Overview

The GenAI Sandbox is an initiative by IMDA (in partnership with Enterprise Singapore) to allow SMEs to experiment and pilot pre-approved generative AI (GenAI) solutions in a low-risk environment. It provides trial access (typically 3 months) to GenAI solutions, with grant support for part of the costs, so SMEs can gain hands-on experience before committing to full deployment. The first version ran in 2024, and GenAI Sandbox 2.0 was launched in late 2024 to continue and broaden adoption.

Support Details

Support Rate

Up to 50% grant support for trialling GenAI solutions during the 3-month period

Cap

3-month trial period per solution, approximately 15 GenAI solutions available across categories

Project Duration & Scope

3-month trial period per solution, with potential for continuation post-trial

Eligibility Criteria

Must be ACRA-registered, taxable, and operating in Singapore
Must have ≥30% local shareholding
SME size limits: Group sales turnover ≤S$100 million per annum OR group employment size ≤200 employees
Cannot have adopted any other solution under the same GenAI Sandbox previously
Must select from pre-approved GenAI solutions in the Sandbox's curated list
Trial period limited to three months for the selected solution

Supported Categories

Generative Web Design (Marketing & Sales): Prompt-based generation of websites, layout design, content + visuals for marketing websites

Virtual Assistants for Customer Engagement Agents: GenAI tools that assist human customer service agents - suggest context-aware replies, schedule meetings after calls

GenAI for Talent Acquisition/Onboarding (HR Operations): GenAI solutions to streamline HR workflows - generating tailored job descriptions, screening resumes, aiding onboarding tasks

Application Process

Select from pre-approved GenAI solutions in one of the three categories

Submit application demonstrating SME eligibility criteria

Get selected into sandbox cohort (competitive selection)

Receive up to 50% grant support for 3-month trial period

Undergo solution onboarding and staff training

Implement and test GenAI solution in real business workflows

Monitor usage, feedback, and measure KPIs during trial

Evaluate results and decide whether to continue post-trial

Apply for additional support if eligible to continue using solution

Processing Time

GenAI Sandbox 1.0: Launched February 2024, GenAI Sandbox 2.0: Launched 2 December 2024

Project Duration & Completion

3-month trial period per solution, with potential for continuation post-trial

Best Practices for a Successful Application

Start with concrete problem - pick specific use cases where you see pain or opportunity rather than AI for AI's sake

Ensure data readiness - clean, structured data, access, integration timelines affect deployment speed

Engage vendor/solution providers early for onboarding, customisation, integration support

Set realistic trial goals/KPIs - define success metrics (% time saved, increased engagement, reduced workload) for 3 months

Monitor usage and feedback during trial - track logs, outputs, user experience, error rates, and iterate

Plan for scale/production early - think about hosting, maintenance, integration beyond trial

Train internal staff - ensure staff understand how to use, sanitize prompts, manage exceptions

Address governance/compliance early - plan for data privacy, audit logs, model oversight, fallback mechanisms

Participate fully in workshops/community - leverage support, learn from others in Sandbox cohorts

Decide early whether to continue - evaluate cost vs benefits, technical debt, adoption before committing

Sample Use Cases & Scenarios

SMEs experiencing GenAI capabilities in real business workflows without full-scale deployment commitment

Assessing fit, feasibility, ROI, and adoption challenges before heavy investment

Marketing content generation and chatbot tools through partners like Addlly AI

Website design and layout generation for marketing purposes

Customer service agent assistance with context-aware response suggestions

HR workflow automation including job description generation and resume screening

Additional Information

Programme History and Evolution: GenAI Sandbox 1.0 (2024): • First national GenAI sandbox launched in February 2024 • About 300 SMEs targeted across sectors (retail, F&B, education, hospitality) • Around 150 SMEs participated with ~80% continuing to use solutions after trial period • 3-month trial period with curated GenAI solutions GenAI Sandbox 2.0 (Late 2024): • Announced 29 October 2024, launched 2 December 2024 • Up to 50% grant support for 3-month trials • Approximately 15 GenAI solutions across three focused categories • Enhanced focus on web design, customer engagement, and HR operations Key Benefits and Outcomes: • Low-risk environment for SMEs to experience GenAI capabilities • Real business workflow testing without full deployment commitment • Assessment of fit, feasibility, ROI, and adoption challenges before major investment • High retention rate (80% in 1.0) indicating strong perceived value • Hands-on experience with pre-approved, curated solutions Important Limitations and Considerations: • Limited to selected solutions - cannot bring own outside solutions • Temporal limitation - short 3-month trials may not capture full impact or scaling challenges • Grant support is partial (50%) - SMEs still bear part of cost/effort • Post-trial commitment - recurring costs, scaling, maintenance must be borne by SME • Data/privacy/governance concerns with customer and personal data • Potential vendor lock-in/dependency issues • Selection risk - not all applicants may be accepted due to limited cohort capacity