SGTech partners SUTD to launch AI impact series to boost AI business application skills for Singapore enterprises

SINGAPORE, Sep 25, 2025 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping industries and becoming an essential driver of business competitiveness. In his recent National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Wong urged enterprises to embrace AI skills to future-proof their businesses. This was also echoed by Minister for Communications and Information, Mrs Josephine Teo, who highlighted the importance of AI fluency nationwide.

SGTech has taken the lead to launch the AI Impact Series (AIS) – a demand-led initiative designed to help enterprises define practical use cases for AI adoption and relevant skills to support their workforce in adopting AI. Delivered by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and supported by SSG and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the programme has already seen participation from more than 90 enterprises since its July 2025. SGTech aims to benefit up to 300 enterprises and 1,500 professionals by June 2026.

SGTech, in its role as an appointed Skills Development Partner (SDP) by SSG, has identified AI as one of the most critical technology trends that will disrupt and transform businesses. To ensure Singapore’s enterprises remain competitive, SGTech established the AI Skills and Training Committee (AI-STC), a 26-member committee comprising government, industry and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), to work closely with industry stakeholders to drive and accelerate AI skills adoption.

Mr Nicholas Lee, Chair, SGTech and Co-Chair, AI-STC:

“It is critical for SGTech to play the leading role as the trade association in closest proximity of tech trends to pave the way for Singapore enterprises in tech advancements through development of workforce capabilities. Through our AI Skills and Training Advisory Clinics launched last year, more than 60 enterprises have shared their challenges in AI adoption. We hear the challenge of defining business use cases for AI adoption. With the AI Impact Series, we are bringing the potential of AI applications to companies from defining business use cases as the starting point to inspire further business innovations. With the AI-STC, we hope to benefit 300 enterprises and 1,500 professionals in building the next wave of AI-enabled business capabilities.”

SGTech curated the AI Impact Series (AIS) – the first demand-led course curation from aggregating employers’ needs. This programme addresses a key employer challenge on identifying relevant business use cases for AI adoption and AI skills to equip their workers in.

Since its roll-out in July 2025, more than 90 enterprises and 160 professionals ranging from business owners, C-suites, mid-level managers and professionals have been trained.

Mr John Leong, Director, SUTD Academy and Member of AI-STC:

“Through our collaboration with SGTech on the AI Impact Series, SUTD is bringing the power of Design AI to enterprises, turning emerging AI technologies into practical business applications. As the world’s first Design AI university, we leverage our expertise in design thinking and AI to help companies identify meaningful use cases, develop actionable solutions, and build workforce capabilities. This initiative reflects our commitment to bridging innovation with industry needs, equipping businesses with the knowledge, creativity, and confidence to adopt AI effectively and unlock its full potential for growth and transformation.”

Mr Adrian Ong, Director, Jobs and Skills Division, Human Capital Cluster, IMDA, and Member of AI-STC:

“Since 2016, under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative and with the strong support of SSG, we have upskilled over 340,000 professionals in technology skills. As the AI landscape evolves rapidly, it is crucial that we work closely with industry partners, through SGTech, to accelerate AI upskilling. SGTech has been instrumental in updating our Skills Framework for ICT with AI competencies in 2019, and more recently, in March 2025, to incorporate Generative AI. IMDA is pleased to support the AI Impact Series curated by SGTech and SUTD, as part of the Skills Development Partner initiative. This initiative will help enterprises build the business acumen needed to make better informed decisions about AI adoption and drive meaningful business transformation.”

Ms Xu Wenshan, Director, Enterprise Engagement Division, SSG and Member of AI-STC:

“SGTech has demonstrated how a Skills Development Partner can identify and aggregate employer needs based on emerging tech trends and translate them into industry-relevant courses. Through its collaboration with SUTD, the AI Impact Series will enable enterprises to develop their workforce in tandem with their business transformation efforts in an evolving AI landscape. We look forward to more of such efforts by our Skills Development Partners in shaping workforce capabilities, and to continue helping our enterprises identify critical and emerging skills.”

To widen the reach of AIS, SGTech has collaborated with ecosystem partners such as Grab and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), to enable more companies to close skills gaps in AI adoption.

Mr Alan Ong, Head of Training Strategy & Partnerships, Grab

“GrabAcademy is committed to empowering all our partners with the skills and training needed to be more resilient and future-ready. Through our role as a SkillsFuture Queen Bee and in partnership with SGTech on AI Impact Series, we aim to equip SME partners with practical AI capabilities that can drive productivity while making AI more accessible to all.”

Mr Lee Yee Fung, Chief Smart Technologies Officer, Singapore Business Federation, and Member of AI-STC

“As the AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly, companies’ ability to sense make their technology needs relevant to their stage of business growth is further heightened. The AI Impact Series is a timely intervention that enhances companies’ ability to assess their AI needs and in turn give them more confidence to move forward with AI deployment.”

The AIS has helped businesses think strategically about AI adoption.

Mr Sanjey Chandran, Board Member, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Director, CSD Ventures:

“The AI Impact series stands out by translating AI into practical tools SMEs can apply immediately. The most valuable takeaway has been building workforce confidence to embrace transformation. To fellow SMEs, I would stress that investing in AI training is no longer optional – it is critical to future-proof your business.”

For more information about the AI Impact Series, please visit https://www.sgtech.org.sg/pageManagement/aiimpactseries or contact SGTech at skills@sgtech.org.sg

About SGTech

SGTech is the leading trade association for Singapore’s tech industry. Representing over 1,400 member companies ranging from top multinational corporations, large local enterprises, vibrant small and medium-sized enterprises, and innovative startups, it is the largest community in Singapore where companies converge to advocate for change and drive what enables tech innovation and accelerates tech adoption to spur greater sustainability in the sector. SGTech’s mission is to catalyse a thriving ecosystem that powers Singapore as a global tech powerhouse. For more information, visit www.sgtech.org.sg or follow SGTech on LinkedIn

About Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is the world’s first Design AI university. With Design AI, artificial intelligence is treated as a partner and a member of the team – not just a tool. As a result of this unique SUTD treatment, AI and humans brainstorm, spar and prototype together, resulting in solutions that are elevated several-fold. This human-AI team concept has been made possible because of SUTD’s unique cohort-based interdisciplinary pedagogy – which has been in place since the University’s formation in 2009.

As a trailblazer in the field of design and technology education and research, SUTD has been pioneering innovative programmes and initiatives since our inception – including launching the world’s first Design and AI degree in 2020 – well before AI was even a buzzword. The success of that pioneering degree has set the stage for a new growth strategy called SUTD Leap, which was launched in March 2024. Here, SUTD aims to redesign higher education with an even greater focus on design and AI, whilst nurturing the next generation of human-centric design x tech innovators and innovator leaders.

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