AIM ASEAN Singapore 2026: National Policy Convening
From AI Awareness to AI Impact
Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Venue: Singapore Polytechnic
Format: By Invitation Only
Organised by Project Asia Data (by BlackStorm Group) and Singapore Polytechnic
About the National Policy Convening
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, the next challenge is no longer simply building awareness. It is enabling businesses to translate AI knowledge into practical adoption, stronger workforce capabilities and measurable business outcomes.
The AIM ASEAN Singapore 2026: National Convening is a by-invitation gathering of senior stakeholders from institutions, trade and industry associations, ecosystem organisations, technology partners, programme partners and selected SME leaders.
The Convening will bring together approximately 100 stakeholders to exchange perspectives on the next phase of AI adoption among SMEs in Singapore.
The discussions will focus on two critical questions:
How do we help businesses move from AI training and experimentation towards meaningful implementation?
How do we build AI-bilingual talent who can connect business needs, workflows and technology?
Through focused discussions, cross-sector perspectives and ecosystem dialogue, the National Convening aims to identify practical adoption gaps, strengthen collaboration and explore opportunities for follow-up initiatives that can help more SMEs progress from AI awareness towards measurable business impact.
Who Will Be in the Room
The National Convening is designed for invited representatives and senior stakeholders from:
Trade and industry associations
Institutes of higher learning and training organisations
SME support and ecosystem organisations
Selected technology and solution providers
AIM ASEAN programme and supporting partners
Business leaders and selected SME voices
Policy-adjacent and industry stakeholders involved in AI adoption, workforce development and enterprise transformation
Participation is by invitation only. Registrations will be reviewed and confirmed by the organising team.
Programme
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Arrival & Registration
10:00 AM – 10:05 AM: Welcome Remarks
10:05 AM – 10:20 AM: Guest of Honour Opening Address
10:20 AM – 10:30 AM: AIM ASEAN: Programme Introduction, Progress and Achievements
10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
Discussion 1: From Training to Adoption
AI awareness and training are important starting points, but meaningful business impact depends on what happens next.
This discussion will explore how SMEs can progress from learning and experimentation towards implementation. Stakeholders will examine common barriers including uncertainty over where to start, identifying high-value use cases, selecting suitable tools, affordability, internal capability gaps and access to post-training support.
The discussion will also consider how ecosystem stakeholders can work together to create clearer pathways from capability building to practical business adoption.
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
Discussion 2: Building AI-Bilingual SME Talent
Successful AI adoption requires people who can understand both business needs and the possibilities and limitations of AI.
This discussion will explore what AI-bilingual capability means for SMEs, how business leaders and employees can develop the skills to identify use cases and redesign workflows, and how institutions, training providers and industry partners can better support workforce transformation.
The discussion will also examine the skills and support structures required for businesses to adopt AI responsibly and sustainably.
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM: Closing Remarks by ASEAN Foundation
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Networking Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Learning Journey Visits at Singapore Polytechnic (Optional)
Why This Convening Matters
Singapore's AI ecosystem has made significant progress in building awareness and access to technology. The next phase requires stronger connections between training, business implementation, workforce capability and ecosystem support.
The National Convening creates a focused platform for stakeholders to share practical perspectives, identify gaps and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The objective is not only to discuss AI adoption, but to help shape practical pathways that enable SMEs to:
identify relevant and high-value AI use cases;
build internal confidence and capability;
redesign workflows and roles around AI-enabled ways of working;
adopt AI responsibly and with appropriate safeguards;
access relevant tools, expertise and implementation support; and
translate AI adoption into productivity, competitiveness and sustainable business growth.
About AIM ASEAN
AIM ASEAN (AI for MSME Advancement in ASEAN) is a two-year regional initiative by the ASEAN Foundation, under the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific, in collaboration with AVPN and supported by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank. It aims to empower 100,000 MSMEs across all ten ASEAN Member States. Through practical, localised AI training, AIM ASEAN helps small business owners use digital tools to improve operations, expand markets, and build resilience. The programme also brings together policymakers and experts to strengthen the ecosystem that enables MSMEs to thrive in the digital age.
Registration
This is a by-invitation-only event with limited capacity.
A confirmation email will be sent upon approval by the organising team.
We look forward to bringing together stakeholders across Singapore's business, education, technology and enterprise support ecosystem to advance the conversation from AI awareness to AI impact.
Part of AIM ASEAN Singapore 2026
The National Convening forms part of the larger AIM ASEAN Singapore 2026: National Convening & Flagship Forum.
Following the by-invitation-only National Convening in the morning, participants are warmly invited to continue the conversation at the Flagship Forum, taking place from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre.
The afternoon forum is open to the public and will bring together SME leaders, industry partners and ecosystem stakeholders for learning, discussion and networking. Participants can also explore a range of AI-related showcase booths, discover practical solutions and initiatives, and connect directly with participating organisations.
Separate registration is required for the Flagship Forum.