SIT Marks the Opening of its Flagship AI Centre at SIT Punggol Campus with Key Initiatives and Partnerships to Advance Innovation and Talent Development in the Application of AI

• SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre (SNAIC) officially opens in SIT Punggol Campus as a hub for innovation and talent development in the application of AI.

   

• SNAIC AI Programme in collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to train over 200 AI practitioners over the next three years, strengthening Singapore’s AI workforce.

   

• SNAIC to support SIT’s new Applied AI Doctoral Training Centre (AAIDTC) to develop strategic industry and academic partnerships with Prudential, SMRT and overseas universities to drive cross-border research and innovation.

SIT officially opens SNAIC at SIT Punggol Campus (Photo: SIT/ Keng Photography)

1.  The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) today officially opened the SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre (SNAIC) at SIT’s Punggol Campus. Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo, witnessed the Symbolic Partnerships Ceremony with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Prudential, SMRT, Monash University, Chulalongkorn University and Vietnam National University–University of Economics and Law (VNU-UEL), highlighting the Centre’s role in fostering cross-sector and cross-border collaboration in the application of AI.

   

Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo delivering her opening remarks. (Photo: SIT/ Keng Photography)

2. The SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre (SNAIC) is an initiative established by SIT in collaboration with NVIDIA. The centre aims to drive AI adoption in the wider ecosystem through applied research collaboration. SNAIC is dedicated to applied AI research and innovation, accelerating AI adoption across industries, and nurturing a robust pipeline of AI talent to support Singapore’s national AI strategy and its strategic goal of tripling its AI workforce. The centre supports a broad spectrum of applied AI research activities, ranging from undergraduate AI industry projects to advanced applied research in collaboration with multiple industries. Currently, it hosts 19 industry doctorate and industry masters (ID/IM) students pursuing studies through industry-applied research projects, alongside full-time research engineers working closely with AI experts from NVIDIA and SIT. 

Strengthening Singapore’s AI Talent Pipeline with SNAIC AI Programme and Industrial Doctorate Training

3. A new initiative launched today is the SNAIC AI Programme, developed in collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), designed to train fresh graduates and mid-career professionals to become AI practitioners. Supported under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA)  initiative, the six-month programme comprises:

• two months of intensive AI training based on modules developed by SNAIC, equipping participants with the latest AI skills and tools such as Generative AI, Large Language Models, Retrieval-Augmentation Generation, and Agentic AI;

   

• four months of hands-on projects with industry partners, under the supervision of instructors and experts from SIT and the Centre, allowing participants to solve real-world business challenges using AI.

4. The programme, developed based on courses by NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI), is expected to train over 200 AI practitioners in the next three years, equipping professionals with the skills to leverage AI tools, libraries, and algorithms to develop AI applications. Participants will receive an NVIDIA DLI certificate upon completion, and will have the opportunity to sit for the NVIDIA-Certified Associate Generative AI LLMs (NCA-GENL) exam to obtain the NCA-GENL certification. The certification can be used to gain academic recognition under SIT’s Competency-based Stackable Micro-credential (CSM)  Pathway. This empowers trainees to master in-demand competencies, offering them the flexibility to stack earned micro-credentials towards a Bachelor’s degree.  Individuals who are keen to join the SNAIC AI Programme can register their interest on SIT’s website at: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/sitlearn/register-interest-snaic.

5. Trainees may come from diverse industry backgrounds, possess foundational technical skills in areas such as programming, machine learning and data technologies, and have a strong motivation to adopt AI as a complementary skill set for their future careers. This initiative for building more AI practitioners is in addition to SNAIC’s applied AI research and doctoral programmes, ensuring a diverse and sustainable AI talent pipeline aligned with Singapore’s national AI strategy.

6. Kiren Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive, IMDA, said: “Through IMDA's TeSA initiative, we are building Singapore's AI talent pipeline by combining the best of industry expertise and academic excellence. With SIT-recognised certifications, and hands-on experience provided through leading company partnerships, our learners will graduate ready to tackle real-world AI challenges and contribute meaningfully to our digital economy.”

7. To nurture advanced AI talent, SIT has also established the Applied AI Doctoral Training Centre (AAIDTC) that anchors all SIT’s applied AI doctoral projects. SNAIC will support AAIDTC to train 10 Industrial Doctorate students annually working on complex, industry-driven AI challenges in collaboration with the Centre’s ecosystem of collaborators.

8. Through the Industrial Doctorate Programme, candidates undertake multi-year research projects that cannot be solved with off-the-shelf tools. Each student will work closely with an industry partner on high-impact challenges, complementing the SNAIC AI Programme to create a tiered talent development pathway from practitioners to applied AI researchers and innovators. The programme caters to both working professionals seeking to upskill through AI innovation projects directly tied to their employers’ business needs, as well as fresh graduates keen to develop novel AI methods tailored to industry contexts. It equips doctoral candidates with the skills to tackle complex problems, understand the limitations of current AI methods and devise ways to overcome them — thereby building a strong pipeline of deep applied AI talent to meet current and emerging industry needs.

Driving Innovation Through Cross-sector and Cross-border Collaboration

9. To accelerate innovation across multiple sectors, SNAIC leverages its strategic partnerships to build a robust pipeline of industry-relevant AI projects. Key collaborations include:

• Driving Applied AI Innovation in Public Transport: SMRT’s strategic partnership with SIT through the SMRT-SIT Transport Living Lab exemplifies its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Together with SNAIC, SMRT is co-developing a suite of advanced AI solutions aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness and elevating the commuter experience.

   

These initiatives include a GenAI-powered system for safety investigations where the incident reporting process can be automated. This directly benefits staff involved in reporting and investigations, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. Demonstrating SMRT’s proactive approach through AI, project AiDiSA enhances automated case creation and sentiment analysis that boost productivity. Another initiative is the AI-driven lifestyle recommendation engine developed for Wink+, a mobile app that allows users to access the latest MRT map, real-time bus arrival timings, and island-wide food deals that are easily accessible by public transport.

“SMRT and SIT share a long-standing partnership through the SMRT-SIT Transport Living Lab. We are proud to deepen this collaboration as a key industry partner in the SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre, supporting our AI transformation journey. From deriving sharper insights from commuter feedback to enabling smarter safety reporting, AI and GenAI are reshaping the way we operate — enhancing responsiveness, strengthening resilience, and driving excellence across our transport ecosystem.”  said Mr Eugene Teh, Group Chief Information Officer and Deputy Group Chief Data Officer, SMRT Corporation.

• Leveraging AI to transform the insurance experience: The Prudential AI Lab incubates AI-powered solutions to deliver a better customer experience and meaningful business impact, integrating AI into Prudential’s business. This collaboration will focus on co-developing innovative AI solutions, tapping in Singapore’s talent to support Prudential’s ambition of becoming a digital-first insurer.

   

• Fostering regional academic collaboration on AI: International university partnerships with Monash University (Australia), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), and VNU-UEL (Vietnam) drive talent exchange and joint seminars/workshops to foster knowledge transfer and strengthen academic ties. The partnerships will also include work on joint research projects to address cross-border industry challenges, positioning SNAIC as a gateway for regional applied AI collaboration.

   

Charting the Future of Applied AI in Singapore

10. In conjunction with the Centre’s official opening, a panel session was held for around 150 attendees comprising industry leaders, academia, and stakeholders. The discussion titled “Challenges and Impact of Academia-Industry Collaboration” explored how applied AI can drive transformation across key sectors, create sustainable impact, and strengthen Singapore’s global competitiveness. The panel was moderated by Associate Professor Daniel Wang, Co-Director, SNAIC, and featured distinguished speakers Frank Lee, Founder of Jumpstart Disruptive Innovations (JDI) and Chair of the Startup and Innovation Committee at the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (SCCV); Eugene Teh, Group Chief Information Officer and Deputy Group Chief Data Officer at SMRT Corporation; and Professor Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT. The session offered insights into AI adoption from the perspectives of startups, industry, and academia, and underscored the importance of collaboration in accelerating innovation.

11. Looking ahead, SNAIC aims to help strengthen Singapore’s position as a global centre for applied AI innovation. By co-creating impactful solutions with industry, nurturing future-ready talent, and scaling cutting-edge research into practical applications, the Centre seeks to drive sustainable AI adoption across sectors, aligning with Singapore’s national AI strategy and supporting long-term AI innovation objectives.

12. Professor Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT, said: “SNAIC demonstrates SIT’s commitment to translating applied learning into tangible outcomes for industry. By combining our applied learning approach with NVIDIA’s AI expertise, we are co-developing solutions to real-world challenges while bridging the gap between AI research and enterprise application. Initiatives such as the Applied AI Doctoral Training Centre, the SNAIC AI training Programme with IMDA, and our strategic collaborations with industry and overseas universities strengthen Singapore’s ability to diffuse AI effectively across sectors and drive innovation at scale."

13. Dr Ng Aik Beng, Senior Regional Manager, NVIDIA AI Technology Centre, said: “The SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre serves as a catalyst to ignite AI transformation, support breakthrough research and scale industry adoption of AI. By equipping the next generation of innovators through deep understanding of NVIDIA technology and hands-on training, the programme is designed to deepen Singapore’s leadership in AI.” 

Showcase of AI projects that demonstrate how SNAIC and its partners are advancing real-world, industry-focused innovations. (Photo: SIT/ Keng Photography)