By Joanna Tan · AI in APAC · October 28, 2026

Singapore used the opening of SWITCH 2026 — its flagship innovation and technology week, now drawing more than 25,000 participants from 100 countries, up from 5,000 at its 2016 debut — to roll out a broad new package of AI initiatives spanning research, big industry and small business.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong unveiled MARVEL-AI, the Materials Accelerator for Research and Venture Enterprise Launchpad, backed by an initial S$150 million (about US$117 million) government investment and led by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The platform pairs AI models that identify promising new materials — for semiconductors, energy and chemicals — with “self-driving laboratories” that can synthesise and test candidates quickly, aiming to close the gap between a lab discovery and a manufacturable product.

Enterprise Singapore also named the first cohort of its Champions of AI programme: 24 companies across multiple sectors that have committed to embedding AI into their operations, redesigning jobs and sharing lessons with smaller suppliers, following six months of engagement with industry.

For smaller firms, the government’s Catalytic AI Solutions initiative is targeting everyday, sector-specific use cases: helping logistics operators use AI to allocate fleet jobs and optimise routes, and helping wholesale rice traders use AI for procurement and inventory decisions that also support Singapore’s food security, since the city-state imports the bulk of its rice. Separately, Enterprise Singapore’s agentic AI workshops have already helped close to 300 micro and small businesses build working prototypes using tools including ChatGPT, Claude and Manus, while its SMEs Go Digital platform has added more than 100 global AI tools.

Gan framed the push as preparation for structural change in how work gets done, urging employers to redesign roles so AI absorbs routine tasks while staff focus on judgement and creativity — part of four sectoral AI missions Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced earlier this year covering manufacturing, finance, healthcare and connectivity.

Source: IndexBox, “Singapore Expands AI Push at SWITCH 2026” (27 October 2026); Dimsum Daily, “Singapore Launches New AI Initiatives to Speed Adoption Across Companies and Sectors” (27 October 2026)

Joanna Tan covers AI investment, policy and business strategy across the region for AIAPAC.ai Insights.