Committee of Supply 2026: Innovation, AI and Decarbonisation Priorities for Singapore

Singapore’s Committee of Supply (COS) 2026 sets out a coordinated programme to strengthen economic resilience through innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and decarbonisation. Framed by Budget 2026’s theme, “Securing Our Future Together in a Changed World”, the plans focus on leadership in priority sectors, economy-wide AI adoption and a faster transition to a low-carbon future. The measures emphasise translational research, industry partnerships and enabling infrastructure to create high-value jobs and practical outcomes for Singaporeans.

Strengthening semiconductor capabilities through targeted R&D

As part of efforts to deepen advanced manufacturing, Singapore will invest S$800 million to establish an RIE Flagship in Semiconductors, led by A*STAR and the Economic Development Board. The programme will focus on high-impact areas such as advanced packaging and advanced photonics, which improve chip performance while reducing power consumption—an increasingly important requirement as AI systems scale.

The Flagship is intended to strengthen the semiconductor value chain, reinforce Singapore’s position as a trusted innovation partner and develop specialised skills. This builds on broader national efforts outlined in Singapore’s technology and innovation leadership agenda, which prioritises sustained investment in research and talent.

Power electronics translation and industry collaboration

An additional S$60 million will be invested to establish the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre for Power Electronics (NSTIC (Power Electronics)). The platform will bring together industry and academia to advance Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride technologies for scalable manufacturing and commercialisation.

NSTIC (Power Electronics) will house the world’s first and only open-innovation 200 mm Silicon Carbide R&D pilot line, supporting rapid prototyping for public and private sector users, including local SMEs and startups. The work is aimed at enabling smaller, more efficient power systems for applications such as electric vehicle charging and reducing energy use in data centres.

Accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy

To support national climate goals, Singapore will commit S$800 million to launch the Decarbonisation Grand Challenge under RIE2030. Building on earlier low-carbon energy research, the initiative targets areas with the greatest potential impact, including solar energy, low-carbon alternatives, energy efficiency and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage.

The Grand Challenge will place greater emphasis on later-stage pilots and demonstrations through the Singapore Pilots for Energy & Enterprise Decarbonisation programme, led by A*STAR in collaboration with the Energy Market Authority and the Economic Development Board. The aim is to move viable solutions from the laboratory into real-world deployment, supporting cost-effective decarbonisation and new growth opportunities in the energy sector.

Scaling biomedical R&D translation platforms

Biomedical sciences remain a core growth sector. In 2024, Singapore established two translational platforms under A*STAR—the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi) and MedTech Catapult—to anchor high-value R&D and manufacturing activities. NATi has launched more than 20 industry projects, training over 100 research talents through its mRNA and oligonucleotide foundries.

MedTech Catapult has supported partnerships between more than seven local contract manufacturing organisations and international and domestic product owners. Building on early outcomes, both platforms will be scaled further under RIE2030 to deepen the biomedical innovation ecosystem and expand opportunities for Singaporeans.

Driving AI adoption in advanced manufacturing

AI adoption is a central pillar of COS 2026, with advanced manufacturing among the first sectors to be addressed through focused AI Missions. The Advanced Manufacturing AI Mission targets three outcomes: upgrading facilities to best-in-class operations, enabling new products and capabilities, and delivering broad-based transformation across the sector.

A*STAR’s Sectoral AI Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing (AIMfg) will be scaled to support deeper transformation, including workflow redesign, development of proprietary applications and integration of AI into core operations. This approach aligns with wider economic trends, where AI and technology sectors are contributing to growth momentum, and complements parallel investments in applied AI research such as those seen in new AI-focused laboratories.

Further details on the COS 2026 measures are available from the original announcement published by A*STAR at its official COS 2026 briefing.