Secteurs & marchés

2026 Budget: Singapore to launch national AI missions in four sectors

Software, quantum, AI, cloud

• Date: March 1, 2026   

• Region: ASEAN-O   

• Country: Singapore 

• Name of the sector concerned: T&S     

• Name(s) of the sub-sector(s) concerned: Tech   

• Format type: Brief   

• Section: Market trends   

• Theme: Artificial Intelligence

• Title: 2026 Budget: Singapore to launch national AI missions in four sectors

Singapore will launch a new set of national artificial intelligence (AI) missions across key sectors of the economy, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Budget 2026 speech. The missions will focus on advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance, and healthcare, with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

“In advanced manufacturing, we aim to accelerate innovation and build best-in-class factories that can compete globally in connectivity and logistics,” he said. In addition, AI will be used to automate airport and seaport operations to improve efficiency.

Moreover, the government will review regulations and create sandboxes to allow safe testing of AI innovations.

“We will therefore establish a new national AI Council, which I will chair, to provide strategic direction and to drive Singapore's agenda for AI to truly transform our economy,” Wong added.

The government plans to invest more than S$1 billion in public funding for AI research by 2030, with the aim of strengthening national capabilities, creating centers of excellence, and attracting international talent.

To accelerate adoption by businesses, tax deductions of up to 400% are planned for certain AI-related expenses (capped at S$50,000 per year). At the same time, concrete measures are being taken to develop skills, with temporary free access to premium AI tools for people in training and the extension of the TechSkills Accelerator program to integrate AI skills into a wide range of professions.

Source : “Singapore Business Review, 13/02/2026”

URL: Budget 2026: SG to launch national AI missions across four sectors | Singapore Business Review