Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and Google Cloud today announced joint initiatives aimed at accelerating AI adoption and innovation for organizations in Singapore. These initiatives will enable the next wave of globally-oriented, high-growth startups to build and launch their own proprietary AI products, and empower more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace AI to boost workforce proficiency and productivity.
“AI is a key driver of the Singapore economy, and it is critical for organizations of all sizes to embrace and deepen their use of AI to grow their businesses. The initiatives unveiled today at Google Cloud’s AI First event aim to advance AI adoption for startups and SMEs,” said Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry.
“Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore supports the growth of AI-oriented startups based in Singapore, and SMEs can leverage the Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs) to kickstart their AI journeys and boost productivity. These initiatives demonstrate how public-private collaborations with technology leaders like Google Cloud can accelerate AI adoption and advance our National AI Strategy goals.”
Helping startups develop proprietary AI innovations and scale to new markets
The inaugural cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore, which ran from April to August 2024, comprises 25 globally-oriented, early-stage startups. Utilizing best-in-class technologies and resources provided by the public-private startup program, participating startups built and launched proprietary AI products that address business challenges and unlock future growth opportunities.
Building on the program’s success, EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud today announced that applications for its second cohort are now open. The three-month program, scheduled to begin February 2025, will be expanded to accept 35 startups. To fast-track their development and commercialization of proprietary AI products, selected applicants will be able to tap on an enhanced suite of technology capabilities and resources, which include:
- Up to US$350,000 in Google Cloud credits upon graduation from the program.
- Access to Google Cloud’s powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack for up to three months, through a dedicated innovation sandbox environment, supported by EnterpriseSG.
- Mentorship and technical project support from Google Cloud’s product development teams, AI engineers, and startup ecosystem network partners.
- The opportunity to showcase their achievements and connect with potential investors and corporate customers at a Demo Day organized by EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud.
- Potential for additional funding support under EnterpriseSG’s Startup SG Tech program for eligible startups.
“The success of the inaugural cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore reflects our commitment toward enabling promising AI startups with the means to turn innovative AI concepts into reality and commercialize them for local and global markets,” said Mr. Philbert Gomez, Executive Director, Digital Industry Singapore. “The creativity and sophistication of the AI products developed by the graduating startups is a testament to the talent in our local ecosystem, and its potential to deepen Singapore-based tech expertise, paving the way for long-term AI-powered growth.”
Accelerating SME adoption of AI to elevate workforce proficiency and productivity
At the AI First event, Google Cloud and EnterpriseSG also launched the Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs). The program will support eligible businesses with their adoption of Gemini for Google Workspace by defraying up to 50% of the license costs for a 12-month usage period. This will help small business owners and their employees supercharge their productivity, creativity, and quality of work with industry-leading capabilities of Gemini for Google Workspace.
Apart from making it more cost-efficient for SMEs to adopt enterprise-grade generative AI (gen AI) tools, the program will provide dedicated training and consultation by Google Cloud and its partner ecosystem to help SMEs effectively deploy Gemini for Google Workspace across business functions and processes.
This includes hands-on workshops to help companies and their users identify use cases where Gemini for Google Workspace can deliver the most measurable value and write effective prompts to get the most out of incorporating Gemini for Google Workspace into their daily workflows.
Interested companies can learn more about the eligibility criteria for the Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs) and sign up between September 20, 2024, and March 19, 2025.
