Singapore, EU set up framework for collaboration to enhance AI safety

Singapore and the European Union (EU) have established a new Administrative Arrangement to formalise collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) safety. 

This aims to enhance cooperation in promoting technological innovation, as well as developing responsible use of safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI, according to a Singapore government announcement.

The agreement is also expected to boost economic and technological advancement in the field of AI. The bilateral arrangement will support wider efforts by the international AI Safety Institutes (AISIs) Network – of which both Singapore and the EU are members. 

In Singapore, the Digital Trust Centre (DTC) at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been designated as Singapore’s AI Safety Institute.

The agreement was signed by Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) Permanent Secretary, Joseph Leong, and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission (DG CONNECT), Director-General, Roberto Viola.

The document was formally exchanged during a bilateral meeting between Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, and European Commission for 'A Europe Fit for the Digital Age' Executive Vice President, Margrethe Vestager. 

To subscribe to the GovInsider bulletin click here. 

The agreement is part of Singapore’s broader efforts to increase international cooperation on AI safety. Earlier this month, Teo signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, to advance AI safety collaboration between the two nations. 

Framework for cooperation 

Singapore and the EU will establish a framework for cooperation between Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and EU’s DG CONNECT and EU AI Office. 

Key areas of cooperation will include the sharing of expertise and best practices, including relevant technologies, governance frameworks, technical tools, evaluations and research and development for the purpose of advancing AI safety. 

These may include expert information exchange with related partners, such as institutes of higher learning, think tanks, enterprises, government agencies, or other ecosystem stakeholders.  

The two sides will also work to develop tools and benchmarks by creating frameworks to evaluate capabilities, limitations and risks associated with general-purpose AI models. 

This will be done by advancing joint research initiatives to explore new approaches to promoting safer AI systems and strategies to manage and mitigate risks in their use. This will include sharing perspectives on technological developments in the field of AI to better address evolving challenges. 

To subscribe to the GovInsider bulletin click here.  

Another aspect of the cooperation will be conducting assessments of general-purpose AI models to evaluate their capabilities, limitations, and risks, including challenges arising from deployment.  

The latest agreement strengthens existing digital partnerships between both parties, a point which both Teo and Vestager reaffirmed at their meeting. This includes the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership (EUSDP) signed in February 2023 and the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (EUSDTA) which was concluded in July 2024. 

The two also discussed Singapore’s latest Smart Nation developments and looked forward to further development of our digital partnership in other areas such as online safety.