CapitaLand opens $1.4 bil Geneo hub at Singapore Science Park with global life sciences and innovation tenants
The Canopy event plaza at Geneo features 25m-high mass engineered timber (MET) pillars and cathedral-like arches made from sustainability sourced timber. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
Geneo, a life sciences and innovation hub jointly owned by CapitaLand Development (CLD) and CapitaLand Ascendas Reit (CLAR), was officially opened on May 22 as part of the group’s multi-phase revitalisation of the Singapore Science Park (SSP).
Tenants anchoring the business park development's life sciences and innovation ecosystem include the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), Barry Callebaut, Chugai Pharmabody Research, Henkel, and NSG Bio — from industries such as biotech, advanced manufacturing, food innovation and pharmaceutical R&D.
Totalling about $1.4 billion in investments, Geneo spans three properties at 1, 5 and 7 Science Park Drive with a combined gross floor area (GFA) of about 180,600 sq m (more than 1.9 million sq ft).
That includes roughly 80,000 sq m (861,113 sq ft) of purpose-built infrastructure for biomedical R&D, flexible laboratories and innovation-ready Grade A business park workspaces. Retail and F&B amenities span some 3,600 sq m.
The redevelopment of 1 Science Park Drive (pictured) and acquisition of 5 Science Park Drive are part of CapitaLand Ascendas Reit's proactive portfolio rejuvenation strategy. (Photo: CapitaLand)
Jonathan Yap, chief executive of CLD — the master developer and park operator of SSP — described Geneo as “a defining milestone” in the park’s rejuvenation, and a “vibrant people-centric development that brings together purpose-built workspaces with curated lifestyle and retail offerings”.
It supports the full innovation cycle, from research through to commercialisation, within an integrated environment, he added.
'World-class' tenants anchoring the ecosystem
Geneo has attracted “world-class” tenants, and this reinforces CapitaLand’s role as an ecosystem curator — connecting Singapore-based researchers, start-ups and corporates with global partners, investors and institutions, the group noted in a press release.
For instance, A*Star is now headquartered at Geneo. Lisa Ooi, assistant CEO, biomedical research council at the public-sector R&D agency, said that the move brings its biomedical research entities closer to key ecosystem partners, including the clinical community and venture builders.
“We aim to strengthen collaboration and create better conditions for research to translate into economic, health and societal outcomes for Singapore,” she added.
Barry Callebaut’s Liu (left) and Minister Tan See Leng (middle) visiting the chocolate manufacturer’s innovation centre at Geneo. (Photo: CapitaLand)
Likewise, chocolate and cocoa manufacturing giant, Barry Callebaut, which has operated in Singapore for three decades, was drawn to the development’s vibrant ecosystem ranging from pioneering startups to leading research institutions.
The company has set up its global innovation centre at the development to focus on advanced food science and applied R&D. “Geneo feels like the natural next step as we grow our R&D capabilities,” said Liu Yeting, vice-president of the Cacao Coatings Center of Excellence and head of R&D in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
The specialised infrastructure at the properties includes wet lab and wet lab-ready floors, co-working laboratory space, units with tailored specifications such as high-floor loading, and smart building management systems.
7 Science Park Drive, with about 38,800 sq m in total GFA, includes business park workspaces on levels one to nine and the Citadines serviced residences on levels 10 to 15. (Photo: CapitaLand)
Pharmaceutical company Chugai Pharmabody Research has relocated its drug discovery research centre to Geneo, given the prime location and state-of-the-art facilities, which are expected to strengthen collaborations with partners, said director and CEO, Futa Mimoto.
Meanwhile, chemical and consumer goods leader Henkel has based its global supply chain hub, adhesives technologies application engineering lab, and academy of hair at the business park.
Being close to research institutes, universities and the deep tech community was an important consideration, said Thomas Holenia, president of Henkel Singapore.
In addition, Bridge+ Geneo provides premium flexible workspaces and the NSG BioSuites co-working laboratory. The latter exceeds 3,200 sq m (nearly 35,000 sq ft), making it Southeast Asia’s largest such facility.
NSG Bio, a biotech incubator and co-working lab provider, expects more flexibility to support companies at different stages of their growth journey, from early-stage start-ups to more established players requiring ready-to-use Biological Safety Level 2 laboratories.
“As the ecosystem continues to expand, it is critical for infrastructure to evolve alongside the needs of the industry,” said Hasyim Sim, chief operating officer at NSG Bio.
William Tay, chief executive and executive director of CLAR’s manager, said the redevelopment of 1 Science Park Drive and acquisition of 5 Science Park Drive are part of the Reit’s proactive portfolio rejuvenation strategy.
“These high-quality properties are seeing strong tenancy demand from world-leading companies … reinforcing CLAR’s leadership position in Singapore’s life sciences real estate market,” Tay noted.
Also at the life sciences and innovation hub is a genomic garden designed in collaboration with SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine, as well as a 3,000 sq m (32,292 sq ft) all-weather event plaza named The Canopy.
The Seed, a genomic garden at the development. (Photo: CapitaLand)
Broader vision of energising the precinct
There are also communal spaces and active placemaking programmes that encourage “cross-disciplinary collaborations”, the group said.
Placemaking initiatives have included “Flavours of Tomorrow”, which connects communities with food innovation; weekly runs and other fitness events; and industry exchanges convened by life sciences and deep tech organisations.
“The new Kent Ridge Exchange precinct is more vibrant and connected than ever before,” said CLD's Yap in his welcome address at the official opening of the development.
Geneo marks the completion of the first phase of SSP’s rejuvenation.
Next, the second phase will deepen the integration of life sciences infrastructure with residential, lifestyle and recreational offerings. There are pipeline plans to add residential developments to further enliven the precinct, alongside the upcoming 343-unit LyndenWoods condo, the first residential project in SSP; and the Citadines Science Park Singapore hotel residence with 250 serviced apartments as the first lodging facility in SSP.
Minister Tan See Leng, CLD's Yap and CLAR's Tay visiting Geneo tenant Henkel. (Photo: CapitaLand)
The opening ceremony was officiated by Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Other attendees included government agency representatives, tenants at SSP and CapitaLand’s key partners.
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