Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and The GEAR by Kajima have launched Startup CoLab EAI to support Singapore-based and international startups in developing, testing and commercialising new embodied AI (EAI) solutions for the construction sector. The programme will offer identified industry use cases, construction sandboxes and live project sites, helping promising technologies move beyond trials towards wider industry deployment.

Singapore’s steady construction demand presents significant opportunities to adopt technologies that can improve productivity, safety and manpower efficiency. Construction demand is expected to remain strong in the medium term, with BCA projecting annual demand to reach between S$39 billion and S$46 billion from 2027 to 2030. Embodied AI offers a promising pathway to leverage this momentum by combining artificial intelligence with physical systems, enabling machines to navigate real-world environments and handle dynamic tasks such as material handling, facade installation and surface-finishing works.

Startup CoLab EAI supports startups in the following areas:

• Shape and localise: Identify relevant industry use cases for the startups’ embodied AI solutions and tailor the technologies to Singapore’s market and operational requirements.

• Validate: Validate their solutions under simulated and actual conditions at facilities including construction sandboxes, live project sites and The GEAR building.

• Scale: Help successful startups connect with customers and investors to drive their growth and support broader industry adoption of their technologies.

The programme leverages Kajima’s industry expertise and network of project sites, alongside public-private sector partnerships to support the customisation and validation of embodied AI solutions within the construction industry through structured lead demand. Startup CoLab EAI also builds on The GEAR’s flagship startup programme, The GEAR Startup CoLab, which helps startups accelerate product and business validation. Since its launch in April 2025, The GEAR Startup CoLab has completed 15 proof-of-concepts with global and local startups.

Emily Liew, assistant managing director for innovation at EnterpriseSG, said, “Embodied AI has significant potential, but technologies need to be field-tested in real operating environments to move them from prototypes to deployable solutions. Through Startup CoLab EAI, EnterpriseSG will work with BCA and Kajima to bring together startups, industry demand and real-world testbeds to turn promising embodied AI technologies into deployable solutions for the construction sector. By doing so, we aim to accelerate industry adoption while strengthening Singapore’s position as a global proving ground and launchpad for embodied AI.”

Jonathan Cheng, chief technology officer of BCA, said, “Embodied AI has the potential to transform the built environment to become more productive, efficient and less manpower-intensive. BCA is committed to fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of such technologies. Through our partnership with EnterpriseSG and The GEAR by Kajima via Startup CoLab EAI, we would like to catalyse more industry-led initiatives and create a conducive environment for the adoption of promising solutions.”

Luke Wu, managing director of The GEAR by Kajima, said, “The GEAR by Kajima’s unique position allows us to take on three roles in the Startup CoLab EAI programme: programme coordinator, technology collaborator and solution adopter. We connect startups with our ecosystem network and give them access to our living testbed and project sites to develop and validate their technologies.

“Startups can also work with Kajima Technical Research Institute, Kajima’s R&D arm, to collaborate and refine their solutions. At the same time, we are driven to adopt innovative solutions that enhance productivity, safety and sustainability across the built environment sector. This gives startups a clear brief from the people who will use their solutions, a live site to test them at, and a direct path to deployment.”

Applications for the Startup CoLab EAI programme will open in early 2027, with startups accepted on a rolling basis. Click here for more information.

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