Google, Singapore agencies launch expanded AI partnership to scale frontier AI across public services and economy

Singapore – Google and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) have announced an expanded collaboration with the Singapore Government through a new National AI Partnership.

The agreement builds on a 2022 memorandum of understanding with the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group and is aimed at deploying frontier AI across public services, industry and research, while supporting workforce development and AI governance.

The partnership will focus on using AI to address societal challenges, strengthen enterprise adoption, build an AI-ready workforce and develop a secure ecosystem aligned with Singapore’s National AI Strategy.

Health, science and inclusive innovation

A key pillar of the partnership is research and development in health and life sciences, supported by Google DeepMind’s presence in Singapore under its global National Partnerships for AI initiative.

In healthcare, Google DeepMind is exploring collaboration with public health clusters on “AI co-clinicians” to support doctors in delivering care, including systems that draw on clinical guidelines and scientific literature under physician oversight.

In scientific research, Google DeepMind is working with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to train local researchers in agentic AI tools, including Co-Scientist, and will run workshops to support biomedical applications.

Separately, Google and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will use secure AI tools on Google Cloud to support hypothesis generation and accelerate translation of research into materials and life sciences innovations, while maintaining safeguards for intellectual property.

In inclusive innovation, Google DeepMind is developing a Gemma-powered running assistant for blind and low-vision athletes. The tool uses spatial reasoning to provide real-time environmental awareness and is being tested with SG Enable.

Education and workforce development

Google is also expanding its collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to strengthen AI capabilities in teaching and learning, including educator training and upskilling programmes.

It has already integrated AI tools into Google Workspace for Education for educators across primary to pre-university levels, supporting lesson planning and content development.

The partnership also extends existing programmes under the “Majulah AI” initiative, including Skills Ignition SG with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First, AI Cloud Takeoff, and Gemini Academy.

Enterprise innovation

Google Cloud will expand its Forward Deployed Engineers team in Singapore to help companies scale agentic AI systems, building on the Singapore Engineering Centre launch.

The partnership also continues collaboration with agencies including AI Singapore (AISG), the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), GovTech Singapore, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Safety and governance

The agreement includes work on AI safety and governance frameworks as Singapore tests “computer use” AI agents in real-world environments.

A joint whitepaper by Google, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), GovTech Singapore and IMDA outlines findings from the AI Agents Sandbox, including early governance considerations for safe deployment in areas such as software testing and social assistance.

Google DeepMind is also working with IMDA and MLCommons on multilingual and multimodal safety benchmarks to improve AI systems’ handling of local languages and cultural context.

“This partnership builds on years of close collaboration with Google, and we are pleased to take it to the next level. Bringing frontier AI into our public services and enterprises is central to Singapore’s AI ambitions. This partnership, spanning across multiple agencies, allows us to deploy it at scale,” said Chng Kai Fong, Permanent Secretary (Digital Development and Information).

“As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy the focus now shifts to deploying frontier AI to accelerate real world impact for the country. Through this expanded partnership with the Singapore Government, we are putting AI into action by combining the best of our technology, R&D expertise, and local talent to accelerate AI for the public good. This also creates a scalable blueprint for responsible AI innovation, built in Singapore for the world,” said Ben King, Country Managing Director at Google Singapore.