Speech by MOS Alvin Tan at the official launch of the Tata Consultancy Services AI-Powered Research & Innovation Centre

Mr Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Mr Girish Ramachandran, President of Growth Markets, TCS

Mr Punit Agarwal, Singapore Country Head, TCS

Dr Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

1. It is my pleasure to join you this morning at the official launch of the TCS AI-Powered Research & Innovation Centre in Singapore.

2. This centre will help companies to co-innovate and transform. It will host cutting-edge digital toolkits and solutions, enabling partner companies to leverage technologies such as AI, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, and robotics to develop a competitive edge in a very fast-moving, technological and increasingly automated world.

3. It is good to see so many industry and educational stakeholders here, reflecting the strong links TCS has forged with Singapore’s ecosystem.

4. I also want to congratulate TCS on its 40^th anniversary in Singapore, a milestone that coincides with 60 years of bilateral relations between India and Singapore.

   1. Since setting up its Asia-Pacific headquarters here in 1985, TCS has partnered closely with global and local companies on their digital transformation journeys, and contributed to the local ecosystem through partnerships with organisations like the People’s Association and SMU.

   2. Thank you TCS for your continued trust in Singapore.

Industry Development

5. Even amidst the ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty, demand for new innovative products and services continues to grow. We saw this during the Covid-19 pandemic, which accelerated adoption of computing and digital tools.

6. To stay ahead, Singapore is committed to advancing the development and deployment of digital and AI solutions through partnerships with global and local players. We are doing this in three ways:

   1. First, to develop the digital industry. We have put forth a vision for Smart Nation as well as a National AI Strategy (NAIS), both are now on their second iteration! Through the NAIS 2.0, we have committed over S$1 billion over the next five years to grow AI talent and enhance digital infrastructure.

   2. Second, we consistently work with top industry players like many of you who are present here, to drive digital upskilling, cultivate local talent, so Singapore can remain competitive and resilient as an innovation-driven economy. We are working with 100 leading companies to drive AI adoption by setting up AI Centres of Excellence (COEs) in Singapore, across various sectors of our economy: from manufacturing to financial services to logistics. In 2024, there were 26 AI CoEs established here with partners like American Express, Prudential, and SAP.

   3. TCS is also playing an important role.

      1. Globally, TCS has trained over 450,000 people in Generative AI.

      2. Locally, TCS collaborates with local institutes of higher learning. Last year, TCS partnered with NTU’s Energy Research Institute at NTU to launch the TCS GoZero Hub as an ASEAN Centre of Excellence for research, innovation, and collaboration.

Inclusion and Partnerships

7. Even as we encourage the adoption of new technologies, what is critical is to ensure that no individual or business is left behind.

8. The pandemic revealed two lessons:

   1. First, many were unprepared for the disruptions, and the technology learning curve was also relatively steep.

   2. Second, while digital tools are transformative, adoption is uneven across different sectors and companies.

9. When we speak to companies, companies tell us that when it comes to AI, sometimes they do not know where to start. There is hype surrounding AI, but the risk and cost of being an early adopter can be prohibitive.

   1. That is why at Budget 2025, the government announced that it has set aside up to S$150 million for the Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI), to support Singapore-based companies access cloud resources, AI tools, and consultancy services. This contributes to our broader NAIS 2.0 goal of anchoring AI capabilities here.

10. The TCS AI-Powered Research & Innovation Centre will play a similar role. It will partner with local and global corporates to advance their digital transformation. By connecting businesses including startups, academia, and government agencies, the centre will drive cross-sector innovation and collaboration.

11. Notably, TCS will build on its four decades of experience in Singapore in supporting transformation across industries like finance, retail, and more recently, manufacturing.

Safety and Trust

12. Trust is at the heart of Singapore’s Smart Nation efforts. As technology becomes increasingly embedded in our everyday life, responsible development and deployment become even more important. Businesses may thus need guidance to manage the associated risks and challenges, so they feel safe using digital systems and services.

13. Spaces like the TCS AI-Powered Research & Innovation Centre will help, by offering companies a trusted environment to engage with experts and connect with peers facing similar business challenges.

14. I am encouraged by TCS’ customer-centric approach towards digital transformation and adoption, and its commitment to helping partners innovate and offer solutions that build their customers’ confidence and trust.

Conclusion

15. As Singapore pursues our Smart Nation vision, we look forward to more meaningful collaborations with TCS.

16. Once again, congratulations to TCS on the launch of your AI-Powered Research & Innovation Centre in Singapore, and on your 40^th year here!