Microsoft Singapore has unveiled new collaborations with both public and private sector partners as part of its AI Pinnacle Program. These initiatives, announced at the ‘Leading in the Era of AI’ event, aim to accelerate the adoption of AI across the community and reinforce Singapore’s leadership in this transformative technology.
The AI Pinnacle Program, designed to drive industry-wide transformation, has been expanded to encompass more sectors and industry pioneers. This expansion aligns with the Singapore Government’s emphasis on tech-driven growth as part of Budget 2025. Mrs. Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information and the Patron of the Singapore Women in Tech (SGWIT) movement, attended the event alongside other key figures, including Microsoft Singapore’s Enterprise Commercial Director Ms. Cynthia Yeo, and Managing Director Ms. Lee Hui Li. The event was organized by Microsoft and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s SGWIT in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
Driving AI Transformation in Singapore Microsoft is broadening its AI Pinnacle Program through strategic collaborations with industry leaders such as CapitaLand, ofi (Olam Food Ingredients), SATS, Singtel, and SJ Group. These companies, representing key industries, will co-innovate with Microsoft to create sector-specific AI solutions and competencies. This collaborative approach aims to scale the benefits of AI across diverse sectors.
New research from IDC* indicates that 82% of Singaporean organizations are either using or planning to invest in AI, surpassing the global average of 75%. These organizations have also reported a significant return on investment, with $3.4 in ROI for every $1 spent within 14 months, demonstrating the tangible value of AI for businesses in Singapore.
Developing Tailored AI Tools and Local Talent Microsoft and the ASTAR Institute for Infocomm Research (ASTAR I2R) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop MERaLiON (Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network) using Microsoft Azure. The goal is to integrate MERaLiON into the Microsoft 365 productivity suite and Copilot, enhancing the accessibility of AI assistants tuned to local context and languages. This collaboration supports IMDA and A*STAR I2R in delivering Singapore’s first National Multimodal Large Language Model, with support from the National Research Foundation and IMDA under the National Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) Funding Initiative.
To encourage AI talent and to support the tech ecosystem’s commitment to hire women for AI roles, Microsoft announced initiatives to strengthen AI talent and expand its Code; Without Barriers program. This program will train a total of 200,000 learners in Singapore by 2027 and will mentor, skill, and provide internship and employment opportunities for 10,000 women in AI and Data to advance equitable gender representation in AI with local organizations. New members of Code; Without Barriers include Bank of Singapore, CapitaLand, Cloud4C, Cognizant, CPF Board, SATS, SJ Group, and Total eBiz Solutions.
Ms. Lee Hui Li, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring that AI benefits the entire Singapore community. She stated that the organization is excited to expand the AI Pinnacle Program to make it easier to access effective AI and build new skills, while also transforming key industries. Dr. Sun Sumei, Executive Director of ASTAR Institute for Infocomm Research (ASTAR I2R), highlighted the significance of their collaboration with Microsoft to further develop MERaLiON, aiming to create AI capabilities tailored to Singapore’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
About the AI Pinnacle Program Launched in March 2024, the Microsoft AI Pinnacle Program aims to empower organizations in Singapore to realize scalable, impactful AI-powered solutions. The program facilitates the co-creation and co-innovation of AI use cases, fostering an AI-first culture and ecosystem.
The program includes key components to drive industry transformation. These components consist of:
- Envisioning and prioritizing AI roadmaps for strategic AI use cases
- Operationalizing prioritized AI use cases to deliver business impact
- Establishing an AI Center of Capabilities (CoC) that includes AI accelerators and toolsets
- Incorporating AI enterprise skilling through comprehensive training programs
Microsoft’s dedication to the Singaporean market extends to its support for small and medium businesses (SMBs). Through its role as a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, Microsoft’s collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore exceeded its three-year training target of 2,000 SMEs by upskilling 2,100 in the first year alone.
Source: IDC Resource Map Document: sponsored by Microsoft, The Business Opportunity of AI 2024, IDC# US52638724, November 2024
