How AI is powering smart cities in Singapore
Singapore startups are turning the city-state into a living lab for urban sustainability — powered by artificial intelligence. As the government advances its Smart Nation and Green Plan 2030 initiatives, local entrepreneurs are using AI to reduce emissions, improve city planning, and optimise energy systems.
This surge is not just about environmental goals — it reflects a wider transformation in how Singapore business leaders approach innovation. AI is no longer confined to software firms. It’s now embedded in clean energy startups, construction platforms, and logistics companies that are redefining urban infrastructure.
At Feature.Asia, we explore how Singapore startups are using AI to meet the city’s most pressing sustainability challenges — and export those solutions across Asia.
Greentech innovators leading the AI charge
Several Singapore startups are leading this AI-driven sustainability push:
VFlowTech develops modular, AI-optimised vanadium redox flow batteries to store renewable energy. Backed by Enterprise Singapore, the startup offers grid-scale battery solutions for urban and rural applications.
Ampd Energy, while originally from Hong Kong, has scaled operations in Singapore with its Enertainer product — an AI-powered battery energy storage system designed for construction sites. It replaces diesel generators and reduces emissions by over 85%.
EcoWorth Tech uses AI-driven analytics to repurpose waste materials into high-value adsorbents for industrial water treatment — contributing to circular economy goals.
MooVita, a Singapore-based startup, is piloting autonomous electric vehicles with AI navigation in industrial parks. The aim is to cut last-mile emissions while enhancing mobility in densely populated areas.
These companies prove that Singapore’s startup ecosystem is no longer just fintech and SaaS — it’s a driver of real-world environmental solutions.
Impact on Singapore’s smart city strategy
AI’s application in sustainability is reshaping how urban Singapore operates — and the ripple effect is global.
Singapore business leaders are partnering with universities, city planners, and state agencies to scale innovations beyond pilot projects. For example, SGInnovate has supported deep-tech startups working on energy and urban resilience, helping them secure early-stage funding and mentorship.
Government incentives, like the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan (RIE2025), are also focusing resources on AI development for green energy, smart mobility, and built environment tech. These efforts align with Singapore’s aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
AI-enhanced startups in this sector are helping:
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels by improving battery performance and grid forecasting
Optimize resource usage in construction through real-time emissions monitoring
Automate transport planning to reduce congestion and carbon footprints
More importantly, Singapore’s export of greentech innovation to Southeast Asia solidifies its role as a sustainability leader in the region.
Conclusion
Singapore startups are proving that artificial intelligence can be more than a buzzword — it can power tangible environmental progress. From VFlowTech’s smart batteries to MooVita’s autonomous shuttles, these innovations signal a future where sustainability and technology go hand in hand.
As AI continues to scale across sectors, Singapore business leaders and entrepreneurs are poised to turn the Lion City into a blueprint for smart, green urban living.
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