EU Singapore Digital Partnership Expands Tech Sectors

The European Union and Singapore have strengthened their digital relationship following the second Digital Partnership Council meeting in Brussels. The meeting outlined plans covering various areas such as AI, data, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and digital trade. The discussions emphasized the shared goal of building digital resilience and establishing common rules and standards for emerging technologies.

For readers of eeNews Europe, this partnership holds significant relevance. Closer collaboration between the EU and Asia could lead to enhanced research opportunities, accelerated semiconductor development, and alignment of standards for AI systems, digital identity frameworks, and cybersecurity.

Co-chaired by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, and Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, the Council highlighted progress made since the partnership began in February 2023. Both parties identified new focus areas based on current market and technology conditions.

Key areas: AI, online trust, cybersecurity

Artificial Intelligence was a primary focus of the meeting, with both sides reaffirming the existing safety-focused administrative framework. They also discussed potential collaboration on language AI models, connecting the EU’s Alliance for Language Technologies European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (ALT-EDIC) with Singapore’s Sea-Lion model. Additionally, online safety and scam prevention, particularly in protecting minors and expanding age-verification tools, were identified as growing priorities.

Furthermore, digital trust and identity were key topics of discussion. Brussels and Singapore will explore ways to develop interoperable trust services and verifiable credentials to facilitate cross-border digital identity use cases. This initiative aims to simplify transactions and compliance in global industries.

Cybersecurity was highlighted as a shared cornerstone, with the Council emphasizing the importance of assessing evolving threats and enhancing market-wide resilience through bilateral and multilateral actions.

Semiconductors, quantum, data, and digital trade

The meeting also addressed technology hardware, focusing on semiconductor and quantum R&D collaboration. Discussions included potential cooperation through the Horizon research framework and future investments in semiconductor ecosystems. Both parties welcomed increased cooperation in data flow and expressed intentions to expand work on data spaces.

The Digital Trade Agreement signed in May 2025 was underscored as a foundation for business engagement. The agreement establishes rules to build consumer trust, eliminate digital trade barriers, and enhance legal certainty for companies operating across the EU and Singapore.

Looking ahead, the EU–Singapore Digital Partnership Council aims to bolster mutual economic security and enhance cooperation in critical technologies. Virkkunen expressed optimism, stating, “It was a pleasure to co-chair today’s meeting and explore how the EU and Singapore can collaborate to enhance our shared competitiveness, resilience, and innovation for a secure digital future.”

The renewed priorities align with the European Commission’s International Digital Strategy, which prioritizes partnerships and emerging technologies. For Europe’s semiconductor and AI sectors, this collaboration could pave the way for new research opportunities and potentially expedite commercial deployment.

European Commission