Equinix and the Centre for Energy Research & Technology at the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering plan to establish a co-innovation facility (CIF) in Singapore.
Aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable solutions for data centers, the facility will be housed within Equinix’s upcoming SG6 International Business Exchange data centre.
Backed by an initial US$4 million investment from Equinix, CIF will serve as an open research hub for global technology innovators, data centre partners, academia, and customers. It will focus on testing and developing innovative solutions in low-carbon energy, high-efficiency cooling, circularity, and energy efficiency optimisation for data centres.
CIF aligns with Equinix’s Data Centre of the Future Initiative, which aims to build cleaner and more efficient data centres worldwide. Set to open in Q1 2027, it will trial various sustainable innovations, including alternative power solutions, direct current power distribution systems, liquid cooling technologies, and digital twin capabilities.
“By replicating our successful co-innovation facility from Ashburn and expanding our collaborative efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, we are reaching a significant milestone in advancing our ‘Future First’ sustainability agenda. It will accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies and apply real-world solutions to help reduce the carbon footprint of the growing number of data centers worldwide,” said Yee May Leong (top), Managing Director of Singapore at Equinix.
“Collaborating with Equinix enables us to leverage our expertise in energy innovation and sustainability to address critical challenges faced by data centres in tropical climates. Together, we aim to redefine benchmarks for operational efficiency and sustainability in digital infrastructure, aligning with Singapore’s ambitions for sustainable development and technological leadership,” said Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director of Centre for Energy Research & Technology at NUS College of Design and Engineering.
The collaboration between Equinix and NUS builds on their previous joint efforts, including a 2022 study exploring hydrogen-based green fuel technologies for mission-critical data centre infrastructure. Both organisations have long supported Singapore’s sustainability agenda through various initiatives, including scholarship opportunities in nature-based climate solutions for NUS students.
Entelechy Asia 