Peter Chambers, managing director for Asia Pacific at AMD
We are just at the start of the AI super cycle, and the next five years of advancement will not be driven by a single company, product, or vision. Instead, it will emerge from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships – a democratised sector where smaller players can coexist alongside bigger players and complement the offerings at the same time.
Therefore, upskilling and reskilling programmes are strategic imperatives for local companies striving to remain relevant on the global stage, particularly given the rapid pace of growth and innovation. AI will not only transform the nature of work but also disrupt the trajectory of product innovation.
The top-up of the National Productivity Fund as well as the new ECI will provide much-needed relief for local businesses. Their workforce will not only be better equipped to leverage new AI technologies as they become available, but this investment in employees will also enhance talent retention and bolster overall competitiveness.
See also: Budget 2025 initiatives on public transport network positive for companies like CDG in the long term
Lim Wee Tee, regional vice president for Growth & Emerging Markets (Southeast Asia & Taiwan) at Cloudera
The new ECI and funds channelled towards boosting Singapore’s R&D scene and productivity will provide a much-needed leg-up for enterprises that are under pressure to move past the hype of AI and demonstrate the returns from how solutions address their business needs. We see this being a boon to industries like healthcare and retail which form the bedrock of Singapore’s economy.
With AI adoption slated to accelerate once these new initiatives kick in, the amount of data that organisations find themselves struggling to manage will scale exponentially, at the same time becoming more complex. Organisations need a reliable hybrid data management platform that brings AI models to where data resides, or risk letting vast data troves become graveyards of wasted potential. A hybrid platform is crucial in providing the scalability, security, and flexibility needed to manage data effectively while ensuring regulatory compliance.
See also: PM Wong’s nuclear energy comments at Budget 2025 a ‘massive vote of confidence’
Kenneth Lai, VP for Asean at Cloudflare
The newly introduced ECI will help lower the barriers of entry for businesses to embrace the adoption of AI, fast-tracking productivity benefits from this emerging innovation.
However, while businesses leverage AI to power their transformation and growth, AI also has the potential to shift the balance of power to threat actors. A robust cybersecurity posture must be central to any digital transformation strategy, including developing personalised, adaptive security approaches that can protect organisations at speed and at scale.
Andy Sim, vice president and managing director for Singapore at Dell Technologies
Singapore is going full throttle on AI initiatives to future-proof its workforce. The private sector needs to grow in tandem with Singapore’s national aspirations.
At Dell Technologies, our APJ AI Innovation Hub aims to advance Singapore’s AI ecosystem by fostering a solutions network – facilitating collaboration between customers and partners to create, test and validate tech solutions that can power AI adoption out from Singapore for Asia and beyond. Enablement is also key – partnering with Institutions of Higher Learning in Singapore to deliver in-demand AI skills, we empower partners, customers and future tech talent to seize the opportunities that AI brings.
Ravi Rajendran, AVP for Asean and Greater China at Elastic
Initiatives unveiled from Budget 2025 highlight Singapore's pledge to fostering innovation. Similarly, at Elastic, we are committed to supporting and boosting Singapore's technology and innovation engines with search-powered AI. With access to proprietary data, AI can handle daily tasks such as monitoring performance and identifying security incidents, easing workloads for IT teams and developers and allowing them to focus on innovating new products to enhance customer satisfaction and drive efficiency.
To stay ahead of the latest tech trends, click here for DigitalEdge Section
Ben King, managing director, Google Singapore, APAC Agency
Google is dedicated to partnering with the Singapore government and businesses to responsibly harness the transformative power of AI, especially with the new ECI. We are also driving AI adoption and nurturing a skilled workforce through impactful programmes, such as Skills Ignition SG and Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore. We look forward to co-creating a dynamic and inclusive digital economy, empowering every Singaporean today for tomorrow.
Sima Saadat, Singapore country manager at General Assembly
The expanded SkillsFuture schemes will continue to help organisations of all sizes enable their people to grow beyond their job descriptions and develop systems that allow them to learn, experiment and apply their skills to better contribute to their business goals.
We see areas such as software development, data science and analytics, and AI and machine learning, continue to be in demand and evolve. Moreover, AI isn’t just “another” tech skill to be learnt. As AI continues to evolve and be integrated into many of the everyday tools we use, AI will eventually be built and embedded into other tech skills that we learn from here on out.
Despite the newly announced efforts, companies and individuals still need to take a proactive role in identifying and addressing their skill gaps and work with the right training providers to upskill, reskill and adapt.
Kelvin Wong, country managing director for Singapore at Hitachi Vantara
By providing funding and support for AI adoption under the new ECI, the government is directly enabling businesses to leverage the cloud as a vital platform for scalable computing, data analytics, and innovation.
This focus on high-performance computing and digital infrastructure will help enterprises, including smaller players, access and deploy cutting-edge solutions without heavy upfront costs. The wider availability of flexible financing options also potentially reflects the government’s commitment to fostering collaboration between stakeholders to build a robust technology ecosystem.
The collective effort to deepen Singapore’s capabilities in areas like cloud, AI, and advanced analytics will not only drive productivity and economic value but also strengthen the country’s position as a global innovation hub.
Simon Lee, senior vice president and managing director of Asia Pacific and Japan at New Relic
The expansion of the SkillsFuture Enterprise scheme will help equip organisations to better address the persistent shortage of seasoned IT professionals in the region. While the hunt for talent continues, it is crucial for businesses to harness the power of existing teams by investing in training, encouraging knowledge-sharing sessions and embracing the unique strengths each member brings to the table.
For software engineers, who are critical to the foundation of Singapore’s digital ambitions, the tools they use can make all the difference in their efficiency. Leveraging AI-strengthened tools can turn tasks that used to take hours into actions that take mere minutes. AI can simplify workflows, build dashboards to ensure full alert coverage and ultimately, help build resilient, high-performing systems.
George Lee, senior vice president for Asia Pacific & Japan at Proofpoint
The ECI will undoubtedly position enterprises here to be at the forefront of technological transformation, further enhancing competitiveness and productivity. However, realising AI's full potential requires a measured and responsible approach, prioritising data integrity, security, and quality while mitigating potential biases and protecting sensitive information.
This responsible approach is not just a best practice; it's a necessity. The increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape demands a comprehensive, adaptive, and human-centric security strategy. Recognising that employees are often the target of advanced attacks, robust email security, cloud security, and information protection measures are crucial. By embracing a responsible and secure approach to AI adoption, enterprises here can confidently harness this transformative technology's power while safeguarding themselves against evolving threats.
Gayathri Peria, general manager for Southeast Asia at SUSE
The ECI stands out as a game-changer, reinforcing enterprises with critical AI tools, computing power, and expert consultancy capabilities via partnerships with major cloud service providers.
The government’s investment in AI infrastructure is commendable, and pairing it with open-source AI’s rich ecosystem of tools and frameworks allows businesses to tailor solutions without the burden of proprietary software costs. This empowers businesses to leverage AI more effectively in the age of Smart Nation 2.0. By working with cloud service providers to support businesses with the necessary access and resources, Singapore can position itself to continually drive productivity and growth.
Tahsin Alam, regional vice president and general manager for Southeast Asia at UiPath
Initiatives like the new SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme will help mid-career workers transition and enhance their lifelong employability, while strengthening Singapore’s labour mobility. Additionally, the new SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant will help companies restructure and upgrade their workforce to harness the full potential of AI integration in the workplace.
Organisations that accelerate AI transformation by adopting innovations such as AI agents can significantly boost productivity, drive growth, and fuel innovation. Organisations should also ensure that agents, robots, people, and models integrate seamlessly to drive autonomy and smarter decision-making in AI ecosystems. It is reassuring to hear that the government remains committed to empowering SMEs to adopt and scale AI with the new ECI, which enables eligible enterprises to partner with leading cloud providers for access to AI tools, computing power, and expert consultancy.
Koren Wines, managing director of Asia at Xero
In addition to leveraging financial schemes to build new digital capabilities, success will hinge on the ability of SMEs to make the most of the consultancy services provided through the government’s new ECI. This programme grants them access to expert guidance that can guide their efforts, helping businesses integrate AI tools effectively and ensuring technology investments are maximised.
Closing the digital skills gap, through initiatives such as the refreshed SkillsFuture scheme, will be equally important for SMEs to make the most of technology. The most successful businesses will be those that strengthen the digital capabilities of their workforce, enhancing future readiness and driving sustainable growth in the digital economy.
Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Channel APJeC at Zebra Technologies
Singapore’s National Productivity Fund presents a key opportunity for organisations to rethink technology and innovation. With this support, practical AI applications will drive automation, efficiency, and measurable business impact. Workforce productivity also depends on equipping employees across generations, requiring a tailored approach to meet diverse needs.
AI’s evolution is shifting toward augmented intelligence, seamlessly integrating cloud and on-device solutions. Take Zebra AI Companion for example – with the support of the government – more local companies will be able to leverage similar solutions and augment the workforce. The future lies in leveraging both to empower frontline teams with the right tools for success.
