SINGAPORE – To attract and nurture top talent in artificial intelligence (AI), Singapore has announced new professorships and a master’s program focused on AI. Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo revealed these initiatives on Friday (March 1).
AI Visiting Professorship
The AI Visiting Professorship program aims to attract leading researchers to collaborate with Singapore. According to the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), five visiting professors will be selected gradually over the next few years. These professors must dedicate at least 20 percent of their time to collaborative research, identify local collaborators, and mentor young researchers and students in Singapore.
MCI stated that the primary goal of this program is to accelerate research aligned with Singapore’s national AI agenda, offer more training opportunities for local students, and drive additional research activities in the country.
This initiative supports the National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0, launched in December 2023
This initiative supports the National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0, launched in December 2023. It also aligns with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Budget 2024 announcement of over S$1 billion in investments over the next five years to develop AI computing, talent, and industries.
Accelerated Master’s Program for Local Talent
MCI has also allocated S$7 million to an AI Accelerated Master’s Programme. This program will support 50 local students over three years, with applications opening from March to May 2024.
The program aims to build a pipeline of local AI research talent, preparing students for careers in AI research or enhancing their competitiveness for PhD programs in AI.
Expanding the AI Talent Pool
Singapore plans to triple its pool of AI practitioners to 15,000 within the next five years, including data scientists and machine learning engineers. To kickstart this effort, the Infocomm Media Development Authority will invest S$20 million over three years to enhance AI practitioner training through scholarships and overseas internships.
The initiative is expected to develop a new generation of AI professionals capable of contributing to various industries in Singapore. This strategy reflects the nation’s vision of leveraging AI as a key driver of economic transformation.
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