Industry News

Twilio has announced the global availability of its Rich Communication Services (RCS), revolutionising business messaging with branded and interactive features. This development follows a successful partnership with Singtel, making Singapore the first Asian market to benefit from RCS Business Messaging. The service allows businesses to upgrade SMS to RCS on compatible devices, offering features such as business logos, taglines, and Google-verified sender information at no extra cost.

RCS provides rich content and interactive features, including call-to-action buttons, carousels, and location sharing, which enhance customer engagement and conversion rates. Twilio’s platform ensures seamless integration with automatic carrier management and SMS fallback when RCS is unavailable, guaranteeing reliable message delivery.

Inbal Shani, Twilio’s Chief Product Officer, stated, “RCS makes seamless and trusted customer engagement a reality by delivering richer interactions and increased brand trust.” The service addresses the trust gap in consumer-brand communications, as highlighted in Twilio’s 2025 State of Customer Engagement Report, which found that only 15% of consumers absolutely trust brands with their data.

Existing Twilio customers can upgrade to RCS without code changes, whilst new customers can implement both SMS and RCS through a single API integration. The service is now available across 20 countries and 55 carriers, with companies like Nova Gestões and Fresha already leveraging RCS to enhance customer communications.

Twilio’s RCS is poised to transform business messaging into an interactive, trusted, and transaction-ready channel, offering businesses faster transactions, reduced customer effort, and new opportunities for loyalty and revenue growth.
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The UN Global Compact Network Singapore (UNGCNS) has launched its 4th Singapore Business Carbon Report at the Singapore Sustainability Academy. The report, themed “Emissions in Focus: Transparent Reporting, Tangible Results,” highlights significant progress in carbon emission management among Singaporean businesses. With 318 submissions from 227 companies, the report reveals that 74% of these businesses have successfully reduced either absolute emissions or emissions intensity, with 41% achieving reductions in both metrics.

The report comes as Singapore prepares for new regulations requiring listed companies to disclose Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. This regulatory shift underscores the importance of credible carbon disclosure, as emphasised by Dr Bicky Bhangu, President of UNGCNS, who stated, “This report is more than a publication — it is a call to action.”

The LowCarbonSG programme, initiated by UNGCNS in 2021, plays a pivotal role in helping companies measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The programme’s success is evident, with over 80% of participants being small and medium enterprises (SMEs), demonstrating that smaller businesses are actively driving climate action.

The report also highlights the role of technology in advancing carbon management, with tools like the Carbon & Emissions Recording Tool (CERT) and A*STAR’s AdViSE platform improving reporting accuracy and efficiency. Case studies from companies such as OCBC and SATS illustrate how businesses are leveraging carbon data to enhance investor trust and embed sustainability across operations.

As Singapore moves towards a low-carbon future, the report serves as a practical guide for businesses to strengthen their sustainability strategies, ensuring they remain competitive and resilient in the evolving regulatory landscape.
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Moët & Chandon has announced its return as the Official Champagne of Formula 1, marking the occasion with the launch of the “Elevation Lounge by Moët & Chandon” in Singapore. This exclusive event, running from 3 to 5 October, features a hot air balloon experience that embodies the brand’s spirit of celebration and French art de vivre. The lounge offers panoramic views, French-chic dining, and curated heritage displays, all set to enhance the excitement of the Formula 1 race week.

The Elevation Lounge, in collaboration with SUSHISAMBA Singapore, promises a blend of signature fusion dishes paired with champagne, alongside live samba performances and a DJ set. This unique experience is designed to captivate guests with its elegance and sophistication.

Adding to the glamour, Moët & Chandon is also the official champagne partner of the Amber Lounge Afterparty, held at The Clifford Pier on 4 and 5 October. This iconic event will feature world-class entertainment, international music acts, and the opportunity to mingle with A-list celebrities, drivers, and the racing community.

Fans have the chance to win exclusive race-week experiences through an F1 Giveaway running until 23 September. Prizes include a luxury weekend stay at Swissôtel The Stamford with Amber Lounge access, a Moët & Chandon hot air balloon ride, and limited-edition champagne bottles.

These events highlight Moët & Chandon’s commitment to luxury and celebration, transforming Singapore into a premier destination for race enthusiasts during the Formula 1 season.
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ST Engineering has announced a significant $250 million AI Research Translation programme at the 5th InnoTech Conference in Singapore. The initiative, unveiled on 4 September 2025, aims to advance robotics, swarm, and humanoid solutions, focusing on improving teamwork between human and unmanned systems. The conference, themed “AI.Innovating the Future”, was attended by industry leaders and government officials, including Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information.

A key highlight of the event was the introduction of the Manned-Unmanned Teaming Operating System (MUMTOS), a system designed to enhance human-machine collaboration. MUMTOS coordinates robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles to provide actionable insights and expedite decision-making processes. In humanitarian missions, it assesses life-risk factors to prioritise rescue efforts, offering real-time updates and precise location data to first responders.

Lee Shiang Long, Group Chief Technology & Digital Officer at ST Engineering, emphasised the company’s commitment to leveraging AI across various domains. “Building on this foundation, our focus supported by increased investment, positions us to lead the AI Research Translation programme and turn advanced AI and robotics into impactful solutions across industries,” he stated.

The conference also showcased AI innovations in unmanned ecosystems, counter-drone operations, and intelligent connectivity. With nearly 2,000 participants, the event featured keynote speakers such as Mike Walsh, CEO of Tomorrow, and Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner of Granite Asia.

ST Engineering plans to upskill 4,000 engineers and create 1,000 AI specialists to drive these advancements, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of AI innovation.
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Frasers Hospitality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to establish a hospitality innovation thinktank aimed at elevating Singapore’s hospitality industry. This collaboration will focus on applied research, professional training, and nurturing future-ready talent in the hospitality and real estate sectors.

The thinktank is designed to be a collaborative hub where industry and academia can work together to define key hospitality standards and publish insights that drive innovation. Eu Chin Fen, CEO of Frasers Hospitality, stated, “By combining academic expertise with real-world application, we are advancing new standards in guest experience, driving innovation that is both digital and sustainable.”

Bernard Nee, Deputy President of SIT, emphasised the importance of equipping talent with future-ready skills to maintain Singapore’s service excellence. He noted that the thinktank would provide a dynamic platform for collaboration, accelerating creative solutions and transforming ideas into actionable innovations.

The partnership will also involve the co-design and development of Pre-Employment Training for hospitality students and Continuing Education and Training programmes for Frasers Hospitality employees. These initiatives aim to empower individuals to become future leaders and innovators in the industry.

This strategic partnership between Frasers Hospitality and SIT is set to reinforce Singapore’s position as a premier tourism hub, ensuring the country’s hospitality standards continue to evolve and meet global expectations.
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SNP Group, a leading software provider for digital transformation, has inaugurated its new Asia-Pacific headquarters at Asia Square, Singapore. This strategic move underscores SNP’s commitment to enhancing its presence in the region and supporting enterprises in modernising their business systems with precision and speed.

The opening follows SNP’s Transformation World 2025 event in Heidelberg, Germany, where the company showcased the capabilities of its Kyano platform. This platform is pivotal in enabling large-scale SAP and non-SAP transformations, minimising disruption whilst delivering significant business impact. Phillip Miltiades, President and Managing Director of SNP Asia Pacific & Japan, stated, “Our move to Asia Square signals more than growth—it underlines our strategy to be closer to customers and partners in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.”

The new headquarters will consolidate SNP’s regional go-to-market, delivery, and support functions, serving as a hub for talent development and customer engagement. SNP’s impact in the region is already evident, with over 50 successful go-lives in the past year, all completed on time and without disruption. Customers are leveraging SNP’s Kyano platform to enable AI-powered processes that enhance productivity and decision-making.

With its new base in Singapore, SNP is set to accelerate Asia’s digital transformation journey, helping enterprises transform their SAP landscapes and build greater resilience and agility for the future.
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Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLAsia) 2025 is set to celebrate its 20th edition from 18 to 20 September at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Organised by the Franchising and Licensing Association Singapore and Constellar, the event will host over 4,500 attendees and more than 250 brands from over 50 countries. This year’s showcase will feature a dynamic mix of 60% first-time exhibitors alongside industry veterans, highlighting its role as a launchpad for brand expansion and innovation in Asia.

The event will open with a ceremony attended by Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, who will present the prestigious FLA Awards 2025. These awards recognise brands that excel in development, scalability, and global competitiveness, reflecting the industry’s commitment to raising standards and promoting Singapore brands internationally.

FLAsia 2025 will introduce new-to-market concepts, including Bibijae, a Michelin Bib Gourmand brand from Busan, and BMSmile’s playful lifestyle brand Wiggle Wiggle. Other notable participants include Bobae FB Group, Crown HOF, and Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC. The event will also feature a Design WAH Showcase, part of Singapore Design Week 2025, highlighting Singapore’s creative talent.

Additionally, FLAsia will debut its first-ever Career Fair on 20 September, focusing on upskilling and career mobility. The fair aims to connect talent with employers across franchising, retail, and food and beverage sectors, supporting Singapore’s commitment to building a skilled workforce.

FLAsia 2025 reaffirms its position as a marketplace where creativity meets commerce, driving the next wave of franchising and licensing success in Asia.
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AGII, a leader in AI infrastructure for decentralised development, has announced the expansion of its predictive frameworks to improve the scalability and efficiency of smart contracts across Web3 platforms. This update introduces advanced models that dynamically adapt contract logic to network demands, ensuring continuous and low-latency execution.

As the complexity of Web3 ecosystems increases, the need for scalable and efficient smart contract deployment becomes crucial. AGII’s upgraded infrastructure enables just-in-time automation decisions, optimising smart contract performance across various blockchains without sacrificing security or throughput. This intelligent automation bridges traditional logic with real-time responsiveness, providing developers with greater flexibility and control.

The evolution of AGII’s platform is part of its mission to lead the smart contract revolution with self-improving AI models. The new framework offers features such as audit-ready traceability and autonomous decision trees, allowing decentralised apps (dApps) to quickly adapt to changing on-chain conditions. This results in streamlined workloads, improved latency, and enhanced transactional integrity.

AGII’s advancements in AI infrastructure are set to transform the future of contract execution in decentralised ecosystems, offering intelligent automation, scalable smart contract logic, and real-time decision-making tools. As Web3 continues to evolve, AGII’s innovations promise to empower developers and enhance the efficiency of decentralised applications.
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David He has been appointed as an emerging companies and venture capital partner at Cooley’s Singapore office, bringing over a decade of experience from New York, Silicon Valley, and Asia. His expertise spans the life cycle of high-growth companies, including venture capital and private equity funds, cross-border financings, acquisitions, and corporate governance. He previously worked at Gunderson Dettmer in Singapore.

He’s appointment is part of Cooley’s strategic expansion in Asia, where the firm operates in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore. Matthew Bartus, co-chair of Cooley’s emerging companies and venture capital practice, remarked, “David is an excellent addition to our team and brings a wealth of experience and a strong base of connections in Singapore and across Asia.”

Patrick Loofbourrow, co-chair of Cooley’s China corporate practice, added, “David’s experience will strengthen our capabilities in our growing practice in Singapore and across South and Southeast Asia.”

Recognised as a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500 and featured in the India Business Law Journal’s 2025 International A-List, He has advised on numerous venture-backed transactions globally. He expressed enthusiasm about joining Cooley, stating, “Cooley’s global platform and deep technical bench align perfectly with the needs of my clients as they continue to raise domestic and foreign capital and scale their businesses across borders.”

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Empyrion Digital has successfully integrated Nortek Data Centre Cooling’s StatePoint Liquid Cooling Technology at its KR1 Gangnam Data Centre in Seoul. This move marks a significant step in the company’s commitment to sustainable digital infrastructure, enhancing energy and water efficiency for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

The StatePoint system, a hybrid liquid cooling technology, offers improved thermal performance and affordability. It utilises a liquid-to-air energy exchanger with membrane-based evaporative cooling, significantly reducing mechanical cooling and water consumption. This innovation ensures the Gangnam Data Centre achieves optimal Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), setting new efficiency benchmarks in South Korea.

Yongsuk Choi, Chief Strategy Officer of Empyrion Digital, stated, “Our collaboration with Nortek DCC signals the beginning of a long-term commitment to delivering AI-ready and green by design data centres.” The facility, spanning 30,714 square metres, is the first new data centre in Seoul’s Gangnam district in over a decade, designed to support energy-intensive AI applications with a 29.4 MW IT load.

Karin Overstreet, CEO of Nortek DCC, expressed pride in the partnership, highlighting the project’s potential to elevate data centre sustainability and performance in South Korea. The KR1 GDC is Empyrion’s second data centre project, following SG1 Dodid, and became operational in August 2025.

Empyrion Digital, headquartered in Singapore, is a portfolio company of Seraya Partners, focusing on sustainable and scalable data centres across Asia.
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