Singtel Singapore Launches AI.dea Programme

Singtel Singapore Launches AI.dea Programme To Accelerate AI Adoption Among Small and Medium Enterprises

New programme to help SMEs move from AI experimentation to real-world implementation through hands-on learning and structured support

Singtel Singapore announced the launch of AI.dea, an AI business transformation programme, developed in partnership with SIM Academy, to help small and medium enterprises in Singapore accelerate AI adoption and unlock new opportunities for productivity, innovation and growth.

As AI moves from experimentation to real-world deployment, many businesses continue to grapple with the complexities of implementation. In Singapore, while AI has proven to be a powerful driver of productivity and growth, adoption among SMEs remains relatively low. According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025, only 14.5% of SMEs have implemented AI solutions, compared to 62.5% of larger enterprises — highlighting a widening competitive gap.

The AI.dea programme aims to address this gap by making AI accessible, practical and secure for local businesses. The programme will equip SMEs with the capabilities to integrate AI into their operations and compete more effectively in an increasingly digital economy. To boost adoption, eligible SMEs will receive up to 90% in funding from SkillsFuture Singapore.

Mr Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “AI has quickly become a key driver of business transformation, but many organisations are still figuring out where to even begin. Singtel Singapore’s own journey has shown that success with AI requires more than just technology — it takes the right capabilities, governance and mindset. With AI.dea, we are bringing these lessons to SMEs, helping them to adopt AI applications before committing to full-scale deployment so they can realise tangible business outcomes.”

Mr Ho Seong Kim, CEO of SIM Academy, added, “As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy, SMEs — the foundation of our business ecosystem — must be equipped to participate meaningfully in this transformation. As the selected learning partner for this programme, we leverage our expertise in applied, outcome-driven learning to help SME leaders build in-house capabilities, develop actionable adoption strategies, and implement AI with confidence to drive tangible business outcomes.”

A structured approach to AI adoption

AI.dea is designed to help SMEs overcome common barriers to adoption, including limited in-house expertise, uncertainty around implementation, and concerns around data security and governance.

Through a structured, hands-on approach, participants will design, build and validate real-world use cases tailored to their business needs.

Participants will benefit from:

Hands-on application – Design and test AI use cases through guided proof-of-concept development
Expert guidance – Learn from practitioners with experience in scaling AI across organisations
Governance and security – Build capabilities in AI governance, data protection and risk management
Strategic roadmap – Define AI ambition and develop a clear, actionable adoption plan

Financial support for SMEs

The programme fee is $15,000 (before GST), with up to 90% funding available for eligible businesses under the Enhance Training Support for SMEs, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore.

To qualify, companies must meet the following criteria:

Be registered and incorporated in Singapore
Have at least 30% local shareholding by Singapore Citizens or PRs
Have annual sales turnover not exceeding S$100 million or employment size of fewer than 200 employees

Advancing SME digital transformation

While digital adoption among SMEs in Singapore has grown significantly in recent years, many businesses continue to face challenges in fully realising value from new technologies, particularly in complex areas such as AI.

The AI.dea programme complements Singtel’s broader suite of SME-focused initiatives:

TikTok Masterclass – A brand-building and e-commerce enablement programme that helps SMEs to strengthen their digital presence, connect with customers more effectively, and capture growth opportunities in the digital economy.
Cyber Protect Programme – A tripartite initiative by Singtel, Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to bolster SMEs’ cyber resilience through workshops, curated learning resources, and subsidised cyber solutions, enabling businesses to identify risks, adopt stronger cyber hygiene practices and better protect themselves against evolving cyber threats.
Cyber Elevate – A one-stop training programme which provides cyber risk audits, resilience workshops, and mentorship to help SMEs prepare, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber attacks at heavily subsidised rates, with support from law firm Drew & Napier and incident response firm Blackpanda as consultants.
Defence Against Cyber Scams – Developed for large enterprises to upskill and reskill their employees to be better able to identify, combat and prevent scams.
SPEED programme – A 15-month initiative aimed at helping SMEs decarbonise through education, energy-efficient technology deployment and continuous improvement strategies. The programme is designed to enable SMEs to go digital and achieve environmental goals at the same time.

As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, Singtel plays a pivotal role in enabling enterprises – especially SMEs – to upskill, digitalise and innovate. Its end-to-end solutions – spanning mobility and connectivity, to cybersecurity, Internet of Things and collaboration tools – are tailored to evolving business needs, helping SMEs scale sustainably.

Source: Singtel Singapore media announcement

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