Singapore Accelerates AI Growth with 800 Training Opportunities and 500 New Business Projects

Singapore Boosts AI Talent and Business Projects with Major Initiatives

Singapore is making a strong push in artificial intelligence (AI), unveiling plans for 800 new training spots and up to 500 new AI-driven projects aimed at benefiting 1,000 enterprises. This move is part of the country’s strategy to grow its digital economy, which currently accounts for nearly 18% of its GDP, according to Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How.

The expansion targets both those new to AI and experienced practitioners. Over the next three years, 400 training places will be available via the national AI Singapore (AISG) programme, while another 400 spots will be offered by major tech companies like Amazon Web Services, Oracle, Microsoft, and Singtel.

Practical Training to Meet Industry Demands

About 300 of these training places will be provided through an enhanced AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP) that focuses on real-world skills. The six-month AIAP curriculum is designed to address practical needs in the industry, and since its 2018 inception, it has trained over 410 graduates with a hiring rate exceeding 90%.

One success story is Jerald Han, who transitioned from a deputy director role at the Housing Board to become a natural language processing engineer at AI unicorn Patsnap. He credits AIAP with providing essential skills, especially in software engineering and machine learning operations.

Additionally, AISG will launch the Pinnacle AI Industry Programme to train 100 local AI practitioners into expert model builders over three years. This program offers hands-on experience in various stages of large language model development, including working on AISG’s regional model, Sea-Lion.

Growing Tech Talent Pool to Meet Rising Demand

Singapore aims to triple its tech talent pool to 15,000 by 2028. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) reported a 25% increase in tech talent over the past year, supported by partnerships with schools and skills upgrading initiatives. To date, more than 20,000 locals have entered tech roles, and 320,000 individuals have gained tech skills.

However, enterprises are pushing for faster progress. A recent survey of 350 local companies highlighted that only 12% of SMEs are at an intermediate stage of AI adoption, citing talent shortages as a key barrier. Nearly half of the respondents pointed to an insufficient local AI talent pool, with recruitment hindered by high salary expectations and skills mismatches.

To address immediate talent gaps, 62% of firms expressed openness to hiring from abroad. Nick Catino, global head of policy at payroll firm Deel, emphasized that cross-border hiring and remote work remain critical for accessing global AI expertise that complements local teams.

Support for Enterprises and New AI Projects

To support businesses, the government announced that 1,000 enterprises will receive funding and guidance for up to 500 new generative AI projects within the next year through an expanded GenAI x Digital Leaders initiative. This programme has already enabled over 200 enterprises to complete 50 AI projects.

One example is White restaurant, which integrated its HR management system and deployed an AI bot through IMDA’s Chief-Technology-Officer-as-a-Service. The restaurant’s director praised the ease of grant application and vendor support that helped staff quickly adapt.

Additionally, Alibaba Cloud, ST Engineering, and Prudential Singapore have made commitments to assist local firms. Alibaba Cloud aims to support 3,000 SMEs and digital solution providers in cloud and AI technologies. ST Engineering offers free cyber-threat scanning for up to 2,000 SMEs, and Prudential Singapore will produce up to 10 generative AI explainer videos.

These efforts build on support from existing partners like AWS, DBS Bank, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, SGTech, Singapore Business Federation, and Singapore Computer Society, which collectively helped 10,000 enterprises in 2024.

Fostering Regional AI Collaboration

As part of its regional push, AISG is launching the first pan-Southeast Asia AI developer challenge. This competition invites developers to create AI solutions tailored to the region’s needs, enhancing collaboration across Southeast Asia.

Senior Minister Tan summed up Singapore’s approach by emphasizing reliability and consistency in digital innovation, stating that the country aims to be a dependable partner amid global uncertainties.

Further Learning and Resources

IT professionals interested in advancing their AI skills may explore practical courses and certifications to stay competitive. Platforms like Complete AI Training offer curated AI courses that cover a range of skills from beginner to expert levels, including prompt engineering, automation, and generative AI applications.