NUS collaborates with Microsoft Research Asia to advance AI research and cultivate computing talent | Singapore EDB

NUS collaborates with Microsoft Research Asia to advance AI research and cultivate computing talent | Singapore EDB

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NUS collaborates with Microsoft Research Asia to advance AI research and cultivate computing talent

02 Apr 2025•2 min read

770x514 NUS collaborates with Microsoft Research Asia

Professor Tan Eng Chye (fifth from left), NUS President, met Dr Lidong Zhou (fourth from left), Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of MSRA, and Ms Lee Hui Li (sixth from right), Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, in 2024. (Photo credit: NUS)

This press release was issued by National University of Singapore (NUS).

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is collaborating with Microsoft Research Asia to drive deep scientific exploration in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing while fostering the next generation of tech talent across Asia and beyond.

NUS will focus on AI-driven research with Microsoft Research Asia in key areas such as healthcare, societal AI, spatial intelligence and robotics, as well as data-intensive computing. This collaboration will boost progress in these fields, enhance cross-disciplinary research capability, and aim to strengthen the region’s role in shaping the future of AI and computing on a global scale.

Talent is the key driver behind the development of AI. NUS has signed a five-year research collaboration agreement with Microsoft Research Asia for a Joint PhD Supervision Programme, bringing together NUS' academic and research excellence with Microsoft Research Asia’s global leadership in AI, computing research, and industrial applications to cultivate talent. As part of this collaboration, NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will nurture PhD students through the Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP), a programme supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) that enables globally leading companies to develop talent aligned with industry needs, as well as PhD programmes offered by the NUS School of Computing. This initiative will help to cultivate interdisciplinary, high-calibre tech professionals and drive the integration of AI technology across industries.

Through strategic research projects and workshops, NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will strive to strengthen Asia’s integration with the global AI research community and amplify the region’s impact on international technology innovation.

"In line with Singapore’s AI strategy to accelerate the growth of the digital economy, the collaboration between NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will strengthen local AI capabilities and create meaningful impact for society and industries. As a leader in AI research and innovation, Microsoft Research Asia has a strong track record of pioneering breakthroughs and fostering deep academic collaborations. By joining forces with Microsoft Research Asia, we hope to drive cutting-edge advancements, translate research into real-world applications, and nurture AI talent with a global perspective."

Professor Tan Eng Chye
President
NUS

"Microsoft Research Asia is committed to driving technological innovation through cutting-edge open research and establishing long-term collaboration with leading academic institutions worldwide. Asia is a key global hub for AI innovation with a robust research ecosystem, strong industrial foundation, and international outlook. NUS, as one of the most influential academic institutions in Asia and beyond, has been our longstanding partner. We believe this collaboration will significantly advance AI technology and its applications and contribute to the global AI ecosystem."

Dr Lidong Zhou
Corporate Vice President and Managing Director
Microsoft Research Asia

"Talent development is central to Singapore’s vision to become a globally leading AI innovation hub. This collaboration between NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will offer our local students the opportunity to advance the development of frontier AI technology in Singapore under the mentorship of world-class researchers. At the same time, by fostering interdisciplinary expertise and industry-academia collaboration, this initiative will further strengthen Singapore’s AI talent pipeline and enhance the competitiveness of our companies and industries here."

Mr Jermaine Loy
Managing Director
EDB

770x435 NUS collaborates with Microsoft Research Asia

The inaugural NUS-MSRA Academic Symposium was held at NUS School of Computing in January 2025, where representatives from both organisations engaged in fruitful discussions to identify key areas of collaboration. (Photo credit: NUS)

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Artificial Intelligence

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