Microsoft has launched its first Southeast Asian research facility in Singapore, aiming to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, drive industrial transformation, and develop regional talent. Known as Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore, the lab is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and expands Microsoft’s global research network in Asia.
The official launch ceremony took place with Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, Dr Tan See Leng, attending as Guest-of-Honour. He was joined by Dr Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research.
The lab’s opening highlights Microsoft’s long-term investment in Singapore’s digital economy and its alignment with the National AI Strategy 2.0, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a key innovation hub in the region.
Singapore as a core part of Microsoft’s global AI agenda
Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore will focus on three core areas: building industry-specific AI solutions, advancing foundational AI breakthroughs, and applying AI responsibly for social good. These goals reflect Microsoft’s global approach to AI, which aims to empower individuals, transform industries, and address shared challenges.
“Singapore plays a critical role in our global research strategy,” said Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research. “Its leadership in science, engineering and digital governance, along with its strong culture of public-private-academic collaboration, makes it an ideal environment for advancing inclusive and impactful AI. Through this lab, we are investing in long-term collaborations that accelerate discovery and bring real-world solutions to the region.”
Jermaine Loy, Managing Director at EDB, added, “The establishment of Microsoft Research Asia’s first lab in Southeast Asia reflects our commitment to partner leading tech players to deliver real-world impact through AI, from Singapore. Importantly, the new lab will create new opportunities for researchers and companies in areas such as healthcare and finance. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Microsoft to advance Singapore’s digital economy.”
The lab builds on over 20 years of Microsoft’s partnerships with local universities, research institutions and industry leaders. With a dedicated presence in Singapore, Microsoft aims to strengthen joint research efforts, grow talent pipelines, and support the national and regional innovation ecosystem.
Advancing applied AI through local partnerships
Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore is already working on a range of interdisciplinary projects with local institutions and industry partners. These initiatives apply AI technologies to key sectors including healthcare, finance, logistics, and smart environments.
The lab is developing domain-specific foundation models and agentic AI systems to generate actionable insights for enterprise use. In healthcare, Microsoft is collaborating with SingHealth to improve diagnostic accuracy and personalise treatment using advanced AI. In spatial intelligence, partnerships with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) are enabling embodied AI development for complex real-world tasks.
In parallel, Microsoft is adapting AI systems to better reflect Southeast Asian cultures and norms, improving reliability and trust in local deployments.
“These initiatives reflect our commitment to combining deep fundamental research with close cross-disciplinary collaboration,” said Lidong Zhou, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia. “By working closely with Singapore’s research and innovation ecosystem, we aim to accelerate scientific discovery and build AI technologies that drive real impact for industry, society, and individuals alike.”
Building a pipeline of AI talent in Southeast Asia
Alongside research efforts, Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore is focusing on talent development through close academic collaborations. The lab is working with leading institutions including NUS, NTU Singapore, and Singapore Management University (SMU) to support both fundamental and applied AI research.
This includes a five-year research partnership with NUS, announced earlier this year, to advance AI and train future computing talent. As part of this initiative, Microsoft is supporting PhD students through Singapore’s Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP), which is backed by EDB, and other NUS PhD programmes.
The lab is also promoting academic exchange through summer schools and joint workshops with local universities. These efforts aim to equip emerging researchers with practical skills, while enhancing collaboration across Singapore’s wider research community.
