More than S$45 million set aside to help Singapore manufacturers adopt AI

The agency said in a media release on Wednesday that the solutions could reduce manual work and response times, improve equipment reliability and help manufacturers maintain consistent product quality.

The suite will be expanded over time as more industry needs and solutions are identified.

While many SMEs recognise the potential of AI, adoption can be challenging because of development costs, limited access to sector-specific solutions and uncertainty over outcomes, EnterpriseSG said.

The initiative aims to address these barriers by bringing together AI solution providers, system integrators and industry associations, allowing SMEs to tap proven solutions without having to develop them independently.

This could reduce the time, cost and complexity involved in adopting AI, it added.

Some SMEs have already expressed interest in adopting AI solutions under the new initiative, Ms Gan said.

EnterpriseSG is also developing Catalytic AI Solutions for the logistics and wholesale trade sectors, with more details to be announced at a later date.

The initiative comes amid Singapore’s push to accelerate the use of AI in advanced manufacturing, one of four sectors targeted under its National AI Missions, alongside connectivity, finance and healthcare.

Manufacturing accounts for nearly 20 per cent of Singapore’s GDP.

Ms Gan said the goal was not simply to increase the use of AI, but to transform the manufacturing sector.

“Our aim is to reimagine manufacturing to grow our manufacturing output and productivity,” she added.