Microsoft and DISG launch Agentic AI Accelerator program

Targeted towards 300 Singapore-based businesses, the program will offer a baseline support of up to S$250,000 of Azure cloud credits, AI training and tools over the next 12 months.

As businesses look to agentic AI adoption, Microsoft and Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) have launched Agentic AI Accelerator program, as part of the Singapore Government’s Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI).

The program, which is targeted towards 300 Singapore-based businesses, will offer a baseline support of up to S$250,000 of Azure cloud credits, AI training and tools over the next 12 months. Microsoft will also offer an additional funding of up to S$700,000 in services to help select businesses co-develop their agentic AI roadmap with Microsoft technology partners.

With more businesses looking to embrace AI, one of the biggest challenges they face is access to funding and having a roadmap that can guide them in their AI journey. According to Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index, 82% of business leaders in Singapore intend to deploy AI agents to scale workforce capacity within the next 12-18 months.

As such, Microsoft is committed to making bold investments that will enable forward looking organizations that are ready to embrace agentic AI transform into Frontier Firms over the coming year. For Microsoft, Frontier Firms are organizations powered by hybrid teams of humans working with AI agents.

“At Microsoft we see that Frontier Firms are the future – a new type of organisation where teams of humans and AI agents are working together, able to scale faster, move with greater agility, and create value in new ways,” said Cynthia Yeo, Acting Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore.

As a leader in both generative AI and cutting-edge agentic AI, Yeo added that Microsoft is committed to helping businesses become Frontier Firms by scaling with AI that is intuitive, secure, and integrated into everyday workflows.

“The combination of support now available to local businesses through the Government’s ECI and Microsoft’s new Agentic AI Accelerator will drive innovation and position Singapore to lead with AI,” added Yeo.

Breaking down the Microsoft Agentic AI Accelerator for ECI Benefits, it includes Microsoft Azure cloud credits up to $150,000 subject to approval, and AI training and tools valued at up to $100,000. The program also offers up to $700,000 Microsoft investment in services to achieve ambitious agentic AI roadmaps with its technology partners, provided on a case-by-case basis.

The businesses in the program will also have access to Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI technologies, cloud, research, resources and regular workshops. They will able to participate in co-innovation and workshops with Microsoft-approved technology partners to create bespoke AI transformation strategies as well as build with Microsoft Azure cloud, Copilot generative AI and Copilot Studio for agentic AI to drives efficiency and innovation.

This package complements the Singapore Government’s funding support of 70% of consultancy costs, capped at S$105,000 per enterprise. The funding covers consulting costs on a co-payment basis to create their own AI Centre of Excellence with the support of Microsoft and a technology partner.

Supporting government initiatives

The Agentic AI Accelerator builds on Microsoft Singapore’s vision for its AI Pinnacle Program to support ECI. Microsoft Singapore aims to transform industries with AI, including co-innovating with leading local organizations from law to healthcare and maritime to aviation.

Recently, the tech vendor also launched the Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore Lab with the support of the Economic Development Board. The lab is also expected to provide Agentic AI Accelerator participants the opportunity to engage with world-class scientists through deep research collaborations, lectures and training workshops to discover groundbreaking new AI use cases.

"Increasing access to AI tools and services is pivotal to empowering Singapore-based enterprises to gain competitiveness,” said Philbert Gomez, Senior Vice President, Head and Executive Director, Digital Industry Singapore.

“We are pleased to partner with Microsoft who is forefront of AI and cloud innovation, to provide hundreds of Singapore-based enterprises with access to advanced Azure services and cutting-edge AI tools. This will support companies in dealing with the pace of change and get ahead to uncover new opportunities from Singapore.”

Microsoft is also supporting the Government’s vision to accelerate AI adoption by setting up AI Centers of Excellence across industries. Through this initiative, Microsoft will offer bespoke solutions with technology partners that help companies overcome key business challenges and unlock competitive differentiation using AI.