Singapore agencies and Google Cloud have announced joint initiatives to enhance AI adoption across government and industry, helping AI startups and building a workforce with AI skills to support Singapore’s second National AI Strategy (NAIS 2.0).
Government agencies collaborating with Google Cloud on these initiatives include the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), Smart Nation Group (SNG) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG).
One of the initiatives includes the second edition of AI Trailblazers to help up to 150 organisations in Singapore build generative AI solutions to address real-world challenges.
This expanded initiative will have enhanced Innovation Sandboxes that provide access to Google Cloud’s unified AI stack and support from Google Cloud engineers, at no cost for up to 10 weeks.
Google Cloud will allow organisations to use its generative AI model Gemini and Duet AI for Developers to help build, deploy, and operate applications.
EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud launched "Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore" to develop 100 promising AI startups and help expand into new markets.
The first cohort of 20 startups will join a three-month program starting in April 2024.
Selected startups will receive up to US$350,000 (S$468,831) in Google Cloud credits, access to Google Cloud’s AI tools, mentorship from Google experts and industry partners, and the opportunity to showcase work at a Demo Day hosted by Google Cloud and EnterpriseSG.
Qualified startups may receive funding support under EnterpriseSG’s Startup SG Tech scheme.
Building a local AI-skilled workforce
To address the growing demand for AI skills, Google announced 3000 Google Career Certificate scholarships to local distribution partners – with a focus on upskilling mid-career professionals.
Designed by Google experts, the nine Google Career Certificates cover fields including cybersecurity, data analytics, and IT support which can be completed within three to six months through flexible, self-paced online training, with no relevant experience required.
Google Cloud offers introductory-level microlearning courses in generative AI open to all learners, at no cost.
To support the government’s goal of tripling the number of local AI practitioners to 15,000 over the next three to five years, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) will become the first institute of higher learning in Singapore to incorporate industry training programs from Google Cloud into its core curriculum for over 1,000 full-time diploma students in its School of Information Technology.
