NTT DATA & HTX to co-develop AI for Singapore security
Wed, 13th May 2026 (Today)
NTT DATA has signed a memorandum of understanding with HTX to co-develop AI-driven tools for public safety and digital forensics in Singapore. The agreement focuses on work for Singapore's Home Team.
The partnership covers four areas: advanced networking, cybersecurity and digital forensics, sustainability, and AI-led operational optimisation. Plans include a cloud-based Digital Forensics and Malware Lab, training programmes for investigators, and work on fraud detection and pre-payment verification.
HTX, the science and technology agency under Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs, aims through the collaboration to improve frontline response times, support faster decision-making by officers, and strengthen the detection, investigation and prevention of digital crime.
The move comes as Singapore faces rising losses from scams and other digital offences. Scam-related losses in the city-state exceeded S$913 million in 2025, according to figures cited by the two organisations, highlighting pressure on law enforcement and public safety agencies to improve live incident response and shorten investigation timelines.
Forensics focus
A central part of the agreement is the proposed cloud-delivered Digital Forensics and Malware Lab. It is intended to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, including AI-enabled attacks, while supporting the development of local investigative expertise.
Beyond digital forensics, the agreement also includes work on advanced photonics networking technology. This part of the collaboration is intended to reduce power consumption in data transmission, linking the public safety agenda with wider government efforts to curb emissions and improve the efficiency of technology infrastructure.
The partnership will also explore automation in operational settings, including AI tools to improve workflows. Fraud detection and pre-payment verification were cited as examples where software could support officers and investigators.
Broader push
The agreement reflects a wider trend among public agencies seeking help from technology suppliers to tackle more complex cyber and fraud threats. For governments, the challenge is not only to detect malicious activity earlier but also to process larger volumes of digital evidence and intelligence without delaying frontline operations.
For NTT DATA, the arrangement adds to its work in public sector and security-related technology services in Asia. The company, which describes itself as a global business and technology services provider, will contribute expertise in AI and digital infrastructure to the work with HTX.
The memorandum was signed by Png Kim Meng, Executive Managing Director, Singapore and Asean, NTT DATA, and Chan Tsan, Chief Executive, HTX. The collaboration will include knowledge-sharing as well as technical development.
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs has also been pursuing a net zero roadmap, and the sustainability element of the agreement aligns the project with that policy direction. The two parties will collaborate on sustainable technology adoption and exchange knowledge related to decarbonisation.
While memoranda of understanding do not always lead to large deployments, they often mark the formal start of joint development work, pilot projects and procurement discussions. In this case, the scope outlined by the two parties suggests a mix of operational technology, cyber investigation support and infrastructure efficiency measures.
Demand for that kind of work has increased as cyber criminals use automation and AI to scale fraud, phishing and malware campaigns. Public safety agencies are under growing pressure to combine traditional investigative methods with software systems that can identify patterns, prioritise leads and support decisions during live incidents.
"We are proud to embark on this partnership with HTX. With our global thought leadership, AI expertise and delivery capabilities at scale, we believe this exchange in knowledge will drive accelerated innovation in Singapore," said Png Kim Meng, Executive Managing Director, Singapore and Asean, NTT DATA. "This agreement allows frontline teams to respond faster, make better‐informed decisions, and keep Singapore and its communities safe. Combined with our shared commitment to sustainability, we are well positioned to co‐create solutions that safeguard Singapore's digital future and deliver measurable impact."