NTU hosts Southeast Asia’s first next-generation infrastructure testbed systems to scale AI

Image: (L-R) Lim Kian Tiong, Chief Financial Officer, LITEON; Bruno Lopez, President & Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres; Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry; Professor Lam Khin Yong, Vice President (Industry), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore; Brian Dow, Chief Executive Officer, Amperesand.

NTU Singapore is partnering ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) to host Southeast Asia's first live High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)-powered AI infrastructure testbed, strengthening Singapore's capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable energy systems.

Located at NTU's Electrification and Power Grids Centre (EPGC) on Jurong Island, the initiative dubbed the FutureGrid Accelerator is a real-world platform that tests how next-generation power technologies can support the growing energy demands of AI computing. The launch was officiated by Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry, reflecting national efforts to build future-ready digital and energy infrastructure.

The testbed is jointly developed by STT GDC and LITEON, with support from the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and NTU deep-tech spin-off Amperesand. It is the first in Southeast Asia to integrate HVDC systems with live AI workloads, enabling researchers and industry partners to study how AI data centres can operate more efficiently and reliably.

"The FutureGrid Accelerator underscores NTU's role as a strategic partner in shaping the future of sustainable AI infrastructure", said Prof Lam Khin Yong, NTU's Vice President (Industry). "By integrating cutting-edge HVDC technologies with our research capabilities and the entrepreneurial drive of NTU spin-offs like Amperesand, we are advancing impactful solutions that can significantly enhance energy efficiency and grid resilience. This collaboration showcases how universities can drive transformative innovations at the intersection of energy, digitalisation and sustainability."

Compared with traditional power systems, HVDC technology can reduce energy losses, lower carbon emissions and support high-power AI servers in a smaller physical footprint. It is also well suited for integration with renewable energy, making it relevant to Singapore's long-term energy transition.

The FutureGrid Accelerator will test HVDC performance at power loads of at least 325 kilowatts, using the latest AI servers and advanced power technologies developed through NTU research. Insights from the testbed will inform future data centre designs in Singapore and globally.

NTU has also signed an agreement with STT GDC to advance skills development. NTU students and researchers will gain access to internships, industry projects and joint research opportunities with STT GDC and its partners. This strengthens talent development in AI infrastructure and energy systems, while reinforcing NTU's role as a key partner in shaping sustainable digital infrastructure for the future.

Prof Lam said: "STT GDC is a partner that shares our commitment to advancing impactful research and developing future-ready talent. Leveraging NTU's strengths in artificial intelligence, energy-efficient systems and translational innovation, this partnership will accelerate the co-development of next-generation AI data centre technologies while providing our students and researchers with valuable real-world experience. Together, we are helping to build a robust pipeline of skilled professionals who will support Singapore's ambitions in sustainable and AI-driven digital infrastructure."

For full details, please see STT GDC's news release.