- Project aligns with Singapore’s push for sustainable data centre growth
- Partnership explores energy-efficient alternative to traditional AI data centres
DayOne, a Singapore-headquartered global data centre developer and operator, and Cortical Labs, a Melbourne-based biological computing startup, today announced a partnership to build Singapore’s first Biological Data Centre — what the company claims to be the first of its kind outside Australia.
As part of the collaboration, DayOne will provide capital and strategic input while working with Cortical Labs and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) to develop a prototype supporting the deployment of wetware-based computing platforms.
A biological data centre is a next-generation computing facility that uses “wetware” — living biological neurons grown from stem cells — rather than traditional silicon chips to process information and power AI systems. Unlike conventional data centres that rely on energy-intensive servers, biological computing harnesses the efficiency of brain-like organoids that can operate using significantly less energy.
Cortical Labs recently announced the launch of what it claims is the world’s first biological data centre prototype in Melbourne. In Singapore, DayOne and Cortical Labs will focus on site design and operational planning, initially benchmarking the performance and efficiency of wetware-based computing systems. The collaboration will also establish governance, biosafety and compliance frameworks suited to Singapore’s regulatory environment, while exploring partnerships with research institutions and industry.
The initiative comes as Singapore expands data centre capacity under stricter sustainability requirements. The Government has made at least 200MW of new capacity available under DC-CFA-2, while raising standards for energy efficiency and greener energy adoption through the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Green Data Centre Roadmap.
Cortical Labs plans an initial deployment at NUS comprising a single rack of 20 Cortical Cloud units.
“Singapore is raising the bar for sustainable data centre growth, and the market is responding with new approaches beyond simply building larger facilities,” said Jamie Khoo, CEO of DayOne. “Partnering with Cortical Labs allows us to explore a new computing paradigm that aligns with Singapore’s sustainability ambitions while supporting continued innovation in digital infrastructure.”
Following the initial validation phase at NUS Medicine, the collaboration aims to transition to a live deployment within a DayOne commercial data centre facility in Singapore. This environment will test operational integration under real-world load conditions, including power requirements, environmental management systems, and compatibility with existing power distribution and cooling infrastructure.
The initiative forms part of DayOne’s broader platform for integrating emerging computing architectures into production-grade, low-carbon data centre environments. The platform will support research in neuro-inspired AI, biomedical modelling and advanced healthcare applications while enabling gradual scaling within Singapore’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
The parties are exploring a phased e
xpansion that could potentially reach up to 1,000 units deployed within a DayOne facility in Singapore, subject to technical validation and regulatory approvals.
“Singapore has made it clear that the next chapter of digital infrastructure must be built with sustainability at its core,” said Hon Weng Chong, founder and CEO (pic) of Cortical Labs. “AI is moving from novelty to necessity across every sector, but growing energy and water demands are forcing a rethink. This partnership offers policymakers and industry a potential pathway to AI adoption that reduces the resource footprint of computing.”
Global data centre capacity is projected to reach 200GW by 2030, while Southeast Asia’s data centre power demand could rise from 2.6GW in 2025 to 10.7GW by 2035, increasing pressure on energy grids and emissions targets. Regional policymakers are therefore placing greater emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure as data centre development accelerates across ASEAN.
Accelerating research with Singapore’s ecosystem
A key objective of the Singapore Biological Data Centre will be to support research and innovation in areas including drug discovery, biomedical science, energy optimisation and advanced AI applications.
NUS Medicine will play a central role in developing the prototype through its expertise in neurobiology research. Under the supervision of Professor Rickie Patani — Professor of Neuroscience at NUS Medicine and Director of the Neurobiology Programme at the NUS Life Sciences Institute — stem cells will be cultured and developed into neural systems at the institute.
Professor Patani highlighted the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration between neuroscience and computing. “The convergence of neuroscience and technology is enabling new computing approaches inspired by the brain,” he said.
“Wetware systems allow researchers to study learning, adaptation and biological modelling in ways that complement traditional computing. In areas such as drug discovery and neurological disease research, the ability to run experiments on brain-like neural networks alongside conventional computing could accelerate the path from laboratory insights to real-world impact,” he added.
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