NTU provost Christian Wolfrum appointed to lead Singapore's national AI programme

Nanyang Technological University's provost, Christian Wolfrum, has been appointed the new executive chairman of AI Singapore (AISG), effective July 1. He takes over from Professor Ho Teck Hua, who stepped down after leading the national AI initiative since its inception in 2017. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) announced the transition, highlighting Wolfrum's deep understanding of Singapore's research and innovation ecosystem.

In his new role, Professor Wolfrum will collaborate with MDDI, NRF, and other stakeholders to guide AISG's future development. His focus will be on advancing Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0 and reinforcing the nation's goal to become a leading global center for trustworthy and impactful artificial intelligence. Wolfrum's extensive experience includes shaping AI research environments, notably his past role as vice president for research at ETH Zurich, where he influenced strategic research directions and contributed to major Swiss AI initiatives.

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AISG's unique strength is its position at the interface of academia and industry, and that is exactly where AI champions are built: Companies that embed AI into the core of their products and operations, not as an add-on but as a fundamental capability, backed by a workforce that understands AI deeply enough to build with it.

Wolfrum expressed his honor in taking on the position, emphasizing AISG's crucial role at the intersection of academia and industry. He believes this synergy is vital for cultivating AI champions and embedding AI as a fundamental capability within companies, supported by a knowledgeable workforce. "Research without industry impact is incomplete, and industry without deep research is short-sighted," Wolfrum stated, adding that AISG will be the driving force to bridge this gap in Singapore's AI ecosystem.

MDDI and NRF also commended Professor Ho Teck Hua for his leadership, crediting him with strengthening partnerships across academia, industry, and government. Under his tenure, AISG significantly enhanced Singapore's standing as a global hub for AI research and innovation, becoming a cornerstone of the national AI ecosystem and supporting key programs in research and capability development.

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Research without industry impact is incomplete, and industry without deep research is short-sighted. Singapore's AI ecosystem can close that gap, and AISG will be the engine to get there.