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Singapore launches S$150m AI platform for materials discovery

The argument

Singapore has committed S$150 million to a new AI-driven platform for materials discovery, targeting sectors including advanced manufacturing and energy, with an announcement made on 27 October 2026.

By Lena Ho28 October 20263 min read
Photo: CHUTTERSNAP / Unsplash

S$150 Million for AI-Driven Materials Discovery

Singapore's government announced on 27 October 2026 an investment of S$150 million into the Materials Accelerator for Research, Venture and Enterprise Launchpad, known as Marvel-AI. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who also serves as Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade), made the announcement during the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology.

This initiative forms part of four artificial intelligence missions previously outlined by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The Marvel-AI platform, led by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and supported by the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Economic Development Board (EDB), and the National Research Foundation, will concentrate on four material categories: metal alloys, polymers and organics, ceramics, and composites. These materials are crucial for applications in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, energy, and chemicals.

Accelerating Material Science Research

The Marvel-AI platform employs artificial intelligence for iterative prediction, experimentation, and validation, integrating robotics to automate the entire process. This closed-loop system allows AI models to learn from each experiment's outcome, enhancing their capabilities over time. This approach significantly speeds up research workflows.

For instance, the platform can produce 75 samples of polymers within 24 hours, a rate approximately 25 times faster than human researchers. Similarly, up to 470 distinct metal alloys can be screened and tested in a single day, exceeding conventional methods by more than 400 times.

Professor Loh Xian Jun, Executive Director of Marvel-AI, noted that the platform builds on Singapore's existing material science strengths by integrating AI, thereby bridging the divide between material discovery and practical deployment for industrial partners like Foxconn Industrial Internet and ST Engineering.

Enterprise-Wide AI Integration Programme

Separately, DPM Gan also introduced the Champions of AI programme, designed to assist Singapore-based companies in embedding AI as a primary driver for growth and transformation. The initial cohort comprises 24 companies, including major entities such as OCBC, UOB, Singtel, Seatrium, Sembcorp Industries, Keppel, CapitaLand Investment, and Singapore Airlines.

These companies have committed to developing their workforce, creating new roles, redesigning existing positions, and building AI capabilities across their organisations. EnterpriseSG will collaborate with these champions to identify specific challenges, formulate long-term AI transformation road maps, and facilitate access to AI expertise and solution providers.

UOB, for example, has publicly stated a target of generating S$900 million in economic value from AI initiatives by 2030, focusing on productivity gains rather than cost reduction, as stated by CEO Wee Ee Cheong.

AI Training for Small Businesses

In addition to supporting large enterprises, Singapore is extending AI assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). EnterpriseSG is launching a series of agentic AI workshops titled “Driving Entrepreneurship with AI,” which will offer practical guidance to micro-entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

These workshops aim to help participants identify relevant AI use cases and develop functional prototypes tailored to their specific operational requirements. Another initiative, Catalytic AI Solutions, is also being introduced to facilitate broader AI adoption among SMEs.

A pilot phase of these workshops has already engaged more than 280 small businesses, enabling them to integrate agentic AI tools into their operations. This widespread training is intended to overcome organisational inertia and ensure effective use of the technology across different skill levels, according to UOB CEO Wee Ee Cheong.

What This Means for Regional Advanced Manufacturing

The S$150 million investment in Marvel-AI and associated AI adoption programmes positions Singapore to deepen its industrial capabilities and cultivate new sources of economic expansion. For decision-makers in Asia's advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, this signals an intensification of competition in materials innovation and AI integration.

Companies operating across regional supply chains may need to assess their own research and development strategies and AI readiness to maintain competitiveness. The focus on rapid materials discovery and enterprise-wide AI adoption could lead to faster product cycles and efficiency gains in Singapore, potentially influencing regional benchmarks.

Businesses and investors should monitor the progress of the 24 Champions of AI companies and the deployment outcomes from Marvel-AI, particularly the specific new materials and manufacturing processes that emerge, to gauge the tangible economic impact and potential for cross-border collaboration or disruption in the coming 12 to 24 months.

This analysis is journalism, not investment advice; consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

Pieces are credited to the desk that commissioned and edited them. Our editorial standards, and the desks behind them, are set out on the Editorial Standards and Team pages.

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