Latest news with #OneNorth
Independent Singapore
27-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore launches GaN hub to power next-gen semiconductors
SINGAPORE: Singapore launched a new S$123 million semiconductor facility to boost its role in chip technologies and get a share of the growing gallium nitride (GaN) market. The new centre, located in One North, is called the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre for Gallium Nitride (NSTIC GaN). With plans to start commercial operations in mid-2026, NSTIC GaN will offer wafer fabrication and prototyping services to local companies and researchers. Dr Tan See Leng, Minister in charge of Energy and Science & Technology, said, 'In a world marked by strategic fragmentation, investing in GaN technologies improves our ability to compete globally and develop unique skills. This centre is a step forward in securing high-value semiconductor growth for Singapore.' GaN semiconductors' benefits GaN semiconductors offer superior voltage and frequency performance with less heat output than silicon. This means they are crucial for compact electronic systems in 5G and 6G infrastructure. They also have applications for autonomous vehicles, satellite communications, and military radar due to improved energy efficiency and advanced technology. It is the first local facility to offer both 6-inch GaN-on-Silicon Carbide and 8-inch GaN-on-Silicon wafer lines. This permits the production of both high-performance defence-grade electronics as well as commercial power devices. Wafer diameter affects chip output per batch, directly impacting cost and efficiency. Dr Tan stressed: 'Access to local fabrication lowers capital barriers and speeds up time to market. SMEs and start-ups can now prototype and develop chips locally, without facing prohibitive upfront costs.' A*STAR, DSO National Laboratories, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are spearheading the NSTIC GaN project as part of an initiative to strengthen Singapore's semiconductor ecosystem. Other nodes include an advanced photonics R&D centre and a $500 million advanced packaging facility in Tampines. The launch also saw several agreements signed to support industry partnerships. A notable collaboration involves NSTIC GaN, DSO, and the local startup WaferLead, which will work together to develop high-quality silicon carbide substrates. This is a critical component in GaN wafer manufacturing. Waferlead, which produces wafers for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and data centres, expects that using NSTIC's shared infrastructure could yield capital expense savings ranging from $6 million to $10 million. Its CEO, Dr Sunil Wickramanayaka, shared: 'These savings can be invested in market expansion and product development. Singapore is a key node in the global semiconductor industry. EDB estimates Singapore makes about 10% of global chips and 20% of semiconductor manufacturing equipment worldwide. Semiconductors account for nearly 6% of the city-state's GDP and provides jobs for over 35,000 people. The industry benefits from Singapore's strategic location, reliable regulations, and skilled workers. Exploring GaN and other novel materials is part of the industry's efforts to remain competitive.
Independent Singapore
24-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Grab's AI Centre of Excellence to drive innovation and inclusivity in SEA and create 50 high-value roles for locals
SINGAPORE: Grab announced the launch of its first Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI COE) on Friday (May 23), supported by the Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), to speed up AI-driven solutions across Southeast Asia. The centre, located at Tower B of GrabHQ@One-North, will focus on improving accessibility, boosting productivity and growth, and contributing to smart nation building in the region. It is also expected to create at least 50 high-value roles in product innovation, engineering, data science, and analytics this year. These roles will allow Singaporeans to work on AI solutions that address regional challenges and could be scaled globally. According to The Edge Singapore , Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong attended the launch event, along with Grab co-founder and group CEO Anthony Tan, president and COO Alex Hungate, and CTO Suthen Thomas. One of the key innovations showcased at the launch was a voice assistant feature that allows visually impaired users to book Grab rides through voice commands. The feature was built in collaboration with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). See also It's Glowtime! What to expect from Apple's iPhone 16 'glow up' The tool uses OpenAI models that Grab fine-tuned to make the speech-to-text model work better for locals. The team used around 80,000 Singaporean voice samples and names of points of interest, boosting the tool's accuracy in recognising local accents and building names from 46% to 89%. Grab said it will launch a voice donation feature in June, letting Singapore users share voice samples to help make the Voice Assistant more intuitive and inclusive. Grab also introduced its Driver AI Companion for drivers to get real-time tips on booking spots, efficient routes, and reward programmes based on driving patterns, and a Merchant AI Assistant to provide support for small businesses to grow both online and offline. Mr Suthen Thomas said, 'With over 1,000 AI models powering our platform, we've seen firsthand how we can leverage AI to improve lives. Recent advancements in AI hold the promise to transform how we interact with technology, foster innovation, and bridge digital divides.' Philbert Gomez, Executive Director and Head of Digital Industry Singapore, added, 'The establishment of Grab's AI Centre of Excellence underscores Singapore's vision to be the world's most AI-driven economy.' /TISG Read also: Grab Singapore eyes self-driving cars to 'fill the gaps' in less popular locations
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayside approves $40M senior apartments at One North with memory care, assisted and independent living
A $40 million, 153-unit apartment community for seniors will join the Village of Bayside's OneNorth development, alongside the Symphony Apartments building that will also soon be home to the North Shore Library. On Feb. 20, Bayside's Village Board approved a site plan from Matter Development to build a five-story, 240,000-square-foot, 133-unit independent living and assisted living wing and a one-story, 20-bed memory care facility, connected by a central common area and courtyard. The apartments raise the 26-acre One North development's total investment to $100 million, Scott Yauck, Cobalt Partners president and chief executive officer, told the Journal Sentinel in November. In 2021, the village approved a tax incremental financing district that will help fund development on the site with $35 million in village financing. Milwaukee-based Cobalt Partners and La Macchia Holdings are developing the OneNorth project. Construction is scheduled to start soon ― this spring ― with the goal of completion by early 2027, according to agenda documents. Votes to approve the site plan were split 4-1-1, with trustees Mike Barth, Bob Rudman, Margaret Zitzer, Kelly Marrazza voting in favor and trustee Liz Levins opposing. Village President Eido Walny abstained, citing "personal work" with members of the Matter family. Walny is the founder and managing partner of Walny Legal Group LLC, where he practices estate planning, asset protection, business succession and trust administration. Trustee Ben Minkin was absent. In his application to the village, Matter's Founder, Aaron Matter, wrote that the Bayside and the greater North Shore area has a growing need for senior housing, as much of the population ages. The proposal submitted by Matter Development shows plans to offer independent living, age-in-place assisted living, and memory care. As a result, residents will be able to receive varying levels of care at the building through packages that offer personal and health services. The plans also include social and dining rooms, a health and fitness center, a rooftop patio, a sunroom, a salon, a golf simulator, a theater and a courtyard. The development will also offer up to three meals per day, housekeeping and activity programming A total of 154 parking spaces are planned ― 112 underground and 42 surface spaces. The development is located north of West Brown Deer Road and west of North Port Washington Road, near Interstate 43. Wauwatosa-based real estate company Matter Development is a developer, owner and operator of senior housing communities throughout southeastern Wisconsin. The company holds around 1,100 units within its portfolio in 15 different locations, Matter told the Architectural Review Committee when pitching the project on Feb. 10. In 2023, Matter opened a similar 68-bed development nearby in Mequon. Like the Mequon facility, the Bayside building will be managed by Koru Health, an affiliate company of Matter's that handles operations at these facilities. That close connection makes Matter Development unique, Matter said. "We don't exit the project after the development is complete. We remain involved with the development throughout the life cycle," he said. The project architect is Galbraith Carnahan Architects, the civil engineer is Pinnacle Engineering, and interiors are designed by O&O Studio. At the Feb. 20 Village Board meeting, Matter said he's received mostly positive feedback about the plan from residents and village staff. Levins, the lone trustee to oppose the development, argued it's too large, gaudy, and divergent from the other buildings in Bayside. Levins also vocally opposed plans for the Symphony Apartments. Levins was especially critical of using some of the $35 million in TIF money to help fund the development, considering how profitable senior living centers are, according to reports from the National Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Asked how much of the TIF would go toward the development, Village Manager Andy Pederson said it's not a simple calculation. The village is using the "pay-as-you-go" financing method, he said, where the developer pays all upfront costs for infrastructure, utilities and construction, and the village will reimburse the developer using future tax revenue received above the base value of the district. Reimbursement for the entire TIF district, including the Matter development, the Symphony and any other development approved, would max out at $19.5 million until 2045, Pederson said. Almost a dozen people echoed Levins' concerns, opposing the development at the Feb. 10 Architectural Review Committee meeting, where the committee eventually recommended plans for the site. The Plan Commission recommended approval of the site plan on Feb. 4. Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@ Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bayside approves senior apartment complex for One North development
