Laurence Liew

Director of AI Innovation at AI Singapore | Author of “AI-First Nation” | GPAI Co-Chair

A pioneering figure in Singapore’s AI and technology landscape, Laurence Liew brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience to his mission of transforming Singapore into a leading AI-First nation. As a serial entrepreneur and former Microsoft Regional Director, he has consistently been at the forefront of technology innovation – from establishing Singapore’s first Linux company to leading Revolution Analytics’ Asia Pacific expansion (later acquired by Microsoft) and now spearheading AI Singapore’s ground-breaking initiatives in AI adoption, talent development, and innovation.

About Laurence

As Director of AI Innovation at AI Singapore, Laurence Liew spearheads national initiatives that are revolutionizing how organizations adopt and implement AI. His vision has led to the creation of transformative programs that are shaping Singapore’s AI landscape.

Under his leadership, the 100 Experiments (100E) programme has successfully delivered over 100 real-world AI projects across various industries, from startups to multinational corporations. Notable successes include collaborations with IBM, GIC, Sompo, and Q&M Dental, demonstrating the programme’s impact in accelerating AI adoption in Singapore.

Recognizing Singapore’s AI talent gap, Laurence established the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP) in 2018. This innovative programme has trained hundreds of Singaporean AI engineers, with over 90% of graduates securing AI roles before completion. The AIAP’s success in developing homegrown AI talent has become a model for other nations.

Through the LearnAI initiative, Laurence has successfully exposed over 200,000 Singaporeans to AI education, democratizing access to AI knowledge through programs like AI for Everyone, AI for Industry, and AI for Students.

His influence extends beyond Singapore through the AIAP-X initiative, which has led multiple countries to adopt AI Singapore’s successful programs. As a co-chair of GPAI’s Innovation and Commercialisation Working Group, he continues to shape global AI policy and implementation.

Prior to AI Singapore, Laurence built and led successful ventures in the technology sector. As General Manager at Revolution Analytics (acquired by Microsoft), he spearheaded the company’s Asia Pacific expansion and established Singapore’s Center of Excellence for Analytics.

His pioneering work in high-performance computing spans over two decades. In the late 1990s, he established eLinux Pte Ltd, Singapore’s first Linux company, laying the groundwork for open-source adoption in enterprise computing. His entrepreneurial journey continued with founding Scalable Systems, which became a leading HPC/grid player in Asia Pacific, deploying many of Singapore’s first-generation Linux HPC clusters across universities and research institutions. Scalable Systems was acquired by Platform Computing in 2005.

As General Manager at Platform Computing Singapore (later acquired by IBM), he led the development and deployment of cluster management software powering HPC systems for industry giants like Cray, Dell, HP, and Fujitsu. His expertise in grid computing and distributed systems proved instrumental in helping organizations harness computational power for complex scientific and engineering applications.

In the early cloud computing era, he served as Regional Director at Cloud.com for Asia South Region, where he helped organizations transition from traditional infrastructure to cloud-native architectures. Through 1degreenorth, which he founded and led as CEO, he continued pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing and cloud technologies in the region.

Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong focus on high-performance computing, cloud technologies, and AI implementation, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical business applications.

Education and Academic Excellence

Laurence holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours) from the National University of Singapore (NUS), where his academic excellence laid the foundation for his future work in high-performance computing and AI. He further specialized in AI-related fields, earning both a Post Graduate Diploma in Knowledge Engineering (Distinction) and a Master of Technology in Knowledge Engineering from NUS Institute of Systems Science, demonstrating his early commitment to artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In recognition of his industry expertise and thought leadership, NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) appointed him as Adjunct Associate Professor to establish their Data Analytics practice in 2016. In this role, he helped develop and shape the curriculum for working professionals, bridging the gap between academic theory and industry application. His work at SCALE was instrumental in creating practical, industry-relevant data analytics programs that have equipped numerous professionals with essential skills for the digital economy.

This combination of academic excellence and industry experience has uniquely positioned him to lead AI Singapore’s various initiatives, particularly in developing innovative programs like AIAP and LearnAI that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation.

Recognition And Industry Leadership

Microsoft recognized Laurence as a Regional Director (RD) in 2018, a prestigious pro-bono appointment offered by invitation only. As an RD, he joined an elite worldwide group of approximately 150 technology thought leaders who provide Microsoft’s senior leadership team with unbiased, third-party industry insights and feedback on technology trends. This appointment, distinct from Microsoft’s MVP program, acknowledges his deep expertise and significant influence in shaping technology trends, particularly in the areas of high-performance computing, cloud technologies, and AI implementation. The RD role reflects Microsoft’s recognition of his independent perspective and contributions to the broader technology ecosystem.

His appointment as the inaugural Chairman of Singapore’s AI Standards Technical Committee (2019) demonstrates his leadership in AI standards and governance. In this pro-bono role by invitation from Enterprise Singapore, he led Singapore’s participation in ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 (Artificial Intelligence) and played a crucial part in shaping national AI standards and best practices.

As pro-bono Advisor to SGTech’s AI+HPC Chapter by invitation, Laurence helps shape the direction of Singapore’s AI and High-Performance Computing industry initiatives. Working with SGTech, Singapore’s premier technology association representing over 1,000 member companies, he provides strategic guidance on industry development, advocates for the adoption of AI and HPC technologies, and supports initiatives to strengthen Singapore’s position as a leading technology hub in the region.

In recognition of his expertise in AI innovation and commitment to inclusive education, Laurence was appointed by the Ministry of Education as a pro-bono Board Governor of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in 2019. In this role, he provides strategic oversight and guidance to ITE, Singapore’s principal provider of vocational and technical education. His contributions have been particularly significant in championing AI education initiatives at ITE, including the successful integration of AI Singapore’s AI for Everyone (AI4E) program into ITE’s curriculum, which has benefited thousands of students. His appointment reflects his dedication to democratizing AI education and ensuring Singapore’s workforce remains competitive in an AI-driven future.

He has also shaped national technology initiatives through his involvement in:

• Technical Workgroup for IMDA National ICM Technology Roadmap (AI, Data, and Blockchain track)
• Working Group Member for National Infocomm Media Masterplan 2025
• President of Singapore Cloud Forum (2012-2015)
• Editorial Board Member, Transactions on Computational Science, Springer Journal (2014-2016)