Singapore has unveiled a new set of enterprise AI and digital resilience initiatives at ATxEnterprise 2026, including the inaugural SME AI Impact Awards, expanded public-private partnerships for cybersecurity, a new AI adoption playbook for enterprises, and a quantum-safe infrastructure pilot involving Singtel, Ericsson, and NCS Singapore.

Recognising AI Trailblazers: The SME AI Impact Awards

The Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Singapore Business Federation will jointly launch the inaugural SME AI Impact Awards 2026, recognising up to 30 small and medium enterprises that have achieved measurable business outcomes through AI. The awards span two categories: the SME Innovation Excellence Award for enterprises developing proprietary AI tools, and the SME Adoption Excellence Award for those successfully implementing off-the-shelf solutions.

Winners will receive the SME AI Impact Award Trustmark. Nominations open 1 June and close 14 August 2026, with winners celebrated at the SMEs Go Digital Day on 13 October 2026 at Suntec Convention Centre.

The context for the awards is significant: IMDA’s Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025 found that AI adoption among SMEs more than tripled from 4.2 per cent to 14.5 per cent in just one year, while adoption among non-SMEs jumped from 44 per cent to 62.5 per cent in 2024.

New Partnerships to Expand AI and Cyber Capabilities

Under the Digital Enterprise Blueprint — which has supported over 26,000 SMEs since its May 2024 launch — IMDA is adding two new partners. Grab will launch the Grab AI Programme for SMEs, targeting 10,000 food and beverage, e-commerce, and retail businesses with free training, masterclasses, and a two-day AI course co-developed with the Singapore University of Technology and Design. RSM will roll out the RSM Cyber2SME Programme, offering complimentary phishing simulation exercises to 2,000 SMEs and cybersecurity awareness webinars covering AI and data threats to a further 1,000.

IMDA aims to reach 12,000 additional SMEs through these partnerships, bringing the programme closer to its goal of supporting 50,000 SMEs by 2029.

AI Enterprise Impact Playbook

IMDA, together with SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, has developed a new AI for Enterprise Impact Playbook — a step-by-step guide built on insights from over 1,000 enterprise engagements. It consolidates government support programmes from IMDA, EnterpriseSG, SSG, and WSG into a single framework to help enterprises assess AI readiness and take actionable next steps.

Quantum-Safe Infrastructure Pilot

IMDA has signed a Memorandum of Intent with Singtel, Ericsson, and NCS Singapore to pilot and validate quantum-safe technologies for migrating Singtel’s infrastructure and systems. The collaboration is designed to position Singapore as a reference point for secure quantum-era transformation, with lessons to be shared across the broader telco ecosystem.

The announcements were made by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, at ATxEnterprise 2026.