Singapore’s DayOne Pioneers Biological Data Centers with Cortical Labs
The future of data processing may lie not in silicon, but in living neurons. Singapore-based data center provider DayOne, in partnership with Melbourne-based biocomputing startup Cortical Labs, is set to establish Singapore’s first Biological Data Center – a facility utilizing “wetware” computing to potentially revolutionize AI infrastructure and sustainability.
From Pong-Playing Neurons to Sustainable Computing
Cortical Labs first gained recognition with its DishBrain project in 2022, demonstrating the ability of 800,000 in-vitro brain cells to learn and play the arcade game Pong within minutes . Unlike traditional computing reliant on neural networks, Cortical Labs’ technology leverages the inherent learning and adaptive capabilities of biological cells, consuming significantly less energy and generating minimal heat. This approach addresses growing concerns about the energy demands of AI and data centers.
The Prototype and Expansion Plans
The initial phase of the project will involve a prototype at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine). A single rack housing 20 Cortical Cloud units will be established, with cells cultured and grown under the supervision of Professor Rickie Patani, Professor of Neuroscience at NUS Medicine and Director of the institute’s Neurobiology Programme . Professor Patani highlighted the potential of wetware systems to accelerate research in areas like drug discovery and neurological disease.
Following validation at NUS, the collaboration will transition to a live deployment within a DayOne commercial data center in Singapore. The wetware systems will be tested under real-world conditions, assessing compatibility with existing power distribution, environmental management, and cooling infrastructure. If successful, the partners are considering a phased expansion potentially reaching up to 1,000 units.
Addressing the Growing Demand for Sustainable Data Centers
This initiative arrives at a critical juncture, as global data center capacity is projected to reach 200 GW by 2030, with power demand in Southeast Asia expected to quadruple from 2.6 GW in 2025 to 10.7 GW by 2035 . The Singapore government has responded with sustainability policies, including a green data center roadmap allocating at least 200 MW of new capacity.
DayOne’s Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability
“Singapore has made it clear that the next chapter of digital infrastructure must be built with sustainability at the core,” stated Hon Weng Chong, founder of Cortical Labs . DayOne CEO Jamie Khoo echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the company’s commitment to exploring new computing paradigms that align with Singapore’s sustainability goals. “Partnering with Cortical Labs allows us to explore a new compute paradigm that complements Singapore’s and the region’s sustainability-led trajectory, supporting continued innovation while staying aligned to evolving efficiency and greener-energy expectations,” Khoo said .
DayOne recently secured $2 billion in Series C funding, spearheaded by Coatue, with participation from Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, to fuel its global expansion . The company is known for its factory-built data center modules, enabling faster construction and reduced costs.