SJ Group has announced two strategic partnerships focused on developing cognitive cities — the next evolution of smart cities that learn, adapt and actively restore value for people, ecosystems and future generations.

The first partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), establishes a two-year collaboration to help produce more integrated, sustainable and digitally enabled urban systems.

The partnership will span digital governance, climate resilience, decarbonisation and strategic advisory across urban planning, infrastructure and mobility, while also promoting knowledge exchange and capability development between the two organisations.

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The second MOU, signed with Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), takes a more research-focused approach. The two organisations will work together to advance global discourse on cognitive cities and regenerative design through joint publications, research initiatives and knowledge-sharing platforms — translating emerging ideas into practical guidance for city leaders worldwide.

The partnerships were announced on June 15 at the World Cities Summit, a conference where government leaders and industry experts meet to address liveable and sustainable city challenges. The biennial summit, held in Singapore, is jointly organised by URA and CLC.

SJ Group CEO Sean Chiao notes the MOUs mark a significant step in the group's push for urban environments that go beyond the smart city paradigm. “The next leap for cities is not just to be smarter, but to become cognitive cities - more responsive, more regenerative and more human," he says. "It means using AI and digital intelligence not only to optimise systems, but to create places where people, communities and economies can thrive."

SJ Group has developed two tools to support the advancement of cognitive cities. The SJ Cognitive City Tool helps city leaders evaluate their city’s cognitive maturity, while the SJ Regenerative City Tool will help decision-makers “define and measure what it means to create cities, communities and projects that restore more than they take”, the company says.

Meanwhile, the China–Singapore Green Development Research (Suzhou Industrial Park) Co, a joint venture between SJ Group, Keppel and China’s Suzhou Sungent Holding Group Co, will be signing an MoU with BCA International on June 16 at the World Cities Summit to explore green, smart and cognitively enabled buildings and urban environments across China and Southeast Asia.