National University of Singapore Opens Sea Building and Sea Connect for AI Innovation

The National University of Singapore has officially opened two cutting-edge buildings: Sea Building and Sea Connect. These new facilities mark a quantum leap in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) as well as computing research, education, and collaboration. Situated over a total area of 21,570 square meters, the new facilities are going to be dynamic spaces meant to foster future AI talent, stimulate innovative research, and support cross-disciplinary initiatives. This move aligns with NUS’s ambition to lead in the rapidly evolving fields of AI, data science, and computing, ensuring that Singapore remains at the forefront of global technological advancements.

The naming of these buildings is a tribute to Sea Limited’s generous S$50 million donation in 2021, the largest corporate gift ever received by the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing). This huge sum of money is used to uplift the capabilities of this school for talent attraction, advance research, and promoting the leading edge, including the development in AI and transformative technologies. Funds go to scholarships, fellowships, and grants for activities that assist NUS to become one of the most competitive centers of learning in computing, together with its strength as a source of innovation.

The official opening ceremony was held at the new Sea Building and Sea Connect. Guests of honor were Singapore's Minister for Education, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, as well as Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, and Mr. Forrest Li, Chairman and CEO of Sea. During the ceremony, Prof Tan expressed his deep appreciation for the donation from Sea, highlighting how the gift has enabled NUS to expand its research labs, teaching facilities, and collaborative spaces. These developments will support NUS's academic mission while providing students with holistic spaces to learn, innovate, and engage in research. Prof Tan emphasized that the partnership with Sea is essential for building human capital, harnessing the power of technology, and driving impactful change in society.

Apart from the infrastructure boost, Sea's donation has already benefitted over 700 students through scholarships, fellowships, and awards, besides sponsorships for international symposia and seed funding for various research initiatives. Mr. Li observed that Sea was transformed from a small startup into a global company with the vibrant tech ecosystem in Singapore, which provided innovation and growth. He further stressed that it is of essence to give back to the community and help cultivate top-tier talent for Singapore. NUS-Sea collaboration symbolizes a shared mission to push the boundaries of technology, drive positive societal change, and uplift communities around the world. Mr. Li is excited about furthering this collaboration into the future and is keen to work on the research-to-application route that will impact people everywhere.

Mr. Chan also emphasized that the contribution by Sea was not only a gift in terms of dollars and cents but also a partnership with the potential to shape Singapore's competitive edge in the global arena. Despite its size, resources, and population, Singapore will excel in areas such as speed, innovation, and idea exchange, which will make the country remain competitive. He commended the NUS-Sea partnership as a model of how collaborations can overcome limitations and create lasting impacts that benefit the nation's future.

In the near future, NUS is preparing to launch new AI-focused educational programs beginning in the 2025/26 academic year. These programs form part of the university's overall initiative to support the Singapore National AI Strategy and produce a skilled workforce capable of leading AI research, development, and application. A new Bachelor of Computing in Artificial Intelligence is designed as a four-year direct honors program focused on giving students a rich education in AI. The program will focus on not only the technical side of AI but also responsible use, which will include the ethical, privacy, and governance issues associated with its deployment. This curriculum is to prepare graduates for AI-centric roles and equip them with knowledge that will help solve real-world challenges.

NUS will also revamp its existing Bachelor of Computing in Information Systems to offer the Bachelor of Computing in Business Artificial Intelligence Systems. The focus areas of the program will cover AI solutions and their governance and management, both business and organizational dimensions. It's supposed to provide all-encompassing knowledge in the areas of AI - from building the solution, developing it into production, all the way through its impact and its broader sense of influence upon businesses and in society.

The university will introduce a new Master of Computing in Artificial Intelligence at the postgraduate level. This will be a comprehensive and rigorous graduate program that would provide students with the possibility of specializing in both applied and fundamental AI research. It aims to meet the increasing demand for AI professionals in industry and research and provides in-depth training and prepares students for leadership roles in this rapidly expanding field of AI.

The College of Design and Engineering at NUS will also introduce a new Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Machine Intelligence, which responds to the growing industry demand for graduates who are trained in these transformative technologies. The four-year direct honors program will equip students with the expertise needed to navigate the evolving engineering landscape, focusing on robotics and AI.

The 12 dedicated research labs housed in Sea Building and Sea Connect comprise NUS AI Institute, the Health Informatics Research Lab, and the Information Systems & Analytics Research Lab, among others. These laboratories are expected to be hotbeds of high-impact research and innovation that will define the future of AI and related fields. The facilities will also foster long-term, productive collaborations between academia and industry, providing the ideal environment for cross-disciplinary interactions and real-time innovation. Among the initiatives housed at the new buildings are the Singapore Blockchain Innovation Programme, the National Cybersecurity R&D Laboratory, and the NUS Fintech Lab, highlighting NUS’s commitment to bridging research with practical, real-world applications.

In total, the opening of Sea Building and Sea Connect is a huge step forward for NUS, strengthening its position as a global leader in AI and computing research and education. With the state-of-the-art infrastructure and partnership with Sea, this collaboration will shape the future of AI education and research in Singapore, empowering the next generation of innovators to take on the world's most pressing challenges.