Biopolis
Biopolis[a] is a research and development centre for biomedical sciences in Singapore. It is located at one-north in Buona Vista, and is close to the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Polytechnic, the Singapore Institute of Technology, the National University Hospital, the Singapore Science Park, Ministry of Education, ESSEC Business School, INSEAD Business School, and Fusionopolis. This campus is dedicated to providing space for biomedical research and development activities and promoting peer review and collaboration among the private and public scientific community.
Development
[edit]Phase 1
[edit]
Biopolis Phase 1, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, is a 185,000 m2 (2,000,000 ft²) biomedical complex of seven buildings that were constructed from June 2003 to March 2004 at a cost of S$500 million. They are namely: Nanos, Genome, Helios, Chromos, Proteos, Matrix and Centros. Several government agencies, publicly funded research institutes and research labs of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies are located there.[1]
Phase 2
[edit]Biopolis Phase 2 was completed in October 2006 with a seven-storey 37,000 m2 complex comprising two blocks, Neuros and Immunos.[2] The two blocks will house private research institutes focused on neuroscience and immunology respectively. The complex cost S$70 million and constructed over 18 months.[2] The new addition increases the Biopolis research complex to a total of 222,000 m2, or about half the size of Suntec City.[3]
Phase 3
[edit]Biopolis Phase 3, comprising two blocks, Synapse and Amnios, was awarded to Crescendas Group by JTC Corporation under a design-build-own-operate basis with a 30 30 year lease. It started construction in the 3rd quarter of 2009 and was completed in the 2nd quarter of 2011. It measures 41,505 square meters in total, containing space for laboratories, research facilities, offices and retail operations.
Phase 4
[edit]Biopolis Phase 4, the Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Centre, was announced by JTC Corporation on 25 January 2010, and opened on 28 March 2014. It is the largest investment in a private research facility in Singapore at S$250 million.[4]
Phase 5
[edit]Biopolis Phase 5, consisting of Nucleos, was completed in 2014. It is used for pre-clinical trials.
Phase 6
[edit]On 27 November 2019, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon announced that Biopolis Phase 6 will be built by mid-2022 to meet demand from biotechnology start-ups. The expansion of Biopolis is part of initiatives to better support such start-ups. Biopolis Phase 6 will add a further 35,000 sq m for research activities (including 2,000 sq m of laboratory spaces), with 6,000 sq m more for office and retail space.[5] On 16 March 2020, JTC Corporation awarded the site to Ho Bee, which will design the 12-storey building, named Elementum, with elements of nature, technology and wellness incorporated.[6][7]
Features
[edit]Amenities
[edit]For the general public, Biopolis has eight shops, four restaurants, four cafes, a 300-seater food court, a fast food restaurant, a pub and a childcare centre.
Function rooms
[edit]For its members, Biopolis has a 480-seater auditorium and four 250-seater lecture theaters. It also has 13 meeting rooms.
Accommodation
[edit]The Rochester is a major development in Vista Xchange at one-north. The mixed-use development comprises private residences, serviced apartments, hotel rooms, recreational and retail facilities.
one-north Residences is another completed residential project in one-north.
Biopolis arts programme
[edit]
An initiative of the one-north arts program, one-north Development Group (oDG) of JTC Corporation launched the first Biopolis Arts Program@one-north on 14 May 2002. oDG supports the nurturing of the local and overseas arts community, by way of co-developing and funding the art programs in one-north. All major developmental projects in one-north will be encouraged to contribute towards the funding of significant artwork in-situ.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Axel Gelfert, "Before Biopolis: Representations of the Biotechnology Discourse in Singapore", East Asian Science, Technology and Society Vol. 7 (1) 2013, pp. 103-123
- ^ a b Tan, Hui Leng (31 October 2006). "Biopolis booster for local biomed scene". Today (2nd ed.). p. 6.
- ^ Daryl Loo, "2 new Biopolis blocks to beef up research", The Straits Times, 31 October 2006
- ^ "P&G opens S$250m Innovation Centre in S'pore". Today. Mediacorp. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ Tan, Sue-Ann (27 November 2019). "Biopolis to expand as part of moves to better support biotech start-ups". The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "New Mixed-Use Biomedical Sciences Development, Biopolis Phase 6, in one-north Awarded to Ho Bee Land". JTC Corporation. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "Elementum". SOM. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
External links
[edit]- Official homepage
- Singapore Acts as Haven for Stem Cell Research The New York Times, 16 August 2006
- Singapore's Biomedical Sciences Initiative
- Singapore - The Biopolis of Asia