Singapore is emerging as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) investment, with 27% of its businesses allocating over S$1.28m annually to AI initiatives, according to Colt Technology Services’ latest IT Priorities Research. This places Singapore ahead of the UK and the US, where only 18% and 14% of businesses, respectively, invest similar amounts.
The research, which surveyed over 1,200 IT leaders from companies with annual revenues of at least $100m (US$100m) across 13 countries, highlights Singapore’s strategic focus on AI-driven innovation and cybersecurity. The city-state’s commitment is bolstered by national initiatives such as the S$1b National AI Strategy 2.0 and a robust ecosystem of public-private collaboration.
Globally, AI-driven innovation and product development are top priorities, with 34% of organisations focusing on these areas. Singapore mirrors these trends, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and operational task automation. The government has already invested S$500m in high-performance computing resources and over S$20m to nurture AI talent, aiming to triple the AI workforce in five years.
Shirley Heng, Country Manager of Colt Technology Services Singapore, noted the significance of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone as a future hub for AI and data infrastructure. “There will definitely be a stronger need for high bandwidth network infrastructure that’s not just fast, but agile and ready to evolve,” she said.
Singapore’s advanced digital infrastructure has attracted global tech giants like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services, further reinforcing its status as a digital innovation hub. As businesses continue to expand their AI capabilities, Colt remains committed to supporting these ambitions with secure, high-performance digital infrastructure.
“`
