DBS Enhances Spark GenAI Programme to Fast Track SME AI Adoption in Support of Singapore’s AI Ambitions

WHY THIS MATTERS: This initiative is a critical blueprint for how major financial institutions can operationalize national technology mandates. The fintech trend here is the move from simply promoting AI awareness to architecting concrete, scalable pathways for SME AI adoption across the entire corporate banking client base. By segmenting guidance into ‘Start’, ‘Accelerate’, and ‘Scale’, DBS has addressed the core friction point identified in its own research: the need for structured implementation advice. This effort is less about selling a banking product and more about de-risking the broader digital transformation journey for businesses. The provision of grant support, along with the ‘Implementing AI for Impact’ playbook, effectively lowers the barrier to entry, ensuring that smaller businesses can invest in capabilities like generative AI without crippling upfront costs. This ecosystem approach, uniting a bank, a development agency (IMDA), and a business enterprise body (EnterpriseSG), sets a global standard for public-private collaboration in tech deployment.

In line with nationwide efforts to accelerate AI adoption, DBS, EnterpriseSG, and the IMDA, announced an enhanced version of its Spark GenAI programme^[1] to help SMEs fast track their AI transformation journeys.

The enhanced programme reflects an iterative approach by DBS to refine Spark GenAI as business needs evolve. This comes as demand for more structured guidance gains momentum. Findings from the 2026 DBS Business Pulse Check Survey^[2] revealed that close to two in five SMEs (39%) are seeking expert advice on how to meaningfully integrate AI into their business operations. This is in line with Singapore’s push to help enterprises adopt AI more widely and effectively under the National AI Strategy 2.0.

A more structured approach to accelerate SME AI adoption

At the heart of the enhanced programme is a three-tier approach that provides more structured guidance tailored to different levels of maturity and business readiness:

• Start: For SMEs beginning their AI journey, with a focus on ready-to-deploy, off-the-shelf tools that address immediate business needs.
• Accelerate: For businesses ready to move into more targeted use cases, supported by group-based consultancy and more customised solutions.
• Scale: For firms looking to integrate AI more deeply across operations, with support including upskilling, bespoke one-to-one consultancy and tailored solutions with backend integration.

Participating businesses will receive advisory and training support, including complimentary workshops by IMDA. They will gain access to an expanded ecosystem of solution providers through IMDA’s Open Innovation Platform (OIP), which connects SMEs to a global network of over 16,000 solution providers. Companies can also explore IMDA’s pre-approved list of AI-enabled solutions, with eligible SMEs receiving grant support of up to 50% of eligible costs from EnterpriseSG.

To support implementation, businesses can leverage DBS’ suite of financial solutions, including cyber protection coverage, to invest in AI adoption while strengthening their digital resilience. DBS will also organise quarterly engagements on AI trends, insights and industry-focused case studies to help businesses keep abreast of developments.

Chen Ze Ling, Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking, DBS, said: “Our learnings from client conversations over the past year point to growing interest from SMEs in how AI can create real value for their businesses. What many are looking for is practical support on where to begin and how to move forward. This is why we have enhanced our Spark GenAI programme – to reduce the friction around adoption, accelerate implementation and support businesses as they build capabilities that can future-proof them. In doing so, we hope to contribute to Singapore’s greater push to help enterprises put AI to work in meaningful ways.”

Johnson Poh, Assistant Chief Executive, Enterprise Transformation and Innovation Group, IMDA, said: “AI is fast becoming a key driver of business competitiveness, and it is important that our SMEs are well-equipped to harness its potential. Through this enhanced partnership with DBS and EnterpriseSG, IMDA is bringing forth our suite of enterprise resources, from complimentary hands-on workshops, pre-approved AI solutions, to our Open Innovation Platform, which actively matches SMEs to a global network of solution providers for customised AI deployments. This means that regardless of where a business is in its AI journey, there is a clear and supported pathway. We look forward to working with our partners to help more Singapore enterprises move from awareness to meaningful AI adoption.”

Geoffrey Yeo, Assistant Managing Director, Capabilities, Enterprise Singapore said: “Enterprise Singapore is pleased to deepen our collaboration with DBS and IMDA through the expanded Spark GenAI programme. This partnership reflects our commitment to ensure that SMEs have the practical tools, resources and support they need to harness Gen AI. We look forward to seeing more enterprises embrace Gen AI as a driver of productivity, innovation and growth.”

Complementing the tiered approach is a new playbook – “Implementing AI for Impact” – developed with knowledge partner KPMG and supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). This is part of DBS’ efforts under the SME AI Skills Launchpad, aimed at equipping businesses with the capabilities to adopt AI in a practical and scalable way.

Designed for businesses owners and decision makers, the playbook brings together practical use cases, real success stories, frequently asked questions and a readiness diagnostic tool that categorises firms into four stages of readiness: AI Observer, AI Explorer, AI Practitioner and AI Trailblazer. It also provides an accessible introduction to AI, helping companies build a pragmatic understanding of key concepts before moving into implementation, as well as supporting the workforce to develop the skills needed to adopt and apply AI effective.

Chen added, “As more business owners explore AI opportunities, many are looking for a clear way to understand what is relevant for them and what to do next. “Implementing AI for Impact” is designed to take the guesswork out of that journey by breaking down what can seem like a complex transformation process into incremental steps. In doing so, it empowers businesses to assess where they stand, learn at their own pace and identify the next step that makes the most sense for them. As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee^[3], we see this playbook as part of a broader effort to support SMEs in building the capabilities needed for transformation.”

The enhanced Spark GenAI programme is part of DBS’ ongoing efforts to help customers leverage AI more effectively in their business transformation journeys. In 2025, DBS was named the World’s Best AI Bank by Global Finance.

For more information on Spark GenAI and the “Implementing AI for Impact” playbook, please visit here.

FF NEWS TAKE: This program undeniably moves the needle, demonstrating the shift from theoretical AI strategy to practical, tiered industrial policy. The crucial aspect is the embedding of financial products, such as cyber protection, directly into the adoption journey, ensuring digital resilience. We must now watch for quantitative outcomes: specifically, how the ‘Scale’ tier performs and what real-world ROI the new playbook delivers for different business readiness stages.

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