Singapore: Singapore and UK sign agreement to strengthen global AI safety and governance

In brief

Singapore and the United Kingdom have signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to enhance the safety and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in its development and use. This agreement aims to pave the way for greater public trust in AI advancements. The MoC was signed by Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, during Minister Teo's working visit to the UK.


Contents

In more detail

The new MoC builds on the longstanding digital partnership between Singapore and the UK, which was formalized through the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA) that took effect in 2022. Since then, both countries have continued to collaborate on digital and cybersecurity matters, including the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under the UKSDEA. These MoUs cover various areas such as Digital Trade Facilitation, Digital Identities, Cyber Security, Data Cooperation and Emerging Technologies.

The latest agreement on AI aligns with the commitments made by Singapore and the UK at the AI Safety Summit held in the UK in November 2023 and the objectives of the international network of AI Safety Institutes to align their work on research, standards, and testing.

The MoC captures the active exchanges between Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Digital Trust Centre (DTC) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the UK Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the UK AI Safety Institute on research collaboration, international standards development, and safety testing. The MoC affirms the importance of international collaboration to advance the science of AI safety and maps out pathways for deeper cooperation on AI safety, including frameworks around information sharing and intellectual property rights.

As announced by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the new MoC will strengthen cooperation between the AI Safety Institutes (AISIs) of both countries. Key areas of collaboration include:

  1. AI Safety Research: Enhancing joint efforts to advance the science of AI safety, focusing on developing safer AI systems and risk management.
  2. Global Norms: Collaborating on international AI safety standards and protocols, including through possible cooperation with the Network of AI Safety Institutes, ensuring a global approach to AI risk mitigation.
  3. Information Sharing: Expanding knowledge exchange between the two countries' AI Safety Institutes to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that are trustworthy and safe for global use.
  4. Comprehensive AI Testing: Joint development of safety testing frameworks that provide robust evaluations throughout the AI lifecycle.

For further information, see the MDDI's press release.

Key takeaways

The new MoC is a significant step towards advancing the safe and reliable use of AI technologies. It underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing AI safety and governance, and it builds on the strong digital partnership between the Singapore and the UK.

* * * * *

For further information and to discuss what this development might mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.

* * * * *

LOGO_Wong&Leow_Singapore

© 2024 Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow. All rights reserved. Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is incorporated with limited liability and is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a global law firm with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a "principal" means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an "office" means an office of any such law firm. This may qualify as "Attorney Advertising" requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.


Copyright © 2025 Baker & McKenzie. All rights reserved. Ownership: This documentation and content (Content) is a proprietary resource owned exclusively by Baker McKenzie (meaning Baker & McKenzie International and its member firms). The Content is protected under international copyright conventions. Use of this Content does not of itself create a contractual relationship, nor any attorney/client relationship, between Baker McKenzie and any person. Non-reliance and exclusion: All Content is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal and regulatory developments. All summaries of the laws, regulations and practice are subject to change. The Content is not offered as legal or professional advice for any specific matter. It is not intended to be a substitute for reference to (and compliance with) the detailed provisions of applicable laws, rules, regulations or forms. Legal advice should always be sought before taking any action or refraining from taking any action based on any Content. Baker McKenzie and the editors and the contributing authors do not guarantee the accuracy of the Content and expressly disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or permitted to be done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance upon the whole or any part of the Content. The Content may contain links to external websites and external websites may link to the Content. Baker McKenzie is not responsible for the content or operation of any such external sites and disclaims all liability, howsoever occurring, in respect of the content or operation of any such external websites. Attorney Advertising: This Content may qualify as “Attorney Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. To the extent that this Content may qualify as Attorney Advertising, PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME. Reproduction: Reproduction of reasonable portions of the Content is permitted provided that (i) such reproductions are made available free of charge and for non-commercial purposes, (ii) such reproductions are properly attributed to Baker McKenzie, (iii) the portion of the Content being reproduced is not altered or made available in a manner that modifies the Content or presents the Content being reproduced in a false light and (iv) notice is made to the disclaimers included on the Content. The permission to re-copy does not allow for incorporation of any substantial portion of the Content in any work or publication, whether in hard copy, electronic or any other form or for commercial purposes.