research and innovation centre queenstown

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We are creating some awesome events for you. kindly bear with us., new zealand to establish new research and innovation hub.

• Justin Ponti
• May 31, 2021

Queenstown in New Zealand is set to build a multi-million-dollar research and innovation hub, with the government lending up to half the funds to get the project off the ground.

The facility, to be called Research & Innovation Queenstown, will be established at Remarkables Park in Frankton near Queenstown Airport. It will house a cluster of research and innovation entities and commercial and hi-tech activities.

The executive director of the park which will help develop the hub, said it would provide a platform to attract new, high-value workforce and visitors, as well as retaining and upskilling Queenstown residents. The hub is intended to help diversify the region’s tourism-reliant economy. Also, the company’s executive chairman said they welcomed the government’s willingness to work with the private sector on the project, which would help Queenstown develop a more resilient economy.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said that the government would lend up to half of the total cost for the first stage of the project. The money, from the government’s shovel ready infrastructure fund, would go towards the costs of architecture and planning, engineering, and construction.

The Minister said that the project would help leverage Queenstown’s international reputation, and address some of the issues raised last year by the New Zealand Productivity Commission. Research & Innovation Queenstown Ltd, a subsidiary of Remarkables Park, will match the funding to pay for the development, nearby roading and services.

Earthworks for the building have already begun. The building will have about 6000 square metres of research and innovation offices and facilities, and space for other commercial activities. As part of the hub project, a Research & Innovation advisory board will be formed.

As reported by OpenGov Asia, similarly, a Kiwi-developed digital, business and learning tech hub has also been launched in New Zealand to bridge the digital divide and help combat poverty in the country. The tech hub was developed by a team that provides the locals in the area with training, employment, and business leadership. The team said that they had to step up and develop the tech hub to increase digital connectivity to mitigate high poverty in the area.

At the opening, Regional Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash said the hub was vitally important, especially with the digital advances during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He added that it is not about the future, it is about the present, and if we do not get this right in our communities, they will fall behind.

The Te Kona tech hub offers meeting rooms for hire, 10 hot desks, video conferencing facilities, event spaces, and reliable Wi-Fi which is in high demand in the region. It also provides digital literacy training, coding classes, and a mobile hub, which will take a mobile version of these services to more remote parts of the region. The developers will offer their training courses in the hub, as well as offering job-focused education modules.

The developers said that citizens in the area have not had access to strong connectivity for some time, so they needed to develop a space that would allow businesses to flourish and for students’ educational needs. The development of Te Kona has been supported by the government’s Provincial Development Unit, as well as other private institutions and foundations.

Reports say that New Zealand may be at the bottom of the world when it comes to geographic locale, but Kiwis are quickly approaching the top when it comes to lean start-ups and tech. This combined with the fact that New Zealand is a great place to do business as some investors may say makes for an exciting time ahead for the New Zealand tech industry.

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Queenstown Research and Innovation Centre

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Research & Innovation Queenstown will be home to a collection of research and development entities, and hi-tech commercial activities. The $45m innovation hub will help to diversify the region’s tourism-reliant economy. 

RCP supported the client with its fund application process, and successfully secured a $22.5m loan from the Government. The innovation hub will be a drawcard for the region, helping to attract world-class talent, and retain and upskill Queenstown locals. It will also support the creation of high-value industries with a low environmental impact.  

The 6,000sqm greenfield site has presented some design challenges. Located near the airport, the building is subject to height restrictions. RCP led a significant redesign process, collaborating with the client and the project team to adapt the building’s form within the given constraints while ensuring operational feasibility.  

The team is also working hard to manage the procurement risks that continue to affect the industry. RCP has been exploring early procurement options for some materials; in other cases it is working with the team to change aspects of the structure’s design to mitigate some of the risks. 

Construction is underway. It is estimated that 100 jobs have been created for the design and construction phase, and up to 400 jobs will be created long term. 

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New Queenstown Research & Innovation Hub To Benefit Region And New Zealand

Press Release – Remarkables Park Limited

Remarkables Park Limited has welcomed the Governments strategic support into stage one of a new Research & Innovation Queenstown hub, announced today. The Government has announced it will lend up to $22.5 million to Research & …

Remarkables Park Limited has welcomed the Government’s strategic support into stage one of a new Research & Innovation Queenstown hub, announced today.

The Government has announced it will lend up to $22.5 million to Research & Innovation Queenstown Ltd (RIQL), a subsidiary of Remarkables Park Limited, to contribute to the development of stage 1 of a $45m greenfield hub called Research & Innovation Queenstown. RIQL will match the Government funding towards the development costs, plus fund adjacent roading and services costs.

The first building will provide approximately 6000sq m of research and innovation offices and facilites, as well as commercial uses at Remarkables Park. This infrastructure will be a major step towards diversifying the Queenstown Lakes District economy .

Remarkables Park Limited Executive Chair Alastair Porter welcomes the Government’s willingness to work with the private sector to support Research & Innovation to assist Queenstown develop a more resilient economy.

“Our vision has always been focused on enabling projects that include creating employment opportunities for local people to ultimately build a prosperous and resilient region. We are committed to sustainable innovation for the wellbeing of future generations,” Porter says.

Government’s financial support will contribute towards the cost of architects, planners, civil, structural, fire and mechanical engineers, followed by 100-plus people who will be involved in construction. Remarkables Park Ltd executive director Johnathan Chen says. “Ultimately, the establishment of the research and innovation hub will provide a platform to attract new, high-value workforce and visitors, as well as retaining and upskilling Queenstown residents.”

The Research & Innovation Queenstown hub is planned to be a beacon to attract world-class talent to the region and New Zealand, in turn creating high value and low environmental impact industries. Chen says.

As part of the project, a high-powered Research & Innovation Advisory Board will be formed, chaired by Dr (Sir) Hermann Hauser, who co-founded Acorn Computers, ARM Ltd, Armadeus Capital, and the Cambridge Innovation Network. He is currently the Vice Chair of the European Innovation Council’s $10b euro deep tech fund.

“New Zealand has a track record in developing diverse technologies and innovation. Critical thinking, collaboration, research are all facilitated by enabling supporting infrastructure, even better when it is located in an inspirational environment to live and work like Queenstown. The government strategy and financial support for the first stage of the Research and Innovation campus is timely, especially given technology sovereignty becoming a dominant issue for this decade and beyond. I am pleased to be working with the Remarkables Park team to build an ecostystem that enables ongoing research and innovation for Queenstown, and ultimately New Zealand,” Hauser says. Chen adds: “Hermann’s knowlege and experience provides invaluable contribution to this project, which helps bridge a critical gap in the sector in order to increase overall productivity of New Zealand firms.”

“A successful innovation precinct will leverage the Queenstown Lakes’ existing international reputation and all its ingredients in the region to facilitate New Zealand’s Research & Innovation sector in commercialisation and globalisation, and in return will further enhance New Zealand’s brand recognition, adding value to other sectors such as tourism and export trade, and we are open to working with parties who are interested in developing this opportunity,” Chen says.

The buildings have been designed by award-winning Otago architects Mason & Wales. Earthworks have begun and the building will be constructed by Cook Brothers Construction

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New Queenstown Research & Innovation Hub To Benefit Region And New Zealand

Press Release – Remarkables Park Limited

Remarkables Park Limited has welcomed the Governments strategic support into stage one of a new Research & Innovation Queenstown hub, announced today. The Government has announced it will lend up to $22.5 million to Research & …

Remarkables Park Limited has welcomed the Government’s strategic support into stage one of a new Research & Innovation Queenstown hub, announced today.

The Government has announced it will lend up to $22.5 million to Research & Innovation Queenstown Ltd (RIQL), a subsidiary of Remarkables Park Limited, to contribute to the development of stage 1 of a $45m greenfield hub called Research & Innovation Queenstown. RIQL will match the Government funding towards the development costs, plus fund adjacent roading and services costs.

The first building will provide approximately 6000sq m of research and innovation offices and facilites, as well as commercial uses at Remarkables Park. This infrastructure will be a major step towards diversifying the Queenstown Lakes District economy .

Remarkables Park Limited Executive Chair Alastair Porter welcomes the Government’s willingness to work with the private sector to support Research & Innovation to assist Queenstown develop a more resilient economy.

“Our vision has always been focused on enabling projects that include creating employment opportunities for local people to ultimately build a prosperous and resilient region. We are committed to sustainable innovation for the wellbeing of future generations,” Porter says.

Government’s financial support will contribute towards the cost of architects, planners, civil, structural, fire and mechanical engineers, followed by 100-plus people who will be involved in construction. Remarkables Park Ltd executive director Johnathan Chen says. “Ultimately, the establishment of the research and innovation hub will provide a platform to attract new, high-value workforce and visitors, as well as retaining and upskilling Queenstown residents.”

The Research & Innovation Queenstown hub is planned to be a beacon to attract world-class talent to the region and New Zealand, in turn creating high value and low environmental impact industries. Chen says.

As part of the project, a high-powered Research & Innovation Advisory Board will be formed, chaired by Dr (Sir) Hermann Hauser, who co-founded Acorn Computers, ARM Ltd, Armadeus Capital, and the Cambridge Innovation Network. He is currently the Vice Chair of the European Innovation Council’s $10b euro deep tech fund.

“New Zealand has a track record in developing diverse technologies and innovation. Critical thinking, collaboration, research are all facilitated by enabling supporting infrastructure, even better when it is located in an inspirational environment to live and work like Queenstown. The government strategy and financial support for the first stage of the Research and Innovation campus is timely, especially given technology sovereignty becoming a dominant issue for this decade and beyond. I am pleased to be working with the Remarkables Park team to build an ecostystem that enables ongoing research and innovation for Queenstown, and ultimately New Zealand,” Hauser says. Chen adds: “Hermann’s knowlege and experience provides invaluable contribution to this project, which helps bridge a critical gap in the sector in order to increase overall productivity of New Zealand firms.”

“A successful innovation precinct will leverage the Queenstown Lakes’ existing international reputation and all its ingredients in the region to facilitate New Zealand’s Research & Innovation sector in commercialisation and globalisation, and in return will further enhance New Zealand’s brand recognition, adding value to other sectors such as tourism and export trade, and we are open to working with parties who are interested in developing this opportunity,” Chen says.

The buildings have been designed by award-winning Otago architects Mason & Wales. Earthworks have begun and the building will be constructed by Cook Brothers Construction

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Queenstown’s Remarkables Park getting new $45m research and innovation hub – NZ Herald

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

The Government’s Crown Infrastructure Partners will loan up to $22.5 million for a new $45m research and innovation hub at Queenstown’s Remarkables Park, a developer says.

Alastair Porter, chief executive of Remarkables Park – developing the area near Queenstown Airport – announced the new project today, saying the state money would be loaned for the new three-level Research & Innovation Queenstown which is under construction.

That business is a subsidiary of Remarkables Park and the money will contribute to the development of stage one of the project being built on a greenfields or previously undeveloped site near the Kawarau River.

The Remarkables Park company would match Government funding for the building and costs of adjacent roading and services, Porter said.

Earthworks have already started on the corner of Market St and Golden Elm Lane.

“The first building will provide approximately 6000sq m of research and innovation offices and facilities as well as commercial uses. This infrastructure will be a major step towards diversifying the Queenstown Lakes District economy,” Porter said.

State financial support would help fund architects, planners, civil, structural, fire, mechanical engineers and a construction workforce of more than 100 people, Porter said.

Jonathan Chen, Remarkables Park executive director, said the new hub would aim to draw new people and keep and potentially upskill the area’s residents.

A board has been formed to run the hub and is chaired by Austrian-born entrepreneur Hermann Hauser, who co-founded Acorn Computers, ARM, Amadeus Capital and the Cambridge Innovation Network.

Hauser said New Zealand had a track record of developing technology and in innovation so the new hub in the Queenstown setting would foster a new age of research and innovation in the area.

The hub designed by Otago architects Mason & Wales.

Earthworks are well underway, with significant excavation complete. Cook Brothers Construction won the building contract.

Porter said: “Our vision is focused on enabling projects that include creating employment opportunities for local people to build a prosperous and resilient region. We are committed to sustainable innovation for the well-being of future generations.”

The new hub would help diversify the local economy, he said.

Remarkables Park is a master-planned community with hotels and a town centre. It is on the border of the special Remarkables Park Zone, flanked by the Kawarau River.

Porter appears on the National Business Review’s Rich List with his brothers, owning 66ha worth $200m in the Remarkables Park zone.

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Queenstown's Remarkables Park getting new $45m research and innovation hub

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New innovation hub's earthworks with new Holiday Inn (left) and Wyndham Hotel (right). Photo / supplied

The Government's Crown Infrastructure Partners will loan up to $22.5 million for a new $45m research and innovation hub at Queenstown's Remarkables Park, a developer says.

Alastair Porter, chief executive of Remarkables Park - developing the area near Queenstown Airport - announced the new project today, saying the state money would be loaned for the new three-level Research & Innovation Queenstown which is under construction.

That business is a subsidiary of Remarkables Park and the money will contribute to the development of stage one of the project being built on a greenfields or previously undeveloped site near the Kawarau River.

The Remarkables Park company would match Government funding for the building and costs of adjacent roading and services, Porter said.

Earthworks have already started on the corner of Market St and Golden Elm Lane.

"The first building will provide approximately 6000sq m of research and innovation offices and facilities as well as commercial uses. This infrastructure will be a major step towards diversifying the Queenstown Lakes District economy," Porter said.

State financial support would help fund architects, planners, civil, structural, fire, mechanical engineers and a construction workforce of more than 100 people, Porter said.

Jonathan Chen, Remarkables Park executive director, said the new hub would aim to draw new people and keep and potentially upskill the area's residents.

A board has been formed to run the hub and is chaired by Austrian-born entrepreneur Hermann Hauser, who co-founded Acorn Computers, ARM, Amadeus Capital and the Cambridge Innovation Network.

Hauser said New Zealand had a track record of developing technology and in innovation so the new hub in the Queenstown setting would foster a new age of research and innovation in the area.

The hub designed by Otago architects Mason & Wales.

Earthworks are well underway, with significant excavation complete. Cook Brothers Construction won the building contract.

Porter said: "Our vision is focused on enabling projects that include creating employment opportunities for local people to build a prosperous and resilient region. We are committed to sustainable innovation for the well-being of future generations."

The new hub would help diversify the local economy, he said.

Remarkables Park is a master-planned community with hotels and a town centre. It is on the border of the special Remarkables Park Zone, flanked by the Kawarau River.

Porter appears on the National Business Review's Rich List with his brothers, owning 66ha worth $200m in the Remarkables Park zone.

The Porters' proposed conference centre and $100m gondola linked to The Remarkables skifield have not yet eventuated but have been proposed for some years.

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Design Improvements For Research And Innovation Queenstown Building

The Research and Innovation Queenstown building development site at Remarkables Park will see increased activity in the New Year. Remarkables Park Group Executive Chairman Alastair Porter said, “Over winter the team of experts designing the building have been working on changes to create a more efficient and effective building. Rapidly rising material costs, have to some extent, also been managed by replacing two narrow upper floors with a top floor now extending over the entire building.”

Key stakeholders including Crown Infrastructure Partners, who are co funding the building on behalf of the Government, Remarkables Park Ltd and Remarkables Park Design Review Board have all been supportive of the new approach. Last week QLDC approved the resource consent for the improved design.

Currently Cook Brothers Construction are seeking tenders for steel and other materials and Remarkables Park Ltd are responding to enquiries for research and innovation space.

Alastair Porter said, “This is a key project in the journey towards diversification for the district, region and New Zealand given it provides research and innovation opportunities in Queenstown’s highly sought after living environment.”

Alastair Porter said “The amended design is attractive, very much fit for purpose and has improved functionality for the tenants. Given this facility will be here for decades to come it was more important to get the design right than to rush the development.”

The Research and Innovation building is on Market Street in Remarkables Park. This area has experienced considerable development in the past few years with the opening of the Holiday Inn and Quest Apartments, adjacent to the existing Ramada and Wyndham Hotels, the extension of the Wakatipu High School to cater for 1800 students, the recent opening of the Te Atamira Arts and Cultural Centre and the evolving Remarkables Market.

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Instant interest to be part of hub

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In Queenstown yesterday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said a $22.5million loan for the new Queenstown Research and Innovation Hub at Remarkables Park was an important step towards diversification away from tourism.

Mr Robertson was in town to speak to the Otago Southland branch of the Institute of Directors and Queenstown Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

He said the new hub, near Frankton, would draw entrepreneurs and innovators to the region.

The Government has partnered with Remarkables Park Ltd, which will come up with the rest of the cash, to create the 6000sqm building containing offices and meeting rooms.

The group executive chairman Alastair Porter estimated about 100 jobs had been created for the design and construction phase, and expected about 300 to 400 jobs would be created long term.

He confirmed it was part of a longer-term project, which could result in a conference centre being built later.

Mr Porter said the final list of tenants would cover a multitude of disciplines.

He said a result of the pandemic was that people were used to working remotely and places such as Queenstown were appearing very attractive — he even had a London-based company seeking to relocate to the new hub.

Otago-based Mason and Wales were appointed architects and the build would be carried out by Cook Brothers Construction, the earthworks already being under way.

As part of the project a research and innovation advisory board would be formed, chaired by Dr Hermann Hauser, who co-founded Acorn Computers in the late 1970s and is the vice-chairman of the European Innovation Council’s $10billion deep tech fund.

Remarkables Park executive director Johnathan Chen said the new precinct had the opportunity to put Queenstown at the heart of New Zealand’s innovation and technology brand.

Several tenants had already signed up for space and others were in talks, a large number of them coming from industries focused on the environment, including agriculture.

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Crux is the issues and action focussed local news site for Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago

The new Queenstown entity hoping to create a $1b tech industry locally

A new non-profit entity hoping to grow Queenstown's tech scene into a one-billion-dollar industry in 20 years has launched today, after numerous calls for the district to become more than just a place for tourism.

Technology Queenstown, or TQ, will sit alongside Destination Queenstown, DQ, and Study Queenstown, SQ, to drive economic development in the district.

Creating a thriving local tech sector has worked successfully over in the United States ski resort towns of Spokane (Washington), Bozeman (Montana), Boulder (Colorado) and Bend (Oregon), with an Accenture report released by TQ showing 20 percent of economic output in those locations is now attributable to tech.

Those on the ground today are hoping to replicate that sort of success in Queenstown.

Spearheading the project is Roger Sharp, who says the ball started rolling for the project three years ago, when it became evident that Queenstown needed to diversify itself as "tumbleweeds were metaphorically blowing through the streets" without tourists around.

"I got approached by the mayor, Jim Boult...and he said, 'look, we need to do tourism plus something else, can you help us, can you build something?'."

Although its official launch was today, the entity needs to more than double what's in the kitty to get through its first year, but Mr Sharp says acquiring the extra $600,000 needed is "quite doable".

It was a packed event today for the launch of Technology Queenstown.

So what will this new entity do? 

Mr Sharp says Queenstown's tech sector currently doesn't have a strategy or co-ordination; it's more informal, and typically quite focussed on its start-up community. Technology Queenstown will have a strategic focus.

It also plans to work with the Queenstown Resort College and the University of Otago to boost technology studies, as well as Destination Queenstown and the Queenstown Lakes District Council, all of which had representatives at the launch event today, held at the Queenstown Resort College. 

Currently, tech makes up 1.5 percent of Queenstown's economy, or $100 million, but nationally the tech industry averages 7.5 percent.

Mr Sharp says transforming the tech sector is key to economic diversification, and Technology Queenstown is looking to those US towns for the ingredients for success.

"We've got to have an airport, we've got to have a university, you've got to have a labour force, you've certainly got to have affordable housing."

None of those who Crux spoke to had concrete solutions for how to create housing solutions for the extra 2,000 tech workers mooted.

"The numbers tell us that about 20,000 people are going to move to the district anyway over the next 20 years, so we're wanting one in 10 of them to be a well paid, sophisticated, tech professional," Mr Sharp says.

He is hopeful a sector shift will see larger companies drawn to the district, who will have the "economic power" to negotiate with landlords or property developers to build rental accommodation and lease it. 

Aside from housing, Mr Sharp is focused on growing a " strong tertiary education presence" in the town, and he says the University of Otago is already discussing ways to grow their offerings locally.

There's been talk around the town in recent years of the potential for a new standalone 'economic development' entity, so Crux asked Mr Sharp if there's a potential for Destination Queenstown and Technology Queenstown to merge together to form one.

But it's too soon for that sort of talk, he says. 

"It's too early days to contemplate that; my immediate focus is that I've got about 30 to 40 percent of the money we need to launch. The immediate focus has been 'have we actually got enough money in the bank?'."

Mr Sharp says there are five corporates who've committed to handshake deals to support Technology Queenstown. 

One of the 80 attendees at the event today, Mayor Glyn Lewers was equally excited for the enterprise to launch, and for its potential.

"Obviously it [a thriving tech industry] builds resilience in our economy. That's the number one thing, so when you have a downturn in the tourism sector, you've got others that will shoulder that low.

"I think I first came across this when I was a councillor and trustee of Startup Queenstown, and to see this come to fruition today, it's quite impressive."

He says he's "proud" of his council's role in relation to the new entity coming together. 

Mayor Glyn Lewers: 'That's the number one thing, so when you have a downturn in the tourism sector, you've got others that will shoulder that low'.

"I'm quite proud that council is mature enough to say to the private sector, go create the success and let's celebrate the success you create, and we've seen it with the DMP [destination management plan], and now we're seeing it with Queenstown Technology."

The council does have its own Economic Development Unit, which is tasked with working to diversify the economy and encourage higher-value jobs.

Mayor Lewers says the needs of tech workers when it comes to housing can have a degree of flexibility not always possible in the hospitality or tourism sectors, as they can spread the housing demand a lot further due to their ability to work remotely. 

"You can live in Wānaka, you can live in Cromwell, you can live down in Kingston, Lumsden, so we can spread that load across the district a lot easier, but it [tech] also generates a higher income."

While he says "financial constraints" prevent the council from taking a more active role in housing provision, the council is encouraging and supporting others in the housing space.

He says a lot of Queenstown and Wānaka high school students head off to university - more than the national average - and a thriving tech scene provides reason and incentive for them to return. 

Also at the event today was University of Otago's deputy vice chancellor of research and enterprise Professor Blaikie, who says Queenstown's tech scene needed something like Technology Queenstown to kick-start change.

At the moment, Professor Blaikie says not many of his university's students will head to Queenstown after graduation to start their careers. 

"A lot of our students will work here in the summer, but in terms of careers positions, probably not that many [graduates will go on to work in Queenstown], because it's not a big centre for [them].

Professor Richard Blaikie is anticipating Technology Queenstown will bring about more opportunities for its students and graduates.

He's hoping with the launch of this new non-profit, Queenstown can become more of a place for internships and for graduates to settle down in.

"Tech has that opportunity to grow very, very big businesses, without a lot of a lot of environmental impacts."

He's hoping that the collaboration of the different parties sitting around the table and the "different skills" they bring, will help create change and bring better opportunities for his students and graduates.

Main image: Roger Sharp, who is driving new not-for-profit Technology Queenstown, or TQ, bringing together key stakeholders including the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the University of Otago, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Queenstown Resort College.

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Biopolis Biomedical Research Hub, Buona Vista

Biopolis is a custom-built biomedical research and development (R&D) hub at One-North, Buona Vista, Queenstown, Singapore. Covering 183ha of land, the hub is aimed to benefit a range of disciplines.

Project Type

Biomedical research hub

Construction Start

One-North, Buona Vista, Singapore

Estimated Investment

Metrohm - titration, voltammetry and ion chromatography services

Phase one: 2003, phase two: 2006, phase three - 2011, phases four and five: 2013, phase six: 2022

JTC Corporation

Lead Contractors/Designers

Crescendas Bionix, Jurong Consultants, Ho Bee Land

Crescendas Group

Biopolis is a custom-built biomedical research and development (R&D) hub at One-North, Buona Vista, Queenstown, Singapore. Covering 183ha of land, the hub is aimed to benefit a range of disciplines.

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The development is situated adjacent to the National University of Singapore, the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore Polytechnic, the National University Hospital, the Singapore Science Park, and the Ministry of Education and Fusionopolis (an R&D centre dedicated to electronics and technology).

The Biopolis campus was created to provide space for biomedical research that could promote collaboration between private companies and public scientific or educational bodies. Biomedical sciences (BMS) accounts for 6% of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP), and BMS manufacturing output in the country stands at more than S$23bn ($17.3bn).

The Biopolis development project is being undertaken by JTC Corporation (formerly Jurong Town Corporation), a government agency that champions sustainable industrial development.

Phase one and two of Biopolis

The first phase of Biopolis’ development was carried out by JTC, which was appointed in September 2000, and required an investment of more than S$500m. Opened in 2003, the phase one complex has a cluster of seven sky-bridge connected buildings, each one 8-13 storeys high. The phase one complex has 185,000m² of floor space and can house more than 2,000 employees.

The seven buildings have been named Chromos, Helios, Centros, Genome, Matrix, Nanos and Proteos. Chromos and Helios are used by biomedical companies from the private sector, with the other five buildings used by public-sector biomedical research agencies from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

The second development phase consists of two additional seven-storey buildings, Neuros and Immunos (for research into neurology and immunology). It was opened in 2006 at a cost of $70m and offered a further 37,000m² of floor space.

Tenants of the complex include pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis, as well as the biotech firms SingVax and CombinatoRx. Biotech company Austrianova is located in the ‘biopreneur’ lab at A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute.

Biopolis third phase details

Construction on Biopolis’ third phase began in April 2008 and was completed in January 2011. This phase added two buildings, Synapse and Amnios, measuring 41,505m² in total. It has rendered space for laboratories, research facilities, offices and retail operations. The buildings are each five to seven storeys high and share two interconnecting basement levels.

The estimated investment for the development, excluding land premium and rent, comes to around $100m.

The third phase is intended to extend basic research activities into other segments of translational and clinical research, as well as medical technology research, to tap into synergies within the Biopolis cluster.

The architectural design maximises the use of daylight, while the facade reduces direct sunlight on the building and minimises heat gain. The building’s green features include a courtyard garden, sky garden and energy-efficient lighting, including T5 fluorescent and LED lights.

Details of phases four and five

In January 2010, JTC announced the fourth phase of Biopolis’ construction, which included improvements to lab design for clinical trial support.

The construction of this phase was estimated to cost between $80m and $100m, raising Biopolis’ total cost to $700m.

JTC announced the fifth phase of Biopolis in June 2010, with the intention of catering to increasing demand for biomedical research. This phase comprises twin towers spread across a 9,621.4m² area, providing a gross floor area of 46,182m².

Phase five features a 1,000m² ready-made laboratory, known as Shell-Plus. The laboratory consists of basic lab facilities and finished vinyl flooring.

Construction of the fourth and fifth phases was completed in 2013. The fourth phase added the Singapore Innovation Centre, owned by multinational company Procter and Gamble, which has a floor space of 32,000m². Phase five added 46,000m² of floor space to Nucleos for pre-clinical trials.

Details of phase six

In November 2019, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon announced that Biopolis phase six would be built by mid-2022 to address demand from biotechnology start-ups.

Biopolis’ sixth phase is due to include 35,000m² of business park space for biomedical research and related activities, with another 6,000m² for office and retail use. The development aimed to ‘liven up’ the One North community by adding activity spaces, fitness corners, and a park with a playground.

To accommodate biomedical start-ups, 2,000m² of Biopolis space will be fitted out as semi or fully-furnished laboratories. These will be equipped with lab benches, waste drainage and exhaust provisions.

JTC launched the two-envelope concept and price tender for Biopolis phase six in August 2019, and closed the tender at the end of the year.

Contractors involved

JTC awarded Biopolis’ third phase to Singapore-based company Crescendas Group under a design-build-own-operate basis, with a 30+30 year lease. Crescendas Bionix, a member of Crescendas Group, is the vehicle for the project. The consultants for this phase of the project were Singaporean infrastructure company Jurong Consultants.

Major sub-contractors for the project included Jurong Consultants, structural engineer Parson Brinckerhoff, landscape consultant Tinderbox Landscape Studio, and ESD consultant Building System and Diagnostics.

In May 2011, Singapore-based real estate company Ascendas was awarded the construction contract for the project’s fifth phase for a value of $87m.

In March 2020, JTC awarded the concept and price tender for the project’s sixth phase to HB Universal Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of property company Ho Bee Land.

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Queenstown Research Week 2024 

Saturday 31 august - thursday 5 september.

Please see below for the 2024 meeting schedule. 

The 34th Annual Queenstown Molecular Biology meeting    

The Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) meeting will be a 2-day general science meeting on Mon 2 Sep to Tue 3 Sep. The focus this year will be on "Technologies for a Changing World" . The Convenor of the organising committee for 2024 is Dr Björn Oback, AgResearch. 

The 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress 

MedSci 2024 will run from 4pm Sun 1 Sep to Tue 3 Sep . The chief convenors for MedSci for 2024 are Dr Fiona McBryde and Dr David Crossman, University of Auckland.

QMB Satellite Meetings

Saturday 31 august - sunday 1 september.

Cancer Convenors: Dr Cherie Blenkiron & Prof Andrew Shelling, Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupuku/Centre for Cancer Research, University of Auckland 

Mental Health Convenors: Dr Olivia Harrison and Prof. Bruce Russell, University of Otago

Plant- Microbe Interactions Convenor: Dr Carl Mesarich, Massey University

Wednesday 4 September - Thursday 5 September

Biomolecular Interactions Convenors: Dr Michael Edmonds and Dr Vanessa Morris, University of Canterbury

Pathogen Genomics Convenors: Prof Jemma Geoghegan & Dr Leah Smith, University of Otago, and Dr David Winter, ESR

Synthetic Biology Convenor: Dr Essie Van Zuylen & Dr Danielle Kok, University of Canterbury

For updates subscribe to our email list via tab on the right or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@qtresearchweek).

New Zealand must walk the talk on sustainability and innovation - Queenstown hui

Watch this video to get a taste of the topics and conversations that arose at the Seriously Asia Revisited Innovation and Sustainable Development hui

Participants of the hui, which was held under the Chatham House Rule, noted that out-of-date perceptions of Asia meant opportunities were being missed. It was also noted that perceptions of New Zealand in Asia also needed updating and this could only be done through a concerted effort from our end.

“New Zealand has the entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of innovation, but in Asia we are predominantly know as producers of primary products, and not the technology that allows us to lead the world in these sectors,” says the Foundation’s executive director Simon Draper.

“On the flip side, New Zealand still looks to the West as the pace setters of innovation, while often ignoring the fact that Asia is quickly becoming the global centre for new ideas.”

Economist and Chair of the Productivity Commission Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa Ganesh Nana

However, participants warned about the risks of New Zealand “believing its own propaganda” in the innovation and sustainability spaces, noting that we must also walk the talk and invest more in R&D and tackling environmental issues at home.

“It’s not just about perceptions, as we heard in Queenstown, more resources – or at the very least better coordinated efforts – need to be put into R&D, so we can leverage our clean green image but back it up with innovative homegrown solutions to the environmental and sustainability issues New Zealand and the rest of world are facing,” Mr Draper says.

It was recognised by hui participants that to achieve these goals and build New Zealand’s ability and confidence to engage with Asia New Zealand must develop a cohesive and unified plan.

“As we heard in Queenstown, New Zealand needs Asia more than Asia needs us, so if we don’t take a proactive, coordinated approach, progress is likely to slow and we will slip further behind,” Mr Draper says.

Suggested actions that came from the hui included putting the environmental and sustainability at the forefront of business transactions with Asia

The Seriously Asia Revisited Innovation and Sustainable Development hui followed on from hui in Auckland (society and culture), Wellington (politics and security) and Christchurch (trade, tourism and investment).

The four hui canvassed business leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, academics, iwi representatives and government officials to delve into the big issues and opportunities that New Zealand faces in Asia.

Findings from the hui will form the basis of a publication and series of recommendations for New Zealand’s engagement with Asia for the years ahead.

• Read the Seriously Asia Revisited Innovation and Sustainable Development paper

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Introduction to research theme: digital health.

This research theme/topic at the TCPHI focuses on integrating and enhancing healthcare services and patient care through innovative digital health solutions. Key projects have developed and implemented novel digital health solutions to: support multimorbidity disease management and integrated care (e.g. ProACT & SMILE); improve health services readiness to adopt, transfer and evaluate digital health solutions in practice (SEURO); empower older adults to better age in place at home supported by their care network (visuAAL, SEURO). These projects highlight the TCPHI's commitment to advancing the state of the art in digital health technology for better health outcomes, demonstrating the potential of digital health to transform patient care and service efficiency.

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Microsoft to invest US$2.9 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure in Japan while boosting the nation’s skills, research and cybersecurity

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Washington D.C., April 9 ET, 2024 – Today, Microsoft announced it will invest US$2.9 billion over the next two years to increase its hyperscale cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Japan. It will also expand its digital skilling programs with the goal of providing AI skilling to more than 3 million people over the next three years, open its first Microsoft Research Asia lab in Japan, and deepen its cybersecurity collaboration with the Government of Japan.  

These investments aim to support Japan’s key pillar to tackle deflation and stimulate the economy by expanding the infrastructure, skilled talent, and security required to accelerate Japan’s digital transformation and adoption of AI. The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to the United States, where he was joined by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, and Microsoft Japan President Miki Tsusaka.  

Expanding Japan’s AI and cloud infrastructure capacity   

The US$2.9 billion commitment is Microsoft’s single largest investment in its 46-year history in Japan, also the site of its first international office. It effectively doubles the company’s existing financial commitment to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure across Japan.  

This significant enhancement in digital capacity will enable Microsoft to provide more advanced computing resources in Japan, including the latest graphics processing units (GPUs), which are crucial for speeding up AI workloads. It builds on Microsoft’s support for the Generative AI Accelerator Challenge (GENIAC) , a program led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry which helps innovative startups and established enterprises develop foundation models as a core technology of generative AI in Japan.   

Building Japan’s AI capability by training 3 million people  

Microsoft will also invest in training 3 million full-time and part-time workers across Japan over the next three years, giving them the skills they need to build and work with AI technologies. This investment will be delivered through programs focused on assisting organizations and society at large, including women in general and also with a focus on developers and students.   

Microsoft will expand its Code; Without Barriers program to Japan and provide dedicated training for women looking to participate in AI-enabled work. It will also provide free and widely accessible content on AI, cybersecurity, and digital skills in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).  

Nurturing advanced AI professionals who can drive further AI integration, Microsoft will offer courses and reference architectures for AI developers and technology companies in Japan. These will be augmented by Microsoft’s AI coding assistant, GitHub Copilot. The company will also support startups with resources through the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and help implement AI-centric programs in vocational high schools.  

To advance the societal benefits offered by AI through companies of all sizes, governments, and public entities – including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government – Microsoft will continue with established programs that support the widespread adoption and application of AI tools. Furthermore, Microsoft provides support in developing customers’ internal AI policies, including data management and security to ensure its responsible and safe use.   

Opening Japan’s first Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo   

Microsoft Research Asia is extending its research leadership in the Asia-Pacific region with the opening of a lab in Tokyo.      

The new lab will have a unique focus on areas including embodied AI and robotics, societal AI and wellbeing, and scientific discovery that align with Japan’s socioeconomic priorities. Its establishment reflects Microsoft’s long-term commitment to Japan and its belief in the nation’s potential to lead the world in innovation.  

Microsoft Research is a division of Microsoft that pursues bold ideas and technical breakthroughs in AI, while building on a legacy of foundational computer science advances. As its fundamental research arm in the Asia-Pacific region, Microsoft Research Asia has collaborated with Japanese academia for more than two decades which have been instrumental in propelling cross-disciplinary research and fostering talent.  

To foster enhanced research collaboration, Microsoft will provide US$10 million resource grants over the next five years to both The University of Tokyo and to the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Research between Keio University and Carnegie Mellon University.  

Partnering to strengthen Japan’s cybersecurity defenses  

Microsoft will collaborate with Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat to strengthen cybersecurity resilience for the government, business, and society, as the nation enhances its cybersecurity approach under the government’s updated National Security Strategy .   

The collaboration will build on the services Microsoft provides to protect thousands of Japanese organizations every day. It will focus on areas such as information sharing, talent development, and technology solutions, with Microsoft to provide its expertise and advanced cloud and AI-driven security services as part of joint efforts to tackle cybersecurity threats.   

Leadership statements  

Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan   

“As economic activities in the digital space increase, it is important for the Japanese industry as a whole to work with global companies like Microsoft that are equipped with a set of digital infrastructure. We appreciate Microsoft’s announcement of its new investment in Japan. Microsoft has made significant contributions to the social implementation of generative AI in Japan through various initiatives, and we look forward to further collaboration. We also look forward to deepening our cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.”  

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft  

“Today’s announcement represents Microsoft’s most significant investment in Japan since we set roots here in 1978. These investments in digital infrastructure, AI skills, cybersecurity, and AI research are essential ingredients for Japan to build a robust AI Economy.”       

Ken Saito, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry  

“As digital investments increase around the world, we welcome Microsoft’s announcement of new investment in Japan and look forward to its future contribution to promoting Japan’s digital industries, including AI. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will continue to work with Microsoft, a world leader in the digital field, to create both innovation and discipline.”  

Takuya Hirai, Chairperson, Headquarters for the Promotion of a Digital Society, Policy Research Council, Member of the House of the Representatives    

“The adoption of digital tools is essential for addressing Japan’s societal challenges of an aging population and the pursuit of economic growth and regional revitalization. Microsoft’s investment contributes significantly in advancing Japan’s AI capabilities, particularly in infrastructure and talent development. I wholeheartedly welcome this initiative and look forward to the leadership role Microsoft can play in promoting collaboration between Japan and the United States, as well as across public and private sectors.”  

Miki Tsusaka, President, Microsoft Japan  

“We are honored to contribute to Japan and its future with our largest investment to date, technology and knowledge. In collaboration with our partners, Microsoft Japan is fully committed to supporting the people and organizations of Japan to solve social problems and achieve more.”   

Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan  

“The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Microsoft entered into a partnership last year and have been empowering Japan’s workforce with digital skills. Today’s announcement by Microsoft, which includes programs to encourage women to embrace AI and provide AI skilling to three million people, is a significant step for Japan to lead in the age of digitalization. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government pioneered the use of generative AI to make our offices more efficient and improve the quality of services provided to our citizens. We will continue to embrace cutting-edge technology and lead Japan’s digital transformation with unwavering dedication.”  

Chisa Mikami, Head of Hiroshima Office, UNITAR  

“Through the collaboration between UNITAR and Microsoft, we will strive to democratize access to AI education, ensuring that knowledge is freely available to all. Together, we pave the way for advanced AI professionals, foster innovation in startups, and promote responsible AI practices across industries and sectors. With collective effort, we harness the transformative power of AI for the betterment of society.”  

Kevin Scott, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of AI, Microsoft  

“The impact that AI is poised to create over the coming years has the potential to generate unprecedented societal benefit for the entire world. The steps we are taking today to empower Japanese citizens through AI technologies and programs—whether job training and skilling, improvements to infrastructure capacity, or new research investments—will in the aggregate help accelerate this process of beneficial innovation. We’re particularly excited for Microsoft Research’s global footprint to further expand into Japan, extending the ability for our world-class research efforts to both contribute to and benefit from local diversity of thought and talent.”  

Teruo Fujii, President, The University of Tokyo  

“The University of Tokyo is committed to contributing to the realization of a better society through research and education focused on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence. To maximize the benefits of those technologies and promote innovation while minimizing risks, it is essential to collaborate with partners who share our objectives. With the establishment of Microsoft Research Asia’s new lab in Tokyo, we enter an exciting new phase in our more than two decades of partnership with Microsoft. We look forward to working together to further advance our research community and spearhead the development of outstanding human resources as we continue our journey together.”  

Tags: AI , Japan

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