The Test Bed for a Smart Nation
It was only 50 years ago when Jurong was swampland, before being transformed into the manufacturing catalyst that drove Singapore forward. Now, Heng Swee Keat, the Finance Minister has announced the next stage in the district’s development, declaring the formation of “an industrial park of the future”: the Jurong Innovation District (JID), comprising of “an open and innovative urban development” in the Jurong Lake District.
The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion on or before 2022, with the focus now very much on creating a next generation business and industrial park incorporating all areas of the business cycle, not just manufacturing. This includes learning, education, research and development as well as production, and is all part of the Smart Nation initiative.
The first part of the plan that will be completed is the Launchpad. On time to be completed in 2017, this will focus on advanced manufacturing, and will house start-ups, incubators and accelerators, as well as providing space for entrepreneurs and research students to design and build new and exciting innovations. Nanyang Technological University will share the site, and will provide opportunities and expertise to help ensure that ideas are able to be turned into prototypes, and then fully realized products and solutions that can be brought to the market.
Overall, the JID will cover 600ha, encompassing NTU, CleanTech Park as well as Bulim, Tengah and Bahar. The main focus of the businesses it is hoping to attract are robotics, smart logistics, urban solutions and cleantech, and as stated will cover the whole cycle from R&D all the way through to supply chain management.
It is hoped that by bringing together new and existing talent from Singapore and abroad, along with stars of academia, and housing them in an environment that is conducive to creativity and innovation, it will not only provide a wealth of ideas, but also a platform with which they can be brought to market faster.
In an attempt to promote and facilitate the initiation, growth and development for such trials and prototypes, the government is providing a Test bed. In essence this is a set of government funded equipment (GFE) that removes a potentially expensive and timely obstacle from the innovators’ path.
Another initiative allows and promotes better and easier collaboration between industry and the Government, in order to carry out pilots and trials of smart technologies. Government agencies will be allowed – and encouraged – to test out innovative urban solutions before deploying them island wide.
Looking to invest in New Launches in the West of Singapore? Below are some residential developments that you can consider,
- Lake Grande
- LakeVille
- The Orient – Orient is a freehold development near to the West Coast region.
- Clement Canopy
- Parc Riviera
Upcoming New Launch Condos
Developments that TOP in 2016/2017
