Singtel Singapore has launched a new programme, developed in partnership with SIM Academy, to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) move artificial intelligence (AI) projects out of the testing phase and into day-to-day operations.
Called AI.dea, the programme combines structured training with hands-on implementation. It is designed to address a common bottleneck where companies experiment with AI but struggle to deploy it at scale.
Participants will design, build and validate AI use cases tailored to their operations, supported by practitioners with experience in scaling AI across organisations. The curriculum also includes governance, data protection and risk management – areas that often slow adoption.
To boost adoption, eligible SMEs will receive up to 90% in funding from SkillsFuture Singapore for the programme, which is priced at $15,000 before tax.
According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority's Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025, only 14.5% of SMEs in Singapore have implemented AI solutions, compared with 62.5% of larger enterprises. The disparity highlights a widening gap in digital capabilities between smaller firms and larger corporates.
"AI has quickly become a key driver of business transformation, but many organisations are still figuring out where to even begin. With AI.dea, we’re helping them to adopt AI applications before committing to full-scale deployment so they can realise tangible business outcomes,” says Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore.
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Ho Seong Kim, CEO of SIM Academy, adds that the programme is intended to build practical capabilities within SMEs. "SMEs must be equipped to participate meaningfully in this transformation," he says, adding that the focus is on helping business leaders develop actionable strategies and implement AI with confidence.
The AI.dea programme forms part of Singtel's broader push to support SME digitalisation, alongside initiatives spanning e-commerce enablement, cybersecurity and sustainability.
