Colt Report: Singapore Leads in High Value AI Investment, 27% of Businesses Allocate Over S$1 Million Annually
(Source: Press Release)
Colt Technology Services, a global digital infrastructure company, has released its latest IT Priorities Research, surveying over 1,200 IT leaders at businesses with annual revenues of at least US$100 million across 13 countries. The findings underscore Singapore's leadership in AI investment, with 27% of businesses allocating over S$1.28 million (US$1 million) annually to AI initiatives — surpassing counterparts in the UK (18%) and the US (14%).
Among regional peers, Singapore stands out for the scale and depth of its AI investments. While Japan has the widest adoption, with 90% of businesses engaging in AI, and Hong Kong shows strong mid-level investment activity, Singapore leads in high-value commitment. This signals not only ambition but also strategic intent, backed by national initiatives like S$1 billion National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0), as well as a strong ecosystem of public-private collaboration.
Strategic Focus on AI-Driven Innovation and Cybersecurity
Globally, organisations are prioritising AI-driven innovation and product development (34%), followed closely by generative AI for content creation (33%), cybersecurity (32%) with a tie between customer experience and process optimisation (31%). Singapore mirrors these trends, with a particularly strong emphasis on cybersecurity and operational task automation, driven by both government policy and enterprise ambition.
The research reveals that 37% of Singaporean businesses have AI as a top priority, which is at par with the global outlook towards AI developments. 37% of them have also cited security and resilience as a priority reflecting the nation's emphasis on ensuring digital resilience amid leveraging AI for economic growth.
The Singapore government has already invested S$500 million to secure high-performance computing resources essential for AI innovation, and has even allocated over S$20 million to nurture AI talent in the country, aiming to triple the AI workforce over five years.
“Singapore’s rapid AI growth is more than just a theory now. Especially with the upcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) that is set to become a hub for AI, cloud computing and data infrastructure, private sector investments in building facilities with scalable network capacities is critical,” says Shirley Heng, Country Manager of Colt Technology Services Singapore. “There will definitely be a stronger need for high bandwidth network infrastructure that’s not just fast, but agile and ready to evolve. Opportunities like the JS-SEZ are still unfolding, but they signal where the region is headed; it’s something many in the industry are keeping an eye on.”
The Role of Robust Digital Infrastructure
Singapore's advanced digital infrastructure also plays a pivotal role in solidifying business confidence in AI spend.
“At Colt, our priority has always been to empower businesses with the responsiveness required to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving environment. Leveraging our extensive global presence, we have successfully supported customers across sectors such as banking and finance, hyperscalers, and the media industry. Our secure, low-latency, high-capacity bandwidth solutions enable our customers to scale seamlessly as they innovate and expand their global operations,” added Shirley.
The conducive environment for AI innovation has attracted global tech companies. OpenAI announced plans to establish its Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore, while Amazon Web Services established their new Asia-Pacific headquarters in the country, accommodating up to 3,000 employees and reinforcing Singapore’s status as a digital innovation hub.
A Sustainable AI Future
As Singaporean businesses continue to expand their AI infrastructure, Colt will continue to partner with them to support these ambitions with secure, high-performance digital infrastructure essential for AI deployment. The company’s focus on modernising digital infrastructure, aligning with the nation's sustainability goals, ensures that AI advancements are both innovative and environmentally responsible.
Methodology
Intuit Research for Colt Technology Services surveyed 1,236 IT decision makers and those responsible for digital infrastructure services at businesses with annual revenues of at least USD 100 million, across 13 regions: the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.