Google and NUS Partner to Drive Applied AI Research and Talent Growth in Singapore
The National University of Singapore (NUS) has joined forces with Google to advance applied artificial intelligence (AI) research and develop skilled AI professionals. This partnership aligns with Singapore’s goal to become a leading hub for AI innovation and supports the country’s digital transformation agenda by strengthening collaborations between academia and industry.
The collaboration was formalised during the NUS School of Computing’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner. At the event, NUS and Google signed agreements to establish a joint research and innovation centre. The ceremony was attended by key figures including Professor Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS Computing, Ms Serene Sia, Google Cloud’s Country Director for Singapore and Malaysia, and Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
Bringing Together Research Excellence and Industry Expertise
Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), highlighted the strengths each partner brings to the table. NUS contributes deep AI and multidisciplinary research capabilities, while Google offers advanced technologies, research expertise, and pathways for deploying AI solutions. A major focus will be on talent development through initiatives such as endowed professorships, mentorship, training programmes, and hands-on projects.
Ms Serene Sia emphasised the long-standing collaboration between Google and NUS, including developer groups, AI research partnerships, and talent cultivation programmes. The new joint centre aims to blend NUS’s academic strengths with Google’s AI infrastructure to accelerate safe and responsible AI innovation, especially in fields like healthcare, education, and legal services.
Joint Research and Innovation Centre Initiatives
The centre will focus on applied AI projects across several key areas, supported by a rapid prototyping sandbox powered by Google Cloud’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). This sandbox will enable researchers to test and validate AI solutions before deployment.
- AI in Education: Using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, the centre will develop tools to enhance adult education. This includes adaptive learning systems, AI companions tailored to specific courses, and methods to measure learner engagement and skill progress. These efforts support Singapore’s push for lifelong learning and workforce upskilling.
- AI in Legal: A domain-specific large language model (LLM) for Singapore Law will be created. This model will incorporate local statutes, case precedents, and legal context to improve the accuracy and relevance of AI-assisted legal research. The technology aims to boost productivity across law firms, the judiciary, and public legal education.
- AI in Public Health (AI4PH): The centre will explore AI solutions that integrate data from healthcare, social services, and environmental systems. This approach supports population-level health initiatives like Healthier SG and promotes preventive care and active ageing.
Talent Development and Professorship Support
Alongside the research centre, Google will launch an AI-focused talent development programme at NUS. This initiative will offer training and certification in Google Cloud AI tools, helping students and researchers accelerate applied AI projects.
Google will also support the establishment of a professorship at NUS dedicated to AI. This position will enhance faculty leadership, deepen industry-academia collaboration, and contribute to nurturing the next generation of AI experts.
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