It was first conceptualised in 1991 as part of the National Technology Plan and officially launched on 4 December 2001 by then Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan Keng Yam.

[2][3] The precinct is split into 9 main developments: Biopolis, Fusionopolis, Mediapolis, Vista, LaunchPad @ one-north, Nepal Hill, Rochester Park, Wessex, and Pixel.

Besides being a "science hub" as it was first described, the government's aim for one-north is to create a community whereby Singaporeans can gather to live, work and relax together.

This campus is dedicated to providing space for biomedical research and development activities and promoting peer review and collaboration among the private and public scientific community.

[8] Occupying 30 hectares of land within one-north, Fusionopolis is envisioned to be an R&D hub for infocomm technology, media, physical sciences and engineering industries.

It houses various research organizations, high-tech companies, government agencies, retail outlets, and serviced apartments in one location.

Aside from its offices, the seven-storey headquarters also houses the first RazerStore and RazerCafe in Singapore where visitors are able to view the company's latest products and order a drink prepared by a robotic barista arm.

[16] The Deliveroo Food Market is also housed in the building, featuring 10 kitchens and a 40-seat dining space, all based on a fully automated ordering system.

[22] BLOCK71 Singapore, a decades-old flatted factory within Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate, was repurposed in 2010 by the Media Development Authority to be part of one-north.

Internally, however, it is one of Singapore's high-tech hubs, with dozens of digital startups and VC funds sited directly across the street from Fusionopolis and the one-north MRT Station.

[26] Envisioned as a global centre for leadership training and talent development, Nepal Hill will house business schools, corporate universities, and professional service companies.

[32] The old black-and-white colonial bungalows in Rochester Park have been preserved under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's conservation guidelines and are now leased to over 30 food and beverage and lifestyle retail tenants.

Rochester Commons is a 17-storey mixed-use tower housing a 5,000 square metre shared executive learning centre, a 135-room business hotel named Citadines, offices, a sky garden, and an amenities deck.

[33] Rochester Park 11 has 11 colonial bungalows turned into a dining and lifestyle retail hub consisting of restaurants, galleries, and spas.