The GEAR

What The GEAR does

The GEAR by Kajima is the technology services business and open innovation platform of Kajima Corporation, a Japanese construction and engineering conglomerate founded in 1840. Operating from a six-floor, 400-capacity smart facility at Changi Business Park in Singapore, The GEAR has three stated functions: operating the Kajima Lab smart facility, powering open innovation collaborations through startup programmes, and commercialising frontier technology via IP scouting, joint development, and international technology transfer. The entity was launched as Kajima's first overseas headquarters and R&D facility in Southeast Asia, with legal domicile under Kajima Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd.

The platform's core offerings include the Startup CoLab Programme (an accelerator built around Kajima-defined challenge statements), the Community Access Programme, and a network of founding ecosystem partners including JTC, BCA, Enterprise Singapore, HKSTP, ACE.SG, and SMU IIE. The GEAR also runs named awards (Kajima-BIG Startup Award of $15,000, Kajima Book Prize in Innovation, and the Built Environment Accelerated Commercialisation Prize at LKYGBPC) and has formalised MOUs with GS E&C (Korea) and Glodon (China) for cross-border collaboration. Technology infrastructure is built on Kajima's 40+ years of construction automation R&D, covering AI, IoT, robotics, computer vision, digital twin modelling, and generative AI for project management, with the building itself functioning as a living laboratory.

The GEAR serves three primary customer segments: early-stage startups in the built environment (programme participants), built environment corporates (innovation-seeking enterprises), and Singapore government agencies (BCA, JTC). Revenue mechanics span professional services, technology licensing and royalties, and managed facility services, although total entity revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company has 1-10 employees and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kajima Corporation, with strategic oversight from KaTRIS (Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore). The entity is functionally a corporate innovation arm and regional hub for Kajima, monetising R&D through partnerships, programmes, and tech transfer rather than as a standalone commercial SaaS or product business.

Name

The GEAR

Legal name

Kajima Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://thegear.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The GEAR by Kajima is Kajima Corporation's Singapore-based technology services business and open innovation platform for the built environment, operating a 400-capacity smart facility at Changi Business Park, running startup accelerator programmes, and commercialising Kajima's construction automation R&D through partnerships with JTC, BCA, Enterprise Singapore, HKSTP, and others.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Technology & Innovation Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)

Keywords

• Open innovation platform
• Smart building operations
• Startup accelerator programmes
• Construction technology transfer
• Built environment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Technology Services: Provides technology services business as part of Kajima group, bridging advanced technologies and global collaboration to deliver solutions for the built environment.
2. Technology Transfer and Commercialization: Leverages Kajima's advanced technologies to bridge deep tech innovations to global markets through IP scouting, joint development, and international technology transfer enabling collaboration between Kajima's R&D teams and external innovators for real world implementation.
3. Innovation Hub Operations: Operates Kajima Lab for Global Engineering, Architecture & Real Estate as Southeast Asia headquarters and R&D facility, serving as a vibrant innovation hub that fosters collaboration, experimentation, and growth for startups and corporates.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The GEAR by Kajima is the technology services business and open innovation platform of the Kajima group. It operates a six-floor, 400-capacity smart building (Kajima Lab) at Singapore's Changi Business Park as a living laboratory, runs startup accelerator programmes (Startup CoLab, Community Access) that help early-stage built-environment ventures scale, and commercialises frontier construction technologies through IP scouting, joint development, and international technology transfer.

Product overview

The GEAR by Kajima is a technology services business and open innovation platform operating as a threefold entity: (1) Operator of the Kajima Lab smart facility at Changi Business Park, (2) Platform for open innovation collaborations through the Startup CoLab Programme, Ecosystem Collaborators, and Community Access Programme, and (3) Tech transfer vehicle for commercialising frontier technology through IP scouting, joint development, and international technology transfer. Key offerings include the Startup CoLab accelerator programme, the Kajima BIG Startup Award ($15,000 prize), the Kajima Book Prize in Innovation, and the 400-capacity smart building serving as a live testbed for startups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces waiting times for casting cycles by over 30% through ConcreteAI IoT monitoring solutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered programme participant, core founding partner, strategic and core operational.

• ö.Spaceprogramme participantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Singapore-based startup with modular interior wall system (ö.Wall). Supported through Kajima-BIG Startup Award. Installed first ö.Wall system at The GEAR as proof of concept, demonstrating how modular recycled-material walls can be reconfigured without demolition.
• Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)core founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Founding programme partner in The GEAR Startup CoLab, participating in quarterly partner forums and contributing to the built environment innovation ecosystem.
• Enterprise Singaporecore founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Founding programme partner in The GEAR Startup CoLab, participating in quarterly partner forums and supporting startup ecosystem development in Singapore.
• ACE.SG (Action Community for Entrepreneurship)core founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Founding programme partner in The GEAR Startup CoLab, contributing to the entrepreneurship community and innovation ecosystem.
• Adaptavateprogramme participantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UK-based materials company focused on low-carbon and carbon-negative alternatives (Breathaboard, Carbonboard, Breathaplasta). Part of The GEAR's Startup CoLab programme. Unveiled first demonstration in Asia at The GEAR, showcasing how circular and carbon-negative materials can integrate into regional construction systems.
• GS Engineering & Construction Corp. (GS E&C)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025GS E&C and The GEAR signed an MOU to collaborate on open innovation initiatives that promote technology development and cross-border cooperation in the built environment sector. This partnership focuses on driving innovation and international collaboration between the two companies.
• GlodonstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Strategic partnership to advance education for digital construction, with the launch of an exhibit featuring programmable robots and digital learning tools at The GEAR building to inspire the next generation of builders.
• JTC Corporationcore founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025At The GEAR Startup CoLab, JTC actively contributes by shaping challenge statements, selecting promising startups, and co-designing impactful projects that address pressing needs in the built environment sector. Beyond strategic guidance, JTC offers startups access to their extensive facilities, providing additional opportunities to run proof-of-concepts (POCs) beyond The GEAR by Kajima. Ms. Christine Wong, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Cluster Group at JTC, serves as a key advocate for the programme.
• Building and Construction Authority (BCA)core founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025BCA, Singapore's national regulatory authority and sector lead for the Built Environment, plays a vital role in shaping challenge statements that focus on transformative areas driving a more productive, sustainable, and resilient Built Environment. BCA collaborates on The GEAR Startup CoLab and co-hosted Future City Festival 3.0 at IBEW.
• SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE)core founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Through Business Innovations Generator (BIG) Incubation Program and Kajima-BIG Startup Award, SMU IIE collaborates with The GEAR to support student founders and startup innovation. Founding programme partner in quarterly partner forums.
• Temasek PolytechnicstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2023Tripartite MoU between Kajima Development, Kajima Corporation, and Temasek Polytechnic to enhance educational and research initiatives in facilities management. The collaboration aims to create dynamic partnership fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and skill development. Students and faculty have opportunities to work closely with industry professionals on real-world projects.
• Rainmaking APACstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023The GEAR Startup Residency Programme is powered by Rainmaking APAC. The 6-month accelerator programme supports early-stage startups to accelerate solution and business validation in a live testbed environment with opportunity to solve real business challenges and co-create new solutions with Kajima.
• Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS)core operationalTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023KaTRIS opened its first overseas office in Singapore in September 2013. It has continued to evolve as a research center leading Kajima Group's advanced activities globally. Provides technical support to Kajima Group companies overseas and technical consulting to local developers and design/engineering companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hilti Ventures: Hilti Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Hilti, focused on construction technology, robotics, and digitalisation. It invests in and partners with startups globally, comparable to The GEAR's role as Kajima's external innovation interface for construction tech.
• BuiltWorld: BuiltWorld is a venture network and innovation platform dedicated to the built environment, connecting startups, investors, and industry players. Its venture community and thought leadership mirror The GEAR's role as an ecosystem orchestrator for construction tech in Asia.
• Suffolk Technologies: Suffolk Technologies is the venture and innovation arm of Suffolk Construction, a major US builder. It operates the BOOST accelerator for built environment startups, comparable to The GEAR's Startup CoLab programme and smart-building testbed approach.
• JLL Spark: JLL Spark is JLL's global venture arm investing in and partnering with proptech and built environment startups. Like The GEAR, it serves as a corporate-led platform connecting startups, corporates, and clients around real estate and building innovation.
• CEMEX Ventures: CEMEX Ventures is the corporate venture capital and open innovation arm of CEMEX, one of the world's largest building materials companies. It runs accelerator programmes, invests in construction tech startups, and engages in technology commercialisation, making it highly comparable to The GEAR's venture studio + tech transfer model.

Broad incumbents

• Wates Group Innovation: Wates Group is a major UK construction and development company with an established innovation and sustainability agenda. Comparable as a broad incumbent running corporate innovation in the built environment, though operating primarily in the UK rather than Asia-Pacific.
• Skanska Innovation: Skanska, one of the world's largest construction and project development companies, runs an innovation agenda including venture investments and pilots of emerging technologies. It is broadly comparable as a global incumbent operating corporate innovation in the built environment.
• AECOM Ventures: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with a venture and innovation arm focused on next-generation built environment technologies. Its scale and broad industry positioning make it a broad incumbent comparable to The GEAR, even though The GEAR focuses narrowly on Asia-Pacific startup acceleration.

Others

• Kajima Technical Research Institute (KaTRIS): KaTRIS is the Singapore-based overseas office of Kajima's central R&D institute, focused on construction technology research and consulting for local developers. It is part of the same Kajima group as The GEAR and directly comparable as a sister entity performing R&D and tech transfer, though more research-oriented than venture studio.

Emerging players

• Brickwise: Brickwise is an emerging proptech platform enabling fractional real estate investment. While its focus is on real estate finance rather than the broader built environment, it shares The GEAR's positioning at the intersection of construction, technology, and Singapore-based innovation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheGEARbyKajima
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thegearsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegearsingapore

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The GEAR