Singapore unveiled a series of new AI initiatives at ATxSummit 2026, moving beyond policy announcements to active deployment — including a new NVIDIA research laboratory, a physical AI testbed in Punggol, and an updated governance framework for agentic AI systems.

NVIDIA opens Singapore AI research lab

NVIDIA is launching an AI research lab in Singapore, its second research presence in Asia-Pacific and its Singapore hub. The lab will focus on two domains with direct applications in manufacturing: embodied AI, which enables intelligent systems to perceive and act in physical environments, and efficient AI computing, which targets reduced compute costs and improved energy efficiency for scalable AI deployment. The lab will operate in collaboration with university researchers, industry partners, and government agencies.

Physical AI testbed at Punggol Digital District

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), JTC, and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) are launching Singapore’s first multi-use-case, multi-operator physical AI testbed at the Punggol Digital District (PDD). Set to go live later in 2026, the testbed will see Certis, DHL, Grab, and QuikBot co-deploy robotics services in a mixed-use public area — covering food and parcel delivery, cleaning, and security patrolling. The initiative operates under a precinct-level exemption framework facilitated by the Land Transport Authority.

A parallel programme will see IMDA and the National Robotics Programme collaborate with FieldAI, Thoughtworks, Slamtec, and Unitree to develop and trial embodied AI use cases through SIT’s new Centre for Intelligent Robotics at PDD.

Agentic AI governance framework updated

Singapore also released an updated Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI, first launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2026. The revised framework incorporates feedback from more than 50 organisations — including AWS, DBS, Google, and Salesforce — and adds over ten new case studies from contributors such as Ant International, GovTech Singapore, OCBC, PwC, and Workday. Separately, Google, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, GovTech, and IMDA jointly released a whitepaper on AI agents based on findings from a shared AI Agents Sandbox launched in August 2025.

Minister Josephine Teo described the day’s announcements as marking a shift from exploring AI tools to building, deploying, and governing real-world AI systems at scale.