This partnership could usher in a new wave of edge computing

Making real progress often entails stepping out of your comfort zone. When it comes to growing a business, that usually means thinking bigger and looking beyond your local market.

That was the mindset of OWS (SG), a Singapore-based high performance computing service provider, when it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GFA, a Japanese asset management company that’s listed on the Tokyo bourse.

Three-lettered companies, assemble / Photo credit: OWS

The move is a big step forward for OWS (SG) as it seeks to expand its high performance computing leasing business to new markets. Besides its core business of leasing more than 2,000 graphics processing unit (GPU) nodes globally, the company operates several AI training and inference clusters, according to chairman and founder Jimmy Qian.

Unsurprisingly, these types of high-performance computing capabilities are useful for AI and machine learning applications. With the world caught up in a frenzy of AI development, there’s no better time than now to take things to the next level.

Putting heads together

The main objective was to establish a collaborative framework between OWS (SG) and GFA that would leverage each company’s respective expertise to create innovative solutions, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver greater value to our stakeholders.

“The ultimate aim is to maximize the competitive advantage of both companies in the AI-specialized data center market and capture the rapidly-growing demand for generative AI and big data capabilities,” said Qian, who represented OWS (SG) at the MOU signing. Meanwhile, GFA was represented by its president and representative director, Tomoki Katada.

Jimmy Qian, chairman and founder of OWS / Photo credit: OWS

Together with GFA, OWS (SG) is looking to establish a container-type data center – also known as a modularized data center – in Japan. This can help companies boost their AI and big data capabilities quickly and efficiently.

Further, OWS (SG) plans to use environmentally-friendly infrastructure that harnesses solar power and other kinds of renewable energy to develop this advanced type of facility.

The data center will operate using a fractional leasing model. This will not just be more cost-efficient for users, but it will also meet the on-demand needs of individual developers, SMEs, and large enterprises that require heavy GPU computing resources.

“We’ll implement this fractional leasing arrangement through a cloud platform, which will go live soon. It will use per-hour billing, so users won’t need to pay when they’re not actually using the services,” he added.

On the other hand, OWS (SG) will provide long-term leasing services for customers that need a more permanent solution, helping them meet diverse needs that can change and grow over time.

A growing love

The MOU is also part of the broader strategy of OWS (SG), which plans to deploy inference clusters with 10,000 GPUs across key markets such as Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. With these new additions, the company will be able to cater to a wide range of industries, such as finance, AI, gaming, and more.

In particular, it’s looking to expand to the vibrant and dynamic South Korean market as part of its Asia-Pacific expansion plan. By establishing a foothold in the country, it will be able to leverage its robust economy, advanced technology infrastructure, and consumer enthusiasm for cutting-edge solutions.

With so many things to do, why did OWS (SG) choose to partner with GFA?

According to Qian, OWS (SG) and GFA have got complementary strengths and a shared vision for innovation and growth.

Qian (right) together with Tomoki Katada (left), president and representative director of GFA / Photo credit: OWS

The two companies initially conducted several preliminary discussions, and it quickly became evident that a partnership would enable both of them to address specific challenges and explore new opportunities in the AI and big data space together.

“For OWS (SG), our value lies in adopting a flexible and innovative business model depending on each of our partners. As such, GFA knew we could address and adapt to their unique needs and help them gain a competitive advantage,” he said.

Now, with the MOU signing completed, it’s just the first step in what could be a beautiful partnership, as GFA and OWS (SG) could collaborate in areas such as advanced AI research, next-generation data center technologies, and integrating renewable energy solutions.

“We see this as the beginning of a long-term relationship that has potential for broader cooperation in the future. I believe that we can revolutionize the AI and big data landscape, delivering solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective,” he said.

OWS (SG) is a leading high performance computing services provider revolutionizing the industry with its cutting-edge technology and global infrastructure. Find out more about the company here.

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