Singapore’s EnterpriseSG and Google announce AI programme for SMEs

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and Google Cloud will support local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in deepening their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by accelerating the adoption of Gemini for Google Workspace.  

The announcement to onboard SMEs on Gemini for the Google Workspace Programme is part of Singapore’s ongoing collaboration with Google Cloud to develop new AI solutions for the industry. Gemini refers to Google’s family of multimodal large language models (LLMs). 

An official release said this “will enable the next wave of globally oriented, high-growth startups to build and launch their own proprietary AI products” and empower more SMEs to embrace AI to boost workforce proficiency and productivity. 

According to Google, SMEs participating in the programme would get up to 50 per cent subsidy on Gemini for Google Workspace licence costs, capped at 50 licences per SME for a 12-month subscription period. 

The companies would also get access to Gemini for Google Workspace onboarding workshops and dedicated support sessions to learn best practices and effectively implement the solutions.

The announcement was part of an event hosted by Google to showcase the first cohort of startup graduates from Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore. 

AI a key driver for Singapore 

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, who was Guest-of-Honor at the event, said AI is a key driver of the Singapore economy, and that it is critical for organisations of all sizes to embrace and deepen their use of AI to grow their businesses.  

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“These initiatives demonstrate how public-private collaborations with technology leaders like Google Cloud can accelerate AI adoption and advance our National AI Strategy goals,” he added.

Twenty-five startups graduated from the inaugural cohort. Google said that the companies have built and launched AI products that address business challenges and unlock future growth opportunities.  

These include innovations aimed at detecting and preventing accounting fraud; increasing solar power capacity; reducing food waste and ensuring food safety; reinforcing public safety; boosting the creator economy; and enhancing the productivity of SMEs, among others. 

All the startups in the cohort built their generative AI (GenAI) products or solutions using Google Cloud’s AI stack, which includes Gemini models on Vertex AI. 

Four AI startups – Kookree, Lytehouse, Staple, and UI-licious – were assessed through the programme and awarded additional support by EnterpriseSG under the Startup SG Tech scheme.  

The Startup SG Tech scheme fast-tracks the development and commercialisation of proprietary technology solutions by startups. 

Second cohort 

At the event, EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud announced that applications for the second cohort were now open. 

The three-month programme, scheduled to begin in February 2025, will be expanded to accept 35 startups.  

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Google said the selected applicants will be able to tap into a suite of technology capabilities and resources, which include up to US$350,000 (S$452,087) in Google Cloud credits upon graduation from the programme. 

The applicants will get mentorship and technical project support from Google Cloud’s product development teams, AI engineers, and startup ecosystem network partners. 

They can also tap on additional funding support under EnterpriseSG’s Startup SG Tech programme for eligible startups.  

EnterpriseSG Assistant Managing Director, Geoffrey Yeo, noted that the two programmes being run in collaboration with Google underscore “EnterpriseSG’s efforts to boost Singapore’s fast-developing AI ecosystem and deepen our companies’ capabilities to simplify work processes and improve efficiency”.  

“We will continue to collaborate with AI ecosystem partners like Google Cloud to spur AI innovation and adoption among businesses to strengthen their competitiveness, build new capabilities, and capture emerging opportunities,” he added. 

Digital Industry Singapore Executive Director, Philbert Gomez, said the success of the inaugural cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore “reflects our commitment toward enabling promising AI startups with the means to turn innovative AI concepts into reality and commercialise them for local and global markets”.