Singapore's AI centres of excellence multiply as Grab, Prudential and manufacturers build out
From a Grab-OpenAI partnership to a Coca-Cola plant using AI to cut waste, Singapore's push to turn AI investment into real productivity gains is broadening across industries.
A growing roster of AI centres of excellence, set up by technology and industrial firms across Singapore, is part of a broader push to translate AI investment into measurable productivity gains across the economy.
In manufacturing, AIMfg, a joint initiative by A*STAR and the Ministry of Trade and Industry launched in 2024, gives companies access to standardised AI models and shared support. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Innovation, backed by Enterprise Singapore and five local institutes, runs 14 specialised centres covering robotics, AI and additive manufacturing, and aims to support more than 800 companies over two years.
Results on the factory floor
Coca-Cola Singapore's Tuas plant, recognised by the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network, has used AI and machine learning for demand forecasting to lift throughput by 28% and labour productivity by 70%.
On the corporate side, Grab has struck Southeast Asia's first strategic partnership with OpenAI, applying AI to accessibility features, customer support and mapping, while Prudential's AI Lab focuses on customer experience and back-office automation.
Sources: Singapore EDB
