IMDA partners with Grab and RSM to expand AI, cybersecurity support for Singapore SMEs

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Teddy Cambosa

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15 minutes ago

IMDA partners with Grab and RSM to expand AI, cybersecurity support for Singapore SMEs

Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority has announced new partnerships with Grab and RSM Stone Forest IT under its Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB), introducing initiatives focused on artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore.

The agency said the two partnerships are expected to support an additional 12,000 SMEs, contributing to the DEB’s target of helping 50,000 SMEs by 2029. Since the programme’s launch in May 2024, more than 26,000 enterprises have participated in digitalisation initiatives under the blueprint.

Under the initiative, Grab will launch the Grab AI Programme for SMEs, aimed at helping 10,000 businesses in the food and beverage (F&B), e-commerce, and retail sectors improve AI awareness, literacy, and adoption. The programme will be delivered through GrabAcademy and will include online training materials, webinars, masterclasses, and a two-day AI course developed with the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

The course, titled “From AI Awareness to Business Advantage: A Practical Roadmap,” is designed to guide SMEs in identifying AI use cases and building AI adoption plans for their businesses. Participating companies will also receive support from Grab and IMDA-approved AI solution providers.

According to IMDA, the programme seeks to address barriers to AI adoption among SMEs, including limited awareness, uncertainty over practical applications, and lack of implementation support. Grab said it will use its merchant network, digital channels, and events to expand outreach efforts and promote government-supported digital tools and resources.

Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Singapore, said: “Our ongoing work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) highlights a growing divide – not between humans and machines, but between larger firms with dedicated resources and smaller businesses operating with limited bandwidth. Many SMEs are simply too busy to explore new technologies. That is why practical AI matters most. Through GrabAcademy, we have long supported our partners with accessible, applied learning, and this collaboration with IMDA allows us to deepen that support. We are helping SMEs adopt AI in tangible ways that translate into real productivity gains and business growth.”

Separately, RSM will roll out the RSM Cyber2SMETM Programme, which focuses on improving cyber resilience among SMEs through phishing simulation exercises and cybersecurity workshops.

The programme will provide complimentary one-time phishing simulation exercises to up to 2,000 SMEs, covering as many as 30 employees per company. Businesses will also receive phishing performance reports and one-on-one advisory sessions with RSM cybersecurity practitioners.

In addition, RSM plans to conduct cybersecurity awareness webinars and tabletop exercises for up to 1,000 SMEs, covering cyber risks, AI and data threats, and incident response strategies.

The programme comes amid increasing cybersecurity threats in Singapore. IMDA cited data from the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore showing that around 6,100 phishing attempts were reported in 2024, representing a 49% increase from the previous year. The agency also noted that Business Email Compromise scams resulted in S$35.3m in losses across 377 reported cases in 2025.

Chio Kian Huat, CEO of RSM Singapore, said: “Cyber resilience is a business imperative. Today, where threats evolve by the minute, our strongest defence is not just technology but our people. When every individual is able to recognise and respond to threats, we turn vulnerability into vigilance. And this is what keeps our businesses secure, adaptive, and future-ready.”

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