The master plan for the Punggol Digital District (PDD) was unveiled by deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean on Jan 21. It is part of a nationwide effort to create integrated and inclusive districts that drive Singapore’s future competitiveness. PDD will anchor the north-east region and focus on the digital economy, says Lim Eng Hwee, chief executive officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

The new 50 hectare business district development will be located in Punggol North and comprise a JTC business park, Singapore Institute of Technology’s (SIT) new campus, and community facilities such as a hawker centre, childcare centres, and a community club, says Ng Lang, JTC’s chief executive officer.

The business park will house companies involved in cyber security and the Internet of Things, and will create about 28,000 jobs in the north-east region, says Angeline Poh, assistant chief executive for industry development at the Info-communications Media Development Authority. SIT’s new campus will also be situated in the new business district, and will house about 12,000 students, says Prof Tan Thiam Soon, president of SIT.

Clustering these growth sectors will allow for closer collaboration between industry and academia, says Poh. Students will especially benefit from industry partnerships and by leveraging the expertise of industry through “industry teaching laboratories”, says Prof Tan. SIT’s campus and JTC’s business park will be connected by an 800m pedestrianised street with easy access to the future Punggol Coast MRT station on the North-East Line extension.