Opening Address by MOS Rahayu Mahzam at IntelligenceX 2026: The Global Quantum×AI Frontier

Mr Eduard Ruge, Science and Technology Counsellor of the German Embassy,

Professor Thorsten Koch, President-elect of SoAI,

Distinguished Guests, delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning to everyone here. It is my pleasure today to join you at the inaugural IntelligenceX conference.

I would like to congratulate the National University of Singapore and Society of Algorithmic Intelligence for bringing together this new platform at an important moment for AI, quantum, and the wider scientific community.

I have heard that over the next three days, IntelligenceX will convene more than 300 researchers, industry leaders and practitioners from over 22 countries, pursuing the frontiers of AI, quantum, mathematics, and the broader computer science and engineering.

This is a strong start for a new conference, and it reflects both the pace and progress in these fields, and the need for deeper exchange across disciplines.

Singapore values platforms like this because the deepest challenges often require multiple disciplines working together, and their implications often extend across national borders. This is especially true for AI. As its capabilities advance, we must also grapple with how to develop and use AI safely and responsibly.

Just this week, Singapore joined countries from around the world in a call for stronger safeguards and international cooperation on frontier AI. As AI becomes more capable, we need to make sure that people remain in control. And keeping AI safe requires countries to work together.

IntelligenceX is therefore a timely opportunity to bring different perspectives together, to exchange ideas, forge collaborations and pursue ambitious work in AI and quantum.

Let me share how Singapore approaches these fields.

Singapore supports research over long horizons.

Under the latest Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 plan, we have committed to investing S$37 billion over five years. That is about one per cent of our GDP.