Terry KS At ATxEnterprise 2026, Singapore unveiled a sweeping set of initiatives to accelerate secure AI adoption among businesses, including a new SME AI Impact Awards, expanded Digital Enterprise Blueprint partnerships, and a quantum-safe infrastructure pilot. The announcements reflect the nation’s strategic push to close the gap between AI experimentation and real-world deployment at scale.
SINGAPORE, 25 MAY 2026 – Singapore is stepping up its enterprise digitalisation agenda with a wave of new initiatives aimed at making AI adoption safer, more accessible, and more impactful for businesses of all sizes.
Announced at ATxEnterprise 2026, part of Asia Tech x Singapore and jointly organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Informa, the initiatives address a critical turning point for enterprises navigating the shift from AI pilots to full-scale implementation. The announcements were made by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, who outlined new partnerships, a landmark awards programme, and continued investments in future-proof digital infrastructure.
The urgency behind these moves is clear. According to IMDA’s Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025, AI adoption among small and medium enterprises grew more than threefold in a single year, rising from 4.2% to 14.5%, while adoption among larger enterprises climbed from 44% to 62.5% in 2024. Yet with greater adoption comes greater exposure — more than eight in ten organisations reported experiencing at least one cybersecurity incident annually, highlighting the urgent need for stronger digital resilience.
Recognising AI Impact Among SMEs
To spotlight businesses achieving measurable outcomes through AI, IMDA and the Singapore Business Federation will launch the inaugural SME AI Impact Awards 2026. Part of the National AI Impact Programme and aligned with Singapore’s National AI Strategy, the awards will recognise up to 30 winners across two tracks: enterprises that have developed proprietary AI tools, and those successfully deploying off-the-shelf AI solutions. Winning organisations will receive the SME AI Impact Award Trustmark, designed to strengthen business credibility and market standing. Nominations open from 1 June to 14 August 2026, with winners to be announced at SMEs Go Digital Day on 13 October 2026.
Expanding the Digital Enterprise Blueprint
IMDA is broadening the reach of its Digital Enterprise Blueprint through two new partnerships with Grab and RSM Stone Forest IT, offering SMEs practical guidance in both AI adoption and cybersecurity.
Under the Grab AI Programme for SMEs, the platform will engage 10,000 businesses in the food and beverage, e-commerce, and retail sectors through AI literacy initiatives, training, webinars, and masterclasses. A two-day AI course, co-developed with the Singapore University of Technology and Design, will help SMEs build practical AI roadmaps using IMDA pre-approved solutions.
RSM’s Cyber2SME Programme will provide complimentary phishing simulation exercises to 2,000 SMEs, alongside cybersecurity awareness workshops addressing AI and data threats as well as incident response strategies. A further 1,000 SMEs will benefit from webinars and tabletop exercises covering a broad range of cyber risks.
These new partnerships expand on a programme that has already supported over 26,000 SMEs since its launch in May 2024. With Grab and RSM on board, IMDA aims to reach 12,000 additional businesses, moving the programme closer to its target of supporting 50,000 SMEs by 2029.
A Unified Playbook for AI Transformation
IMDA, SkillsFuture Singapore, and Workforce Singapore have jointly developed the AI for Enterprise Impact Playbook, a practical guide built on insights from over 1,000 enterprise engagements. The Playbook helps organisations assess their AI readiness, identify relevant support, and take concrete next steps. It also consolidates programmes and resources from IMDA, Enterprise Singapore, SkillsFuture Singapore, and Workforce Singapore into a single, accessible framework.
Tackling AI-Introduced Vulnerabilities
Sonar, a global software quality firm, made its international launch of a new AI remediation agent at ATxSummit Singapore, co-developed with engineers from IMDA and Singapore. The tool enables enterprises to automatically detect, fix, and validate code issues arising from AI-assisted software development, allowing organisations to deploy AI coding tools with greater confidence and security.
Preparing for the Quantum Era
Looking beyond near-term threats, IMDA has signed a Memorandum of Intent with Singtel, Ericsson, and NCS Singapore to pilot quantum-safe technologies for Singtel’s infrastructure and systems. The collaboration is intended to strengthen Singapore’s defences against emerging quantum threats, support broader adoption across the telecommunications sector, and position the country as a regional reference point for secure transformation in the quantum era.
Together, these initiatives reflect Singapore’s broader ambition to lead not just in AI adoption, but in building a digital ecosystem that is resilient, inclusive, and ready for the technological challenges ahead.