring the trend of capital concentration in proven platforms. Meanwhile, seed-stage funding saw a 30% decline from the previous quarter, indicating a cautious approach towards early-stage ventures.

Enterprise Applications and Enterprise Infrastructure emerged as the top-performing sectors, attracting $2.4b and $2.2b, respectively. This shift signifies a focus on long-term, scalable assets. The report also noted a significant acquisition, with ST Telemedia Global Data Centres being acquired for $6.6b, validating the emphasis on enterprise infrastructure.

Singapore solidified its position as the regional capital hub, capturing 93% of the total funding. This dominance reflects investor confidence in its governance and regulatory environment. The quarter also witnessed three initial public offerings (IPOs) and 13 acquisitions, maintaining steady exit activity.

As the SEA tech ecosystem evolves, the focus on mature enterprise assets is expected to continue, potentially shaping future investment strategies in the region.

Singapore’s property market witnessed a significant uptick in developer sales in March 2026, with 1,300 units sold, marking a more than fivefold increase from February’s 246 units. This surge, the highest for March since 2017, reflects a robust demand for new homes despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to Leonard Tay, Head of Research at Knight Frank Singapore.

The month’s sales were bolstered by successful launches of Pinery Residences and River Modern, which sold 543 and 416 units respectively, both exceeding 90% of their project totals. Rivelle Tampines Executive Condominium also saw strong sales, with 530 units sold out of 572.

Knight Frank’s report highlights a continued momentum in the Core Central Region (CCR), driven by local buyers viewing prime properties as sound investments. Despite the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty, the demand for well-located projects remains strong. As global uncertainties persist, Singapore’s status as a stable financial hub may attract more investors, although the impact on prime homes is expected to be gradual.

The report also notes a growing price gap between new launches and the resale market. In Q1 2026, new sales in the CCR averaged S$3,174 per square foot, 42.8% higher than resales. This trend is mirrored in other regions, with the Outside Central Region showing the largest disparity at 61%.

Looking ahead, Singapore’s non-landed private residential market is projected to remain healthy, with annual sales expected to reach between 8,000 and 10,000 units. However, rising energy prices and potential labour market impacts could affect buyer sentiment.

AIA Singapore’s latest Live Better Study has uncovered a paradox in the relationship between technology and wellbeing among Singapore residents. Whilst 71% of participants acknowledge that digital tools enhance their quality of life, many feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and platforms available. Conducted from December 2025 to January 2026, the study highlights the stress caused by technology in managing financial, physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

The study found that 56% of residents feel inundated by the number of financial tools, with 54% struggling to manage multiple accounts. This has led to a demand for more integrated financial management tools, especially among Gen Zs. In terms of physical wellbeing, whilst 69% feel more in control using fitness trackers, 44% report stress when targets are not met.

Mental wellbeing also faces challenges, with only 60% of residents trusting AI’s influence positively. Concerns about AI include privacy issues (41%) and misinformation (39%). Despite digital tools helping 70% feel socially connected, 46% still experience social isolation, particularly Gen Zs.

Irma Hadikusuma, AIA Singapore’s Chief Marketing and Healthcare Officer, stated, “Digital tools must fundamentally serve as enablers and not become sources of added stress.” The study suggests a need for more human-centric digital solutions to support holistic wellbeing, as residents seek to balance the benefits and challenges of technology in their lives.

OCBC has unveiled a groundbreaking generative AI-powered training programme for its 900 wealth advisers in Singapore. This initiative, part of the bank’s ‘whole-of-wealth’ strategy, aims to enhance skills in investment advisory, client management, product mastery, and wealth planning over six months. The AI-driven approach replaces traditional in-person training, which was often delayed due to supervisor availability, ensuring consistent and high-standard training.

The programme, developed over a year using large language models and OCBC’s proprietary insights, simulates realistic customer scenarios. Advisers can practise these scenarios repeatedly, receiving AI-generated feedback reports that highlight areas for improvement. This allows supervisors to provide more targeted in-person coaching, helping advisers build confidence and skills more rapidly.

Since its launch, the programme has shown promising results. Advisers who participated reported double the number of weekly client appointments and a 50% increase in revenue compared to those not yet trained. The realism of the scenarios and consistent feedback were key to this improvement.

OCBC plans to expand the programme to Malaysia and Hong Kong, tailoring content to local market needs. Sunny Quek, OCBC’s Head of Global Consumer Financial Services, emphasised the programme’s role in combining AI precision with human empathy to meet evolving customer needs. Wealth adviser Ng Zuolin noted the programme’s effectiveness in boosting her confidence and skills, highlighting its potential to transform wealth advisory training.

Chronic back pain affects one in 12 adults in Singapore, costing the economy an estimated S$3.5b annually, according to Chiropractic Studio Singapore. The organisation has published a book titled “Too Busy For Back Pain” aimed at helping young working adults manage and prevent spinal issues through simple exercises.

The book highlights that more than 50% of individuals aged 30 to 39 already experience spinal disc degeneration, often without symptoms. This condition is exacerbated by modern sedentary lifestyles, leading to postural problems such as Tech Neck and Bowling Ball Head. These issues contribute to high rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, significantly impacting workplace productivity.

Jason Rutkauskas, principal chiropractor at Chiropractic Studio Singapore, emphasises the importance of early intervention. “Having treated many young adults with avoidable back pain, I decided to pen down what I knew about the spine, how it works, and how to keep it healthy,” he said. The book proposes five exercises that can be completed in five minutes, designed to be easily integrated into daily routines.

The chiropractic approach focuses on the body’s natural ability to heal itself, contrasting with traditional medical practices that often rely on medication or surgery. By addressing misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care aims to improve overall health and prevent conditions like back pain, headaches, and sleeplessness.

Addepar, a global data and AI platform for investment professionals, has announced the opening of its new office in Singapore, marking the city-state as its Asia Pacific (APAC) hub. This strategic move underscores Addepar’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region, where its client base has grown over 130% in the past two years. The office, located in the Marina Bay Financial Centre, will allow Addepar to deepen client support and continue developing products tailored for APAC investment professionals.

The decision to establish a hub in Singapore reflects the company’s confidence in the city as a leading global financial centre and a gateway to the fast-growing investment ecosystem in APAC. Eric Poirier, CEO of Addepar, stated, “Establishing our APAC hub here reflects our commitment to the region and positions us to better deliver the global infrastructure and data-driven insights investment professionals need to operate at scale and make more informed decisions.”

The expansion is supported by local partnerships, including an investment from EDBI, the investment arm of SG Growth Capital, during Addepar’s 2025 Series G financing round. Charmaine Kng, Partner at EDBI, expressed support for Addepar’s move, highlighting the potential for the company to contribute to Singapore’s financial ecosystem.

With over 1,400 firms in 60 countries using Addepar to manage $9t in assets, the new Singapore hub strengthens the company’s ability to serve clients globally, enhancing decision-making capabilities for investment professionals worldwide.

Singapore has been ranked first in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for digital resilience, according to a report by Economist Impact, supported by Telstra International. Despite this top ranking, the report identifies significant gaps in leadership accountability and ecosystem coordination, which leave organisations vulnerable to disruptions.

The research, based on a survey of 1,420 senior executives across 11 APAC markets, shows that whilst Singapore excels in risk management and workforce agility, execution often falls short of intent. Only 12% of organisations mandate training for adaptability during live outages, and 71% of boards do not regularly review digital resilience plans, leaving these responsibilities siloed within specific functions.

Charles Ross, Head of Policy and Insights, APAC, Economist Impact, stated, “Singapore’s top ranking is a testament to its gold-standard regulatory environment. However, our research shows that strong compliance and operational discipline are not enough.”

The report also highlights that only 22% of Singaporean organisations have visibility into their suppliers’ digital resilience, indicating a weak link in ecosystem coordination. Roary Stasko, CEO of Telstra International, emphasised the need for shared accountability across partners and networks, stating, “Digital resilience today is no longer something any business can build alone.”

As Singapore continues to face rising digital risks, the report suggests that bridging the gap between compliance and operational agility is crucial for future resilience. This involves embedding digital resilience into strategy, governance, and ecosystem design to better prepare for disruptions.

Sunwave has made a significant impact at the inaugural GITEX Asia 2026, held at Marina Bay Sands, by showcasing its latest wireless solutions and announcing an upgrade to its International Headquarters (IHQ) in Singapore. This strategic move aims to bolster its service and delivery capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region.

At the event, Sunwave introduced its All-in-One Site solution, designed for rapid deployment in remote and temporary locations. This innovative system integrates satellite backhaul, private 5G, edge computing, and IoT, enabling network rollout in approximately 30 minutes. The solution is ideal for mining operations, construction sites, and large-scale events, significantly reducing deployment time and operational complexity.

Additionally, Sunwave unveiled several new products to enhance network performance and flexibility. These include the nCELLM integrated base station, which combines baseband and radio units with a built-in 5G gateway, and a compact 5G Femto solution for indoor and fragmented coverage scenarios. In the Distributed Antenna System (DAS) segment, the company introduced the H3RU, supporting 700-4200 MHz wideband coverage, and the N3 Plus, a compact system with multiband MIMO ORAN architecture.

The upgrade of Sunwave’s Singapore IHQ is expected to enhance localised support, solution validation, and cross-regional coordination, improving responsiveness and delivery efficiency across APAC markets. Sunwave’s debut at GITEX Asia marks a further step in expanding its regional footprint, with a continued focus on enabling fast, flexible, and sustainable connectivity solutions.

Singapore’s economy demonstrated resilience in the first quarter of 2026, achieving a 4.6% year-on-year growth despite facing increased imported cost pressures, according to the SGX Research report. This growth aligns with businesses prioritising margin protection and operational resilience in a challenging global environment. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has adjusted the rate of appreciation of the Singapore dollar to counter rising energy costs and broader price pressures.

In April, net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks were led by the Industrials, Technology, and Utilities sectors. Within Technology, companies involved in semiconductor manufacturing and testing, such as AEM Holdings and UMS Holdings, saw significant inflows. Sembcorp Industries emerged as a leader in net institutional inflows, whilst Oiltek International recorded the highest share-price gains among the top 30 stocks with substantial institutional interest.

Sembcorp Industries, with its extensive energy platform, is nearing its consensus target price of S$6.92. The company boasts around 28 gigawatts of gross capacity, including renewable energy projects and a critical gas generation platform. This capacity provides cash-flow visibility across regions such as Singapore, South Asia, and the UK.

Oiltek International’s share price surged to over S$2.00, driven by improved liquidity and a significant agreement for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel facility in Sabah. This agreement, valued at US$350m, is expected to boost Oiltek’s order book significantly, pending regulatory approvals and financing.

These developments highlight Singapore’s strategic focus on sectors with tangible output and resilience, positioning the economy to navigate external challenges effectively.