Univers has unveiled the world’s first Global Impact AI Lab (IAL) in Singapore, created in collaboration with AMD, Microsoft, and the National University of Singapore (NUS), and supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The new initiative aims to accelerate enterprise-scale innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), fostering real-world solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability across industries.
Accelerating AI and IoT innovation
The Global Impact AI Lab is designed to fast-track the development of enterprise-ready AI and IoT solutions through an incubation programme that combines technology, governance, and academic expertise. By enabling edge-to-cloud intelligence, the lab will help organisations scale digital transformation faster and more effectively.
The initiative will focus on three core areas: energy efficiency, operational efficiency, and system efficiency. Through AI-driven optimisation, Univers and its partners aim to make every kilowatt of energy more productive, streamline operations by connecting assets and processes, and create meaningful system-wide integration through AI-enabled orchestration across energy, infrastructure, and industry sectors.
Public-private collaboration in Singapore
The lab’s official launch took place during the One Univers event on 28 October, officiated by Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. His presence underscored Singapore’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital innovation through collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Michael Ding, Global Executive Director of Univers, highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving the initiative. “AI and IoT achieves its full potential when powered by strong partnerships. IAL unites leading industry and academic expertise to transform innovation into enterprise advantage,” he said.
The Global Impact AI Lab is expected to serve as an innovation hub for enterprises looking to convert emerging technologies into commercially viable applications. By bringing together technology partners and academic institutions, the lab will help organisations develop solutions that improve agility, enhance decision-making, and strengthen competitive advantage.
Strategic partnerships for enterprise transformation
Univers’ inclusion as a leader in Gartner’s latest Magic Quadrant for Global Industrial IoT Platforms reflects its strategic vision and execution capabilities. The recognition highlights the company’s ability to combine domain expertise with advanced technology through strong industry partnerships.
Each partner in the initiative contributes unique strengths to the ecosystem. AMD will focus on delivering real-time, secure AI at the edge to support mission-critical operations. “AMD is collaborating with Univers on the IAL to accelerate innovation and showcase the benefits of heterogeneous computing for powering edge AI and enabling enterprises to operate smarter, faster, and more securely at scale,” said Yousef Khalilollahi, Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Embedded Business Group at AMD.
Microsoft will leverage its AI and cloud platforms to optimise infrastructure and operations. “This collaboration accelerates enterprise digital transformation by bringing intelligent, AI-powered solutions from concept to real-world impact,” said Saj Kumar, Regional Business Leader for Manufacturing at Microsoft.
NUS will play a central role in nurturing the next generation of AI talent. “This collaboration reflects NUS’ commitment to building strong industry-academia partnerships that prepare our students to thrive in the age of AI,” said Professor Bernard Tan, Senior Vice-Provost (Undergraduate Education) at the National University of Singapore. “Through the Global Impact AI Lab, our students will gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities to apply their learning to address real-world challenges, helping to shape the next generation of AI-ready talent.”
By combining cutting-edge research, industry expertise, and real-world application, the Global Impact AI Lab represents a major step towards building a sustainable and intelligent digital future. Enterprises across sectors are expected to benefit from the initiative as they seek to operationalise AI and IoT innovations for long-term growth.
