Summary:
Microsoft has launched its first Southeast Asian research lab in Singapore, focused on advancing artificial intelligence in collaboration with local institutions like NUS, NTU, SMU, SingHealth, and A*STAR.
The lab will drive AI innovation in healthcare, with a flagship project applying biomedical foundation models to cancer diagnostics. It also supports Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 through talent development and industry partnerships, positioning the country as a regional hub for biotech-focused AI research.
Microsoft has officially launched its first Southeast Asian research facility in Singapore, establishing Microsoft Research Asia, Singapore. This marks a significant expansion of Microsoft’s global AI portfolio and introduces a dedicated hub for AI innovation directed at biotech and pharmaceutical R&D.
Backed by Singapore’s Economic Development Board, the new lab is the 14th in the Microsoft Research Asia network and the first in Southeast Asia. It is collaborating with leading institutions including the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), SingHealth, and A*STAR to advance live biomedical and clinical applications of AI.
A flagship initiative within the lab is a precision-medicine project with SingHealth that applies Microsoft’s multimodal biomedical foundation model to pathology images of colorectal cancer. The objective is to support improved cancer diagnostics and enable patient-specific treatment planning informed by AI-powered image analysis.
The lab’s mission emphasises three interlinked pillars:
- Foundational AI research
- Domain-specific foundation models for industry use
- Deployment of socially responsible AI in healthcare, logistics, financial services, and smart infrastructure development.
For biotech audiences, this facility promises to accelerate computational pathology, image-based diagnostics, predictive biology, and potential AI-driven drug discovery workflows. Through collaboration with institutions like NUS, NTU, and SMU, Microsoft aims to nurture a talent ecosystem supporting biomedical AI research and technology translation.
At the launch ceremony, Dr Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research, called Singapore a strategic bridge between theory and practical application, emphasising its role in bridging East-West innovation and academic-industry collaboration. Lindong Zhou, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia, highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary breakthroughs with real-world impact across sectors including biotech and healthcare.
The lab aligns with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, which outlines the country’s ambition to lead AI development in healthcare, urban systems, and scientific research, while nurturing a highly skilled workforce.
Microsoft Research Asia, Singapore, enhances the region’s biotech and pharmaceutical R&D capabilities through biomedical AI tools, translational research partnerships, and a growing ecosystem of clinical and academic collaborators.
