Singapore's Surge in AI Innovation Hubs

Singapore has emerged as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), with more than 60 AI Centres of Excellence (COEs) established across diverse sectors including food, finance, manufacturing, transport, and healthcare. These facilities, launched in partnership with leading technology companies and government agencies, are transforming industries by accelerating AI adoption and research. The expansion reflects Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0, introduced in December 2023, which has spurred rapid growth in AI infrastructure to position the city-state as Asia's AI hub.

This boom is not just about numbers; it's about tangible impacts. From optimizing food production chains to revolutionizing financial services, these centres are producing cutting-edge research and practical applications that address real-world challenges. Recent government commitments, including a S$1 billion investment over five years, signal even greater ambitions for public AI research.

National AI Strategy: The Foundation of Expansion

The National AI Strategy 2.0 serves as the blueprint for Singapore's AI journey. Launched by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and other agencies, it aims to anchor deep national capabilities in AI by 2030. Within 18 months of its rollout, over 50 AI COEs were established, surpassing targets and reaching more than 60 by early 2026.

These COEs are collaborative efforts between private firms, research institutes like A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), and universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The strategy emphasizes three pillars: talent development, industry transformation, and governance. For instance, frameworks like AI Verify ensure ethical AI deployment, gaining international recognition.

The strategy's success is evident in the diversity of sectors covered, from precision agriculture to fintech, fostering a ecosystem where AI solves sector-specific problems while contributing to fundamental research.

New S$1 Billion Boost for Public AI Research

In January 2026, the Singapore government announced an additional investment exceeding S$1 billion (approximately US$778 million) from 2025 to 2030 under the National AI Research and Development (R&D) 2030 plan. This funding doubles down on previous commitments within the S$37 billion Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan.

The investment will establish a network of Research Centres of Excellence (RCEs), distinct from the industry-led COEs. RCEs will focus on fundamental AI research, resource-efficient AI, responsible AI, and applied solutions for sectors like aviation, manufacturing, and public safety. Partnerships with industry leaders such as Changi Airport Group and Sembcorp Industries will bridge academia and application.

This move aims to build sovereign AI capabilities, nurture talent through upskilling 8,000 students via data centre partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning, and position Singapore amid US-China AI dominance.

AI in Finance: Pioneering Smart Financial Ecosystems

The finance sector boasts several prominent AI COEs, leveraging Singapore's status as a global financial hub. Manulife launched its AI Centre of Excellence in December 2025, partnering with the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) and local universities to enhance customer experiences through responsible AI. The centre focuses on practical skills training and innovation in insurance and wealth management.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management established its AI CoE in the same month, developing AI solutions for personalized services. Earlier, UBS set up a factory-like AI facility, contributing to over 50 COEs in finance alone. The AI in Demand Analytics (AIDA) CoE bridges skills gaps in the sector, promoting AI fluency.

Research outputs include advanced models for fraud detection and risk assessment, published in collaboration with A*STAR. For professionals seeking opportunities, explore higher-ed jobs in AI-finance intersections or research jobs at these centres.

These initiatives have boosted productivity, with AI optimizing trading algorithms and customer service chatbots, reducing operational costs by up to 30% in pilot projects.

Transforming Food and Agri-Food with AI

In the food sector, AI addresses Singapore's food security challenges amid limited land. Japfa's AI and Quantum Computing Centre of Excellence, launched in October 2025, collaborates with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) on applied AI for food processing quality and livestock farming efficiency. It tackles operational challenges like supply chain optimization and sustainable production.

Other efforts include Heineken's AI hub for brewing innovation and Singapore Food Agency's AI tools for agricultural workflows. Research from these centres has led to predictive models for crop yields and waste reduction, detailed in recent A*STAR publications.

The centres use AI for precision farming, automated quality control, and quantum-enhanced simulations for sustainable protein alternatives, aligning with '30 by 30' food resilience goals.

Manufacturing and Transport: Efficiency at Scale

The AI Centre of Excellence for Manufacturing (AIMfg), launched in September 2024, integrates AI across supply chains, led by MTI and A*STAR. It develops solutions for predictive maintenance and smart factories.

In transport, Grab's AI CoE (May 2025) boosts productivity for ride-hailing, delivery, and SMEs with AI tools for demand forecasting. Aviation sees collaborations like Singapore Airlines' AI for product development and CAAS's International Aviation Lab.

Research publications from AIMfg include papers on AI-driven robotics, presented at international conferences, enhancing Singapore's manufacturing competitiveness.

Healthcare and Precision Medicine Advances

MSD (Merck) opened its AI CoE in July 2025 within the Singapore Tech Centre, accelerating R&D in drug discovery and manufacturing using AI analytics. Collaborations under National Precision Medicine leverage AI for personalized treatments and real-time monitoring.

Outputs include AI models for diagnostics, featured in Nature-indexed journals from NUS and NTU labs. These centres support Singapore's medtech ecosystem, with AI reducing clinical trial times.

Key Research Outputs and Publications

The expansion has yielded significant research. A*STAR's Centre for Frontier AI Research (CFAR) had 12 papers accepted at AAAI-26 (January 2026, Singapore Expo), covering speech processing and trustworthy AI.

• A sound benchmark for AI audio models from A*STAR Research (Jan 2026).
• NTU's SCALE@NTU publications on public safety AI.
• NUS AI Lab papers on next-gen systems.

These publications, often open-access via AI Singapore, demonstrate Singapore's rising research impact, with citations surging in top venues.

Talent Pipeline and Career Opportunities

AI COEs partner with NUS, NTU, and polytechnics for upskilling. The S$1b plan targets training thousands, including AI PhD fellowships via AI Singapore.

Professionals can find roles in faculty positions, research assistants, or industry via Singapore jobs on AcademicJobs.com. Demand for AI experts in finance and manufacturing is high.

Challenges, Governance, and Responsible AI

Despite growth, challenges like talent shortages and ethical risks persist. Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework and AI Verify toolkit address bias and transparency. RCEs will prioritize responsible AI research.

Photo by Angelyn Sanjorjo on Unsplash

Future Outlook: A Global AI Powerhouse

With 60+ COEs, S$1b+ investments, and AAAI-26 hosting, Singapore eyes leadership in AI by 2030. Expect more RCEs, cross-sector breakthroughs, and publications driving global standards.

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