BW Digital and NUS Partner to Study Quantum-Ready Data Centre Infrastructure in Tropical Asia
June 17, 2026
BW Digital and NUS Partner to Study Quantum-Ready Data Centre Infrastructure in Tropical Asia
BW Digital and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have launched a joint research initiative to explore the infrastructure requirements for quantum-ready data centres in Southeast Asia, with a specific focus on the challenges posed by tropical climates in markets such as Singapore and Batam. The collaboration, which brings together BW Digital and NUS’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, is set to run for 18 months and aims to define what the partners describe as a minimum infrastructure baseline for future facilities that will need to support hybrid quantum-classical computing workloads.
The research will cover a broad range of technical areas, including structural design, thermal and cryogenic systems, power delivery, environmental stability, connectivity, and operational planning. A key focus will be understanding how tropical conditions affect the design and operation of data centres that may host quantum systems, with humidity management, heat rejection, vibration control, and electromagnetic stability identified as particular challenges in the region. The partners will also assess deployment models, readiness scorecards, and zoning strategies, and plan to produce an operator playbook to guide BW Digital’s future site selection, vendor engagement, and infrastructure planning.
This collaboration reflects a broader industry shift as data centre operators begin preparing for computing environments that combine artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and quantum systems. While commercial quantum computing remains nascent, the supporting infrastructure requirements are drawing increasing attention as operators and researchers examine how existing facilities may need to evolve. For BW Digital, the initiative aligns with its wider digital infrastructure strategy in Southeast Asia, where it is developing data centre and connectivity assets including the Hawaiki submarine cable linking Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, the BW Digital Campus at Nongsa Digital Park, the NCC submarine cable between Singapore and Batam, and the Citra Connect terrestrial fibre network.
The research also supports Singapore’s efforts to strengthen its position as a regional data centre hub while building expertise in advanced computing fields. The parties expect the work to contribute to local workforce development and regional knowledge on infrastructure planning for quantum-related systems. Florent Blot, Chief Business Officer - Data Centre and Value-Added Services at BW Digital, said the convergence of AI, HPC, and quantum systems means operators need to start preparing their infrastructure for future compatibility today. He added that the partnership allows BW Digital to establish the right technical foundations early while maintaining flexibility as the pace and direction of quantum adoption evolve.
Professor Lee Poh Seng, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NUS’s College of Design and Engineering, noted that Southeast Asia’s future competitiveness will depend not only on capacity, connectivity, and energy efficiency but also on readiness for emerging technologies such as quantum computing. He said the collaboration bridges academic research with real-world infrastructure development and aims to define practical engineering requirements and operational frameworks for quantum-ready facilities in tropical environments. The work is intended to inform the future development and optimisation of BW Digital’s current and planned data centre projects in the region.
Source: datacenternews
