Panasonic has opened an innovation hub in Singapore to develop and test AI-powered smart building technologies and robotics.

The Panasonic R&D Center Singapore (PRDCSG) is in Punggol Digital District (PDD), Singapore’s first district to enable testbedding of smart technology through its Open Digital Platform (ODP).

The hub is an open-concept facility that serves as a testing ground for AI-driven sustainable technologies, a showcase for Panasonic’s innovations, and a space to build partnerships with industry, universities and government agencies. Panasonic hopes the hub will help expand its global reach and impact.

“The launch of our innovation hub represents a key initiative in realising Panasonic’s mission of an ideal society where both material and spiritual well-being are fulfilled,” said Takeshi Ando, managing director of PRDCSG. “Through this platform, we aim not only to develop cutting-edge technologies, but also to co-create impact by collaborating with diverse partners within Singapore’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, ultimately accelerating the creation of meaningful businesses with real-world impact.”

Eai-Sy Yap, director at JTC (www.jtc.gov.sg), Singapore’s government agency that plans, develops and manages industrial estates to drive business innovation and economic growth, added: “We are excited that Panasonic will test robot integration with gantries and lifts through the Open Digital Platform. Data generated from the testbed can improve AI and validate concepts. We welcome more companies to join Punggol Digital District, further enriching the ecosystem for innovation.”

One of the hub’s main pilot projects is an AI-driven human-robot-facility automation system. Developed by Panasonic with support from JTC, this system manages autonomous building operations, transforming how facilities are run. It is integrated with the ODP, which powers PDD’s real-time digital twin. This digital twin virtually replicates the real world and provides comprehensive information.

The ODP draws real-time data from various systems and sensors throughout PDD, enabling visualisation, monitoring and control of real-time conditions across the entire district. This allows for communication between different systems such as doors, turnstiles, lifts, CCTVs and robots, making operations smarter and more efficient.

This hub (research.sg.panasonic.com) also promotes open innovation where visitors can explore Panasonic’s AI platform for visual inspections, which uses blockchain-secured microservices and proprietary AI processing to automate inspection workflows and create customised reports in minutes, increasing productivity up to ten times compared with conventional process, all while keeping data secure and private. Additionally, they can experience Nessum Wire, Panasonic’s affordable wired communication offering that turns existing building wiring into a smart network for energy management, metering and secure smart-grid deployment without rewiring.

Founded in 1918, Japanese group Panasonic (holdings.panasonic/global) reported consolidated net sales of ¥8458bn for the year ended March 2025.