The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Google have entered a strategic partnership to accelerate applied artificial intelligence (AI) research and nurture Singapore’s next generation of AI talent, marking a significant boost to the nation’s digital transformation ambitions.

The collaboration, unveiled during NUS School of Computing’s (NUS Computing) 50th Anniversary Gala dinner, will see the establishment of a joint research and innovation centre. This centre will serve as a hub for developing AI-driven solutions across key sectors, while deepening industry-academia partnerships within Singapore’s research ecosystem.

The agreement was signed by Professor Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS Computing, and Ms Serene Sia, Country Director for Singapore and Malaysia at Google Cloud. The exchange was witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, alongside NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye and Google’s Vice President of Knowledge and Information Partnerships (Asia Pacific), Ms Yolyn Ang.

Accelerating AI for Real-World Impact

The joint centre will focus on applied AI research in domains such as education, law, and public health, leveraging Google Cloud’s AI-optimised infrastructure and NUS’s strengths in multidisciplinary research.

A rapid prototyping sandbox will be established to support experimentation and validation of AI-driven solutions before real-world deployment. The sandbox will run on Google Cloud’s energy-efficient Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), providing a secure environment for iterative testing.

Key research focus areas include:

• AI in Education: Projects will use Google’s Vertex AI to develop tools for adult learning, such as adaptive learning platforms, personalised course recommendations, and AI-based assessment of skill development.
• AI in Legal: A Singapore Law-specific large language model (LLM) is in development, drawing on local legal texts and precedents. This bespoke model aims to address the limitations of generic LLMs in legal settings and support practitioners with contextually relevant insights.
• AI for Public Health: Titled “AI4PH,” this initiative will integrate foundational models with data from healthcare, social, and environmental systems to create AI tools for preventive care, active ageing, and cognitive health—aligning with national health initiatives like Healthier SG.

Building a Talent Pipeline for AI Innovation

A core element of the collaboration is a new AI talent development programme, which will offer hands-on training, mentorship, and certification in Google Cloud AI tools. This initiative targets both NUS students and researchers to equip them with practical skills needed for real-world AI applications.

In addition, Google will endow a professorship in AI at NUS, aimed at advancing faculty leadership and research in emerging AI fields.

“Google has been a valued long-term partner of NUS, and we are excited to deepen this strategic relationship,” said Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology). “Our joint efforts with Google will nurture the next generation of AI scientists, engineers, and innovators equipped to tackle real-world challenges.”

Ms Serene Sia added, “This collaboration is a significant step forward in Google’s commitment to bringing new capabilities for scientific discovery to Singapore. The joint centre is poised to steer safe and responsible AI development and accelerate progress across vital fields.”

Advancing Singapore’s Role as a Global AI Hub

The initiative reflects Singapore’s growing ambition to be a global leader in AI innovation and talent. By pairing NUS’s academic and research strengths with Google’s technology and cloud capabilities, the partnership is positioned to drive impactful AI breakthroughs across sectors.

This joint initiative also aligns with Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) roadmap, further reinforcing the nation’s digital economy agenda.