Latest news and trends about tech

Malaysia will step up efforts to attract high-value investments in sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital services and energy transition, while strengthening incentives to ensure approved projects translate into jobs, technology transfers and local supply chains, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

US technology firm IBM and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) are planning to establish the Quantum-Safe Center, targeted for launch by the end of 2026, as a dedicated hub to accelerate Singapore’s transition to quantum-safe cybersecurity.

Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, known globally as Foxconn, will invest $265 million more into its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and $57 million more in Singapore, according to filings with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) dated August 12-18.

Singapore is tightening safeguards on major messaging, social media and e-commerce platforms, requiring them to take stronger measures to detect, disrupt and prevent scams targeting users in the city-state.

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has on Wednesday launched the Cybersecurity Assessment and Security Operations Centre Training Lab for Enterprises (CASTLE), a new initiative by SP's School of Computing to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their cybersecurity while giving students hands-on industry experience.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced Wednesday a set of measures to strengthen Singapore's competitiveness as a leading asset management hub.

The share of Malaysian businesses that consistently use at least one AI tool rose to 38 percent from 27 percent a year earlier, according to "Unlocking Malaysia's AI Potential 2026" study commissioned by Amazon Web Services, though most remain limited to basic applications.

Neocrete, a New Zealand company that develops technology to cut the carbon and cost of concrete, has raised $3.5 million in a funding round led by returning investor Wavemaker Ventures, with participation from Icehouse Ventures and new investor Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health, a vehicle backed by Temasek Trust.

Carousell Malaysia, under Singapore-based recommerce platform Carousell, has added SPX Express, the courier affiliated with the e-commerce platform Shopee, as a delivery option on its marketplace, giving sellers label-free parcel drop-off at more than 1,000 SPX service points across West Malaysia.

Timah Partners, a Singapore-based holding company that buys small and medium-sized enterprises from retiring owners, has secured a S$60 million ($47 million) debt facility to fund acquisitions in Singapore.