Behind every building, road, and city lies a network of processes that shape how we live and work. But how can we truly create human-centric, sustainable cities that can adapt to rapid urbanisation? And more importantly, how can the built environment industry adapt with agility while staying efficient? At the Future City Festival 3.0, the answers laid in AI, robotics, sustainability, and open collaboration across sectors.

This third edition of flagship event, organised by The GEAR by Kajima in collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) as part of International Built Environment Week (IBEW), gathered nearly 300 delegates from government, academia, startups, and industry. The objective is to explore how AI, robotics, sustainability, and collaboration are reshaping the future of cities. This year’s edition featured inspiring panels, startup showcases, and deep-tech research insights, reinforcing Singapore’s role as a hub for global innovation in the built environment.

Inside the Future City Festival 3.0

The third edition of Future City Festival unfolded with a dynamic program designed to spark dialogue and showcase innovation across the built environment. The morning opened with panels and fireside chats, where policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators debated how small-scale pilots can be scaled into transformative, citywide projects. Speakers emphasized the need for cross-sector collaboration, data readiness, and practical integration strategies to accelerate adoption.

Attention then shifted to the startup ecosystem. During the Startup Insights and Pitches, founders from Startup CoLab, BEAMP, and other platforms presented solutions ranging from robotics that boost construction productivity to AI systems that streamline decision-making and sustainability technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact. Their pitches underscored the pivotal role of young companies in driving the sector’s next wave of disruption.

Research and development also took the spotlight with the KaTRIS R&D Showcase, where Kajima’s researchers revealed deep-tech projects focused on building smarter, more human-centric, and sustainable cities. These highlights bridged the gap between academic research and industry-ready solutions, illustrating how innovation can quickly translate into tangible impact.

The day concluded with a lively networking lunch and startup showcase, drawing more than 300 delegates from government, academia, and the private sector. Attendees had the opportunity to explore a wide spectrum of innovations from emerging companies. From cutting-edge robotics that redefine construction productivity, to AI solutions that streamline decision-making and automate complex workflows, and sustainable technologies that improve energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, the showcase highlighted how startups are not just experimenting at the edges but delivering tangible solutions for the built environment. The diversity of ideas on display underscored the festival’s central theme: collaboration and innovation as the cornerstones of building smarter, greener cities.

Scaling Innovation from Micro to Macro

A headline panel, “Micro to Macro: Scaling Small Innovation to Mega Projects”, explored how emerging technologies can transition from pilots to large-scale urban solutions. Speakers included Jiawen Cheong (JTC Corporation), Kieve Lim (PrimusTech, Kajima Group), and Jonathan Hannam (Taronga Group), with moderation by Prof. Aidan W. (SMU). Key themes included the need for data readiness, ease of adoption, and ecosystem collaboration to accelerate innovation in construction and infrastructure. From energy-efficient infrastructure to advanced robotics on construction sites, scaling requires partnerships between building owners, solution providers, and regulators.

Startups and Research in the Spotlight

The event also showcased emerging talent through the GEAR Startup CoLab, which welcomed and introduced its newest cohort of 13 startups selected from more than 100 global applications across 19 countries. These companies are exploring solutions in sustainability, productivity, and human-centric design, using Singapore as both testbed and launchpad. The GEAR Startup CoLab Programme is a platform for open collaboration, connecting Kajima with forward-thinking startups to fast-track the creation and commercialization of breakthrough solutions. By providing access to world-class facilities, expert mentorship, funding support, and a real-world testbed environment, it enables startups to validate innovations, address industry challenges, and co-develop solutions that shape the future of the built environment.

The Built Environment Accelerate-to-Market Programme (BEAMP) launched its sixth cycle during the festival, introducing challenge statements from 15 organisations to spur new solutions and showcasing 18 startups, from Singapore and beyond, presenting ideas ranging from AI-powered process automation to green construction technologies. BEAMP is a collaborative initiative involving multiple agencies, created to strengthen Singapore’s innovation ecosystem in the Built Environment (BE) sector. By bridging solution providers with challenge owners, the programme accelerates the development of new ideas and transforms them into practical, market-ready solutions.

Meanwhile, the Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS) presented its R&D highlights, showcasing advances in human-centric and technology-driven building design; translating innovation into real-world applications. Their work emphasises smart building systems that combine design and advanced technology to prioritise occupant well-being while reducing environmental impact.

Gleematic at The GEAR Future City Festival 3.0: Automation for Built Environment with AI Agents

As cities grow more complex and industries face increasing demands for efficiency, the question arises of how to build smarter, greener, and more resilient urban spaces. Speaking at the Future City Festival 3.0, Ada Lim, Co-Founder of Gleematic AI, shared that the answer lies in automation with AI Agents—intelligent systems that go beyond task execution to support decision-making and innovation across the built environment.

AI Agents, Moving Beyond Traditional Automation

Businesses are reaching the limits of traditional robotic process automation (RPA). Rule-based bots have helped organisations achieve speed and efficiency, but as industries demand greater flexibility and intelligence, a new wave of technology is stepping in: AI Agents.

Unlike conventional software bots that follow fixed scripts, AI Agents are designed to think, adapt, and act much like human team members. They do not just execute commands—they interpret information, make decisions, and continuously improve through learning.

AI Agents combine the strengths of RPA with advanced artificial intelligence technologies:

  • Machine Learning (ML): Enables prediction and pattern recognition from historical data.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Allows systems to understand and respond to human language.
  • Intelligent Document Processing (IDP): Automates the reading, extraction, and classification of data from complex documents.
  • Conversational AI: Facilitates human-like communication for customer service or internal support.

Together, these capabilities empower AI Agents to move beyond task automation into decision-making, problem-solving, and workflow orchestration. The shift from traditional automation to AI Agents marks a turning point. Businesses are no longer asking whether tasks can be automated, but whether automation can also make decisions, optimise outcomes, and adapt in real time.

More about AI Agents

Tackling Pain Points in Built Environment: Transforming Workflows with AI Agents

The built environment—spanning offices, residential complexes, and industrial facilities—faces mounting challenges. From energy inefficiencies to rising maintenance costs and fragmented asset management, these pain points not only drain budgets but also hinder long-term sustainability. Our co-founder, Ada Lim, highlighted how AI Agents are stepping in to transform these operational hurdles into opportunities for efficiency and resilience.

Inefficient Energy Management and High Utility Costs

Buildings often waste significant amounts of energy due to poor monitoring, outdated systems, and manual adjustments of HVAC and lighting. This inefficiency drives up operational costs and inflates carbon footprints.

Ada Lim highlighted how AI Agents can help:

  • Automated Data Collection: AI Agents capture real-time data from IoT sensors, smart meters, and building management systems.
  • Carbon Footprint Tracking: Automated analytics instantly calculate and report environmental impact.
  • Electricity Demand Forecasting: Predictive models anticipate future energy needs based on weather, occupancy, and usage patterns.

Reactive and Costly Facility Maintenance

Traditional facility maintenance often reacts only when equipment fails, leading to costly emergency repairs and tenant dissatisfaction. Downtime not only disrupts operations but also erodes trust in building management.

Ada Lim underlined AI Agents’ capability in predictive analytics:

  • Sensors feed data into AI models to monitor equipment health in real time.
  • Systems predict failures based on vibration, temperature, and usage.
  • Facility managers can schedule proactive repairs, extend equipment lifespan, and avoid catastrophic breakdowns.

Disorganized and Inefficient Asset Lifecycle Management

From procurement to disposal, managing the lifecycle of building assets is often fragmented and paper-heavy. Manual documentation slows processes, introduces errors, and impedes decision-making.

AI Agents bring structure and visibility:

  • Automation streamlines documentation and workflows across the asset lifecycle.
  • Procurement orders and maintenance logs are tracked automatically.
  • End-of-life processes, including disposal and repurposing, are managed seamlessly.

By digitizing and integrating workflows, AI reduces inefficiencies while empowering managers with data-driven insights.

Showcasing Gleematic: AI and Automation in Real-world Application

Among the exhibiting startups, we highlighted the role of automation with AI Agents in addressing complex industry needs. By combining artificial intelligence with robotic process automation (RPA), Gleematic showcased practical applications that go beyond efficiency—empowering organisations to make smarter, faster, and more sustainable decisions.

We highlighted three major areas of impact:

  • Intelligent Process Automation: Managing complex, repetitive workflows without constant human supervision.
  • Data-driven Decision-making: Using AI for forecasting, risk analysis, and actionable insights.
  • Sustainable Operations: Optimising energy consumption and resources to build greener, more resilient cities.

Our booth drew a steady stream of interest throughout the festival, with visitors ranging from industry leaders and government representatives to researchers, startups, and technology enthusiasts. Many were keen to see how automation with AI Agents could be applied directly to their organisations—whether in streamlining operations, improving decision-making, or driving sustainability initiatives. The lively interactions reflected the growing demand for AI-powered automation in the built environment, as attendees exchanged ideas, explored practical use cases, and discovered how Gleematic can help them bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application.

Our team at Gleematic booth: Ada Lim (on the left) and Christopher Lim (on the right)

Together Toward Smarter Cities

The Future City Festival 3.0 concluded with a strong message: the built environment sector is undergoing a transformation that will require not just new technologies but new ways of working together. As Singapore positions itself at the centre of this shift, AI, robotics, and sustainable innovations are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

We are thankful to The GEAR by Kajima for inviting us to participate in this third edition of the Future City Festival. The event not only allowed us to share our insights on how AI Agents can bring transformation, ut also to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers who share the same vision of building smarter and more sustainable cities. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this conversation and look forward to future collaborations that push the boundaries of technology and urban innovation.

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Written by: Kezia Nadira