[SINGAPORE] On Wednesday (July 2), Alibaba's cloud computing arm launched its global AI (AI) innovation hub in Singapore.
The Alibaba Cloud virtual innovation hub, named AI Global Competency Center (AIGCC), was announced at the Global Summit at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Alibaba Cloud says the fully online facility will be a place where more than 1,000 companies and startups can meet to collaborate on next-generation AI solutions.
Once a Chinese tech company completes its 10-year business in Singapore, it will be released as it was the International Headquarters from the start.
Responding to a query from Business timeAlibaba Cloud said Singapore's strong digital infrastructure, a pro-favor policy and deep talent pool have made it “a natural choice leading the next phase of AI growth in the region.”
Innovation Hub accelerates experimentation and deployment by providing businesses with access to advanced AI models and powerful computing resources.
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AI Innovation Lab offers token credits, curated datasets, and personalized support tailored to real-world scenarios and industry needs.
Companies and developers interested in joining AIGCC must apply through designated channels on Alibaba Cloud. Those seeking access to the lab should view the relevant use cases or projects.
The company said: “We particularly encourage organizations and startups involved in developing next-generation AI solutions across industries such as finance, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, retail and energy,” said the company.
Alibaba Cloud also announced partnerships with over 120 universities and institutions around the world on the same day. The goal is to train 100,000 AI professionals a year.
We work with local universities including Nanyang University of Technology (NTU) and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to cultivate the “next generation of technical talent in Japan.”
NTU and Alibaba launched the Alibaba-NTU Global E-Sustainability Corplab in 2024, advancing smart technology in a more environmentally friendly society. Over the next five years, up to 200 scientists and engineers from both will cooperate in global research in areas such as energy-efficient AI and green cloud computing.
In 2024, Suss and Alibaba Cloud worked together to launch the Alibaba Cloud Prize Competition to promote integrated care innovation using cloud computing and AI.
Beyond Singapore, Alibaba Cloud on Wednesday announced the opening of two data centres in Southeast Asia.
A new centre opened in Malaysia on Tuesday. This is the group's third facility, the third in the country. Alibaba Cloud is scheduled to open its second data center in the Philippines in October.
In the first half of 2025, Alibaba Cloud announced its infrastructure investments in Thailand, Mexico and South Korea.
“This growing network will enable Alibaba Cloud to meet the growing global demand for secure, resilient and scalable cloud services.”
Earlier this year, Alibaba Group said it would secure at least 380 billion yuan (SGD67.5 billion) over the next three years to advance cloud computing and AI infrastructure. According to Alibaba Cloud, data center development is part of the investment plan.
