Smart Nation and Digital Economy
Funding Initiatives (FIs) are grant schemes with a set of deliverables, evaluation processes and criteria. The FIs are managed by Implementing Agencies (IAs) across Singapore.
Here is a list of major Smart Nation and Digital Economy (SNDE) FIs outside NRF:
FIs/initiative | Description | |
Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)/National AI Office (NAIO) | AI Singapore (AISG) is Singapore’s national programme in AI that seeks to catalyse, synergise and boost Singapore’s AI capabilities. Since its launch in 2017, it has contributed towards driving Singapore’s scientific excellence in AI research, growing local AI talent, and supporting the translation of AI technology. AISG was established through strong partnership involving the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). | |
Cyber Security Agency (CSA) | The National Cybersecurity R&D Programme seeks to develop R&D expertise and capabilities in cybersecurity for Singapore. It aims to improve the trustworthiness of cyber infrastructures with an emphasis on security, reliability, resiliency and usability. | |
Future Communications R&D Programme
| IMDA | IMDA and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have invested close to S$70 million to set up Singapore’s first national Future Communications Research and Development Programme (FCP). This programme aims to jumpstart cutting-edge communications and connectivity research in Singapore, which help to grow relevant local capabilities, with potential to translate into innovative products, services and even companies. |
Digital Trust Centre | IMDA | The Digital Trust Centre (DTC) was first launched at the AsiaTechX (ATx) Singapore on 1 June 2022, with the aim to lead Singapore’s research and development efforts for trust technologies and to support talent development in this space. Funded by IMDA and the NRF under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE 2025), the national centre is hosted at the Nanyang Technological University, focusing on key areas of Trust Technologies, such as Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) for data sharing and solutions to evaluate the trustworthiness of AI systems. |
National Quantum Office/A*STAR | Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) aims to realise the benefits of quantum technologies for society. Launched in 2018, it supports translational research focused on industry challenges and initiatives to nurture a quantum ecosystem. Coordinated nationally across various research organisations, the QEP is hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), and supported by the National Research Foundation and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). | |
National Quantum Office/A*STAR | The Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) is Singapore’s flagship research and development centre for quantum science and technology. CQT drives cutting-edge research in the areas of quantum computing, communication and sensing. It also supports Singapore’s various national quantum platforms and plays a pivotal role in building Singapore’s quantum ecosystem. | |
Combatting the Weaponisation of the Internet (CWI) | Ministry of Communications and Information – Technology Office (MCI-TO) | The CWI Research Programme seeks to build technological capabilities and competencies amongst Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs) to combat online harms. This is to counter the rapidly evolving and increasing online harms in the Internet ranging from mis- and dis-information, hate speech to scams. |
Translational R&D for Digital Government | Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) | The Translational Research and Development for Application to Smart Nation (TRANS) Grant funds translational R&D and technology or process innovations in areas that are aligned to the emerging and focused tech areas. This initiative taps on research institutes’ capabilities to solve public sector challenges, demonstrates feasibility of new ideas and encourages agencies to experiment and deploy innovative solutions. |