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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
60 S'pore firms to get AI boost from Tata Consultancy as it launches a new innovation centre here
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From left) TCS Pace global head Leena Walavalkar, High Commissioner of India Shilpak Ambule, TCS Ppresident for growth markets Girish Ramachandran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, TCS chief technology officer Harrick Vin, TCS Singapore country head Punit Agarwal, TCS chief technology officer Michele Lemmens at the launch of the new facility on July 3. SINGAPORE - Up to 60 local SMEs and start-ups are getting an AI boost from India's largest IT services provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with its launch of a high-powered innovation centre in Singapore. The new facility, located within TCS Asia Pacific's office at Changi Business Park, will allow the firm's customers and partners – including up to 50 small and medium-sized enterprises and 10 start-ups in the next 12 months – to work with its experts to co-develop, prototype and scale AI solutions for real-world business challenges. TCS also plans to hire up to 50 fresh graduates from local universities in roles such as data science and cyber security to support the centre's operations. The company has 6,600 employees in Singapore. TCS declined to disclose the facility's cost or size, but said it plans to expand it in the first half of 2026. Mr Punit Agarwal , TCS Singapore country head, told The Straits Times on July 3 that SMEs here typically do not have access to top consulting talent for tech, but the new centre will be able to help bridge that gap. 'SMEs may not be as tech-savvy as larger corporations, but our consultants can guide them in understanding their data, learning how to use AI, and assessing their existing tech stack to identify what needs to be modernised,' he said. Mr Agarwal also noted that the centre will serve as a platform for fintech firms and start-ups to showcase their products and join TCS' Co-Innovation Network – a global ecosystem that connects emerging tech companies with TCS' enterprise customers worldwide. 'The centre will bring together our deep domain and contextual knowledge of customer business and cutting-edge technologies from Google, Nvidia and other technology partners to deliver impactful outcomes for business in Singapore,' he said. At the launch ceremony for the new innovation centre on July 3 , Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan said Singapore will continue to deploy and develop digital AI solutions with digital and local players. He noted that TCS's new innovation centre will play a similar role to the $150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI) announced in the 2025 Budget, which helps Singapore-based companies gain access to cloud resources, AI tools and consultancy services. 'It will partner with local and global corporates to advance their digital transformation – by connecting businesses including start-up s, academia, and government agencies, the centre will drive cross-sector innovation and collaboration,' he said. Headquartered in Mumbai, TCS established its operations in Singapore in 1985. The firm, which specialises in IT services, consulting and business solutions, has a presence in 55 countries worldwide.
Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Up to 300 S'pore firms stand to get cloud credits, grants to spur AI trials under new programme
(From left) Digital Industry Singapore assistant vice-president Mabel Seah, AWS Singapore country manager Priscilla Chong, Global Sales Asia Pacific & Japan VP Jaime Valles, Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling, Digital Industry Singapore senior vice-president Philbert Gomez and Singapore country manager for Public Sector Elsie Tan at the launch of the new AWS Innovation Hub. PHOTO: AWS Up to 300 S'pore firms stand to get cloud credits, grants to spur AI trials under new programme SINGAPORE – As many as 300 local firms will each receive up to $600,000 in benefits under a new programme by Amazon's cloud arm to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Called AI Springboard, the initiative by Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide a baseline of $350,000 in dedicated cloud credits and training resources, with the remaining value made up of additional cloud credits from existing AWS programmes. These credits allow firms to trial and potentially adopt cloud tools. The funding is in addition to a government grant of up to $105,000 per enterprise for consultancy services supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) – the government arm driving the programme, which is the second to take wing under the $150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI) announced in the 2025 Budget. The ECI supports firms by pairing them with major cloud providers to access AI tools, computing power and expert consultancy. To tap AI Springboard, companies must be registered or incorporated in Singapore and meet ECI eligibility criteria, such as having experience developing a custom AI solution for a proof-of-concept. The programme was announced on June 26 at the launch of AWS's new 8,000 sq ft Innovation Hub in Shenton Way – its first such facility globally – where enterprises can explore AI tools and work with AWS experts to develop and deploy AI solutions. Among the tools on showcase include a mini bike manufacturing line by AWS that demonstrates how companies can use AI and sensors to solve common production issues, and an AI-powered tool by ST Engineering that helps detect deepfakes, false information and harmful online content. AWS declined to disclose the cost of the hub, but noted that it is a ' multimillion-dollar ' investment on top of its previously announced US$9 billion (S$11.5 billion) commitment to Singapore's cloud infrastructure by 2028. It also said that it plans to engage more than 1,000 C-suite leaders and business decision-makers at the hub, offer 200 tertiary students an exclusive AI learning experience and support the training of 2,000 professionals in high-demand jobs like AI and cloud computing every year. Speaking at the launch ceremony for AI Springboard and the new Innovation Hub, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said the Government is aiming to accelerate the development and deployment of AI across Singapore's economy. 'Through the (AI Springboard) programme, we aim to support participating companies in developing future-ready AI solutions that will transform their businesses,' she said. 'Multiple cohorts of the AI Springboard Programme will be onboarded this year, and I encourage companies to seize this opportunity to partner with AWS and DISG on their AI journey.' According to AWS, the $600,000 cloud credits and training support may be disbursed either in tranches or as a lump sum, depending on the scope and scale of each company's project. The Government's grant of up to $105,000 will be awarded once the company and AWS successfully develop and pilot at least one minimum viable product for the firm's AI use case. AWS Singapore country manager Priscilla Chong said AI Springboard brings together the firm's cloud and AI tools, technical expertise and training support to help local enterprises turn their ideas into real-world applications. She added that the decision to base its first Innovation Hub in Singapore reflects the company's confidence in the Republic as a key centre for innovation and technological experimentation. 'From one highly connected city-state, we can reach more than three billion people across Asia-Pacific and Japan, tap a deep pool of world-class tech talent, work with a government that consistently backs digital growth, and enable customers across industries to move faster with the confidence that Singapore's ecosystem provides,' she said. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Google Cloud and Singapore launch $500,000 AI incentive for 300 Enterprises
Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling (3rd from right), with Google Cloud's executives, launching the inaugural AI Cloud Takeoff programme at Google Cloud office on June 13. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO SINGAPORE – Google's cloud unit has joined forces with the Government to outlay benefits worth $500,000 to each of 300 selected local companies in a bid to promote the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions. The AI Cloud Takeoff, as the initiative is called, provides technical guidance, Google training resources and cloud services credits to help firms build in-house AI expertise and broaden their AI pilots into core operations. Companies must be locally registered or incorporated in Singapore, commit at least three employees in AI roles for at least six months, have formal support from a business leader, and have at least one AI use case ready to be worked on. The use case will be evaluated by the Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), the government arm driving the programme, which is the first to take wing under the $150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative announced in the 2025 Budget. The initiative aims to encourage companies to partner cloud providers to accelerate enterprise AI and cloud adoption. A key feature is a two-week AI capacity building boot camp with Google Cloud's experts to help firms set up AI Centres of Excellence within six months. Singapore has at least 26 of these centres, which concentrate innovation, experimentation, training, coordination and evaluation. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said at the launch ceremony for the new programme that the Government hopes to have about 100 such centres, each serving as catalyst for broader industry transformation. Mr Mitesh Agarwal, Google Cloud's regional managing director for solutions and technology, told The Straits Times: 'When people develop Centres of Excellences, the rubber hits the road. 'That's when you start realising that hiring technical staff – AI engineers, machine learning engineers – and retaining them, keeping them motivated, is not easy.' Selected firms could consult seven advisory firms – Accenture, AsiaPac, CloudMile, Deloitte, Kyndryl, NTT Data, and Searce – to help them take their data exploration and experimentation stages to model training, deployment, performance monitoring and optimisation. Participants have six months to set a budget and turn out at least one viable AI use case. The grant will be disbursed in tranches as each milestone is hit. Mr Andy Welsh, chief technology officer of fintech Embed, which has been trialling the programme, urged firms to pick existing problems when formulating their viable use case. 'You have got people watching the problem and complaining about it. You get feedback quicker and you get results quicker. Don't invent a problem. Stick to something that's already nagging you.' The $500,000 grant comprises an estimated $105,000 to subsidise 70 per cent of consultancy service costs, $200,000 for training credits and certifications and $195,000 for cloud credits. Andy Welsh, Chief Technology Officer at fintech Embed, demonstrating his company's AI solution for arcade gaming at the launch of AI Cloud Take-Off (AI CTO) held at the Google office in Pasir Panjang on June 13. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Mr Agarwal said the last tranche, cloud credits, is designed to encourage firms to take the final step – deployment. He said: 'When you deploy in a real world environment, that's where the (cloud) consumption goes up based on usage of your own customers.' Google Cloud, the world's third-largest cloud services provider by market share, estimates that a $150,000 budget set aside by companies would be enough for them to produce at least one viable use case. It added that firms applying for the programme do not need to be current Google customers. It is also prepared to support more enterprises if more than 300 companies apply. The new scheme replaces Google's 2023 AI Trailblazers programme that graduated 213 firms at early stages of AI adoption. All are now Google's customers, said Mr Agarwal. Firms were too wary of security and quality issues to adopt AI then, but the market is now more mature where many companies have already tried and adopted at least one enterprise AI solution, he added. As well as Embed, supply chain solutions firm YCH Group, investment platform Endowus and software company Polybee are among the 30 firms that have been trialling the new programme since late 2024. YCH is taking its new AI-powered document and cargo scanning solution to use in the Vietnam SuperPort. It plans to introduce the tool progressively in supply chain cities in Singapore and Malaysia. Container leasing company Seaco put up 30 AI use cases for the pilot. About six weeks ago, it started using AI to identify damaged containers at the Tuas depot. Mr Damian Leach, its chief information officer, said the automation has reduced times from days and weeks to a matter of minutes. Savings are expected to be around $10 million annually at least. He said: 'We interface with over 500 ports and depots across the world. A lot of these ports and depots are in emerging markets, and as you would imagine, the technology in those emerging markets isn't that great. 'So for us, the depot process was a critical function that we wanted to automate.' Embed, which provides services to entertainment complexes such as Timezone games arcades, introduced its AI kiosk solution in the US to personalise game rec ommendations and themes based on customer preferences . It is also able to direct customers to less performing games in an arcade. It's CTO, Mr Welsh, said: 'The cool part about this is that this AI says these games are underperforming at the moment, we need to drive more traffic that way.' Companies can apply at They can also contact Google Cloud at to discuss their AI use case. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: SMEs can access resources needed to stay resilient and future-ready
We refer to Mr Lock Chee Wee's letter 'Give boost similar to CDC vouchers for SMEs' digital transformation' (April 18). S mall and medium-sized enterprises are a key engine of our economy and the Government is fully committed to helping SMEs undertake enterprise and workforce transformation to stay competitive and seize new opportunities. Digital transformation and innovation are important capabilities that companies must develop to thrive for the long term. The Government recently announced a new Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI) to support companies to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into their operations and to grow their AI R&D and productisation capabilities. The ECI provides companies with access to cloud compute credits and training programmes, and a grant for consultancy services to develop and scale AI solutions. This is similar in intent to Mr Lock's suggestion to provide funding for SMEs to boost their digital transformation. Before this, the Infocomm Media Development Authority had also introduced the SMEs Go Digital programme that includes advisory support through the Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service platform, while Enterprise Singapore's Productivity Solutions Grant helps businesses adopt digital solutions to improve operational efficiency. To help companies upgrade their workforce, the Government has also set aside over $400 million for a new Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package, which will be progressively rolled out in 2026. This package comprises three main features: - a new SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant to provide support for activities such as job redesign, capability building and training; - enhanced funding support for job redesign activities; and - a fresh $10,000 in credits for eligible businesses under the redesigned SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit to support workforce transformation. Aside from enterprise and workforce transformation, the Government gives priority to supporting SMEs' efforts to grow and internationalise. SMEs looking to strengthen their business operations and develop innovative products can tap the Enterprise Development Grant. SMEs keen to access overseas markets can apply for the Market Readiness Assistance Grant to defray related expenses. Access to financing is also key to SMEs' growth. Through the Enterprise Financing Scheme, the Government shares the risk for loans extended by participating financial institutions for businesses' transformation, innovation and expansion. We would like to assure Mr Lock that we will continually review our programmes to ensure that we can support SMEs with the tools and resources they need to stay resilient and future-ready. Ong Li Lian Director, Enterprise Development Division Ministry of Trade and Industry More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
