Singapore deepens cooperation with France in AI and quantum computing

Speaking at the France-Singapore Frontier Technologies forum on Friday, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, said the two countries were committed to deepen collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and clean energy.

Boosting AI innovation

In this context, she said French start-up, Mistral AI, would be setting up a Singapore office, and that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ST Engineering on applied AI engineering.

Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) also recently signed a partnership with Mistral AI to enhance AI and generative AI (Gen AI) capabilities within Home Team operations.

Minister Teo also said Airbus will work with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Infocom Media Development Authority (IMDA) to jointly potential applications for a use 5G-Non-Terrestrial Network to increase efficiency of AI systems.

French aerospace and defence corporation, Thales will launch a global AI accelerator in Singapore, or the CortAIx Centre, to develop AI solutions for critical environmental applications, said Minister Teo.

After France, Canada and Britain, the Centre in Singapore will be Thales’ fourth CortAIx Centre, after France, Canada and Britain.

R&D investments

Minister Teo also announced that Singapore and France would be expanding joint research in robotics and quantum technology.

Singapore’s National Quantum Office (NQO) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) will collaborate in quantum research, particularly in energetics and photonics, the minister said.

Moreover, through its Centre at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Create facility, CNRS will participate in Singapore’s National Robotics Programme to further enhance AI research.

This collaboration is supported by S$20 million in funding, said Minister Teo.

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Beyond AI and technology

She added that Singapore and France were both strong proponents of multilateralism and reinforced this by saying “we believe in it, we advocate it, and we stand by it”.

“Our world is becoming more fractious and unpredictable. Yet, Singapore and France have continued to support an open and inclusive trading system,” she said.

“While tariff-induced uncertainties persist, French businesses operating in Singapore can continue to benefit from the ASEAN Free Trade Area, which makes it more cost-effective for French businesses in Singapore to export and source goods from this region,” said Minister Teo.

Additionally, Singapore and France are advancing sustainability efforts together and are committed to effective climate action under the Paris Agreement, Minister Teo announced.

To lower the carbon footprint of Singapore’s public transport, partnerships with French energy company, ENGIE and transport operator, SBS Transit are also underway, Teo said.

“It is through these kinds of tangible projects that we can demonstrate the necessity for and the ability to reduce our interests and contribute to the real world,” Minister Teo concluded.

This year, Singapore and France celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.