DayOne Launches Singapore's First Biological Data Center Prototype with Cortical Labs and NUS Medicine
核心洞察
DayOne Data Centers, Cortical Labs (搜索), and NUS Medicine launched Singapore's first Biological Data Center Prototype on August 17, 2026, advancing biological computing as an energy-efficient complement to silicon infrastructure.
The deployment of a 20-unit CL1 biological computing system represents the first independently operated biologically integrated server rack in the world, hosted in a live research environment at NUS Medicine.
The initiative targets applications in drug discovery, biomedical modelling, and neurological disease research, with living neurons grown from stem cells processing information at a fraction of the wattage required by digital computers.
DayOne Data Centers Limited (搜索) ("DayOne"), a Singapore-headquartered global digital infrastructure platform, has launched Singapore's first Biological Data Center Prototype in collaboration with Cortical Labs (搜索) and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (搜索) ("NUS Medicine"). Announced on August 17, 2026, the milestone advances the development of biological computing as a potentially more adaptive and energy-efficient complement to conventional silicon-based infrastructure.
The prototype was launched in the presence of the public sector, representatives from academia, and the technology and digital infrastructure sectors. Delegates viewed a live demonstration of Cortical Labs (搜索)' CL1 biological computing system and toured the NUS laboratory supporting the initiative.
A New Frontier in Computing
Biological computing uses living neurons grown from stem cells and connected to silicon hardware to process information. The neurons receive electrical signals, respond, and adapt over time, enabling the system to perform certain computing tasks on a fraction of the wattage required by digital computers.
The deployment of a 20-unit CL1 biological computing system — the first independently operated biologically integrated server rack in the world — brings Cortical Labs (搜索)' technology into a live research environment at NUS Medicine, hosted within infrastructure designed and supported by DayOne. It demonstrates an alternative pathway to scale AI capacity with significantly lower power intensity.
The initiative draws on NUS Medicine's neurobiology expertise, Cortical Labs (搜索)' technology, and DayOne's experience in designing, building, and operating mission-critical digital infrastructure. Areas of exploration include neuro-inspired artificial intelligence, biomedical modelling, drug discovery, and neurological disease research.
Translating Research into Commercial Application
"By growing living human neurons from stem cells and pairing them with rigorous engineering, we're not only building a more efficient alternative to silicon; we're creating a platform that can help us understand learning and adaptation at their biological source," said Professor Rickie Patani, Professor of Neuroscience at NUS Medicine, Director of the Neurobiology Programme at the NUS Life Sciences Institute (LSI) and Chair of the Neuroscience Translational Research Programme at NUS Medicine. "It gives us a real route to accelerate drug discovery and neurological disease research, turning laboratory insight into real-world impact far faster than we could before."
Hon Weng Chong, Founder and CEO of Cortical Labs (搜索), emphasized the shift toward practical use cases. "The establishment of this prototype shifts the conversation from research to commercial application," he said. "Biological computing supplements AI in areas where data is sparse, learning from far less and adapting as conditions change. Our aim is to uncover the use cases where that advantage matters most, in areas such as drug discovery, humanoid robotics, cybersecurity and fraud detection."
Jamie Khoo, Chief Executive Officer of DayOne, framed the initiative within Singapore's dual ambitions. "Our commitment to Singapore goes beyond capacity. We are here to help shape what the next generation of digital infrastructure looks like, and that means investing in approaches that meet Singapore's sustainability ambitions alongside its AI ambitions," he said. "This prototype is a step toward demonstrating that scaling compute and reducing resource intensity are goals we can pursue together."
Supporting Singapore's Green Data Center Roadmap
The Biological Data Center Prototype is aligned with Singapore's Green Data Center Roadmap, which sets out higher standards for energy efficiency as the government expands capacity for AI and cloud workloads. The initiative offers a practical, sustainability-aligned alternative to conventional silicon infrastructure through wetware-based computing, at a moment when the country and the broader region is expanding AI capacity under tighter energy and environmental guardrails.
DayOne operates a digital infrastructure platform across nine markets in Asia Pacific and Europe and has secured approximately 2.1 GW of bookings since inception, supporting the growth of leading cloud and AI customers. The company's first local data center, SG1, achieved structural topping out in May 2026 and is on track to be operational in early 2027. DayOne is also developing its Global Operations Command Center in Singapore and continues to invest in clean and resilient infrastructure across its regional platform.