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    Infocomm Media Development Authority

    Updated

    Digital Leaders Programme (DLP)

    Max Support
    Up to S$200,000 over 2 years
    Cap
    Support for up to 4 digital transformation roles

    Overview

    The Digital Leaders Programme (DLP) is an initiative by IMDA to help non-ICT companies with digital ambitions accelerate deeper digital transformation. It's intended for firms that are already somewhat digital and want to push further by building in-house digital capability (digital team, roles) and executing impactful digital/AI/tech initiatives. In 2025, IMDA is scaling up DLP to help 2,000 enterprises adopt AI, sharpen digital capabilities, and embed technology more deeply.

    Support Details

    Support Rate

    Up to S$200,000 support over 2 years for hiring up to 4 dedicated digital transformation manpower roles

    Cap

    24-month project duration with ongoing multi-year structured support

    Project Duration & Scope

    Up to 24 months with potential for extended support and community engagement

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Non-ICT business entities registered and operating in Singapore
    • At least 30% local shareholding required (Singapore/PR) for non-ICT companies
    • Company should have implemented some digital projects already with sufficient ambition to go further
    • Financial strength and commitment to invest in digital transformation and sustain it
    • Senior management must be committed to digital transformation as core strategy
    • Digital maturity/track record - not for companies starting from zero but for digitally ambitious ones

    Supported Categories

    Empower: Training, leadership mindsets, workshops, discovery, strategic guidance
    Enable: Funding/support to build in-house digital teams (CTO/digital roles), developing roadmaps, executing digital projects
    Engage: Community, partnerships, access to tech partners, co-innovation networks, peer sharing

    Application Process

    1

    Expression of interest/application during IMDA enrolment/intake periods

    2

    Share digital ambition, current state, roadmap ideas, potential projects

    3

    Onboarding and assessment - IMDA/DLP team assesses readiness, ambition, viability, commitment

    4

    Workshops/discovery sessions to refine digital ambition/project ideas

    5

    Roadmap and planning - develop digital roadmap identifying focus areas (technology, operations, market, processes)

    6

    Implement capability building and recruitment - hire in-house digital team with DLP support

    7

    Conduct training, upskilling, mentoring for digital team and existing staff

    8

    Execute digital/AI projects that align with roadmap (data analytics, AI, automation, new digital services)

    9

    Ongoing support, engagement and refinement with continued coaching and community engagement

    10

    Graduation/scaling after 2 years with independent continuation of digital initiatives

    Processing Time

    Quarterly intake assessments, 24-month programme duration with ongoing community engagement

    Project Duration & Completion

    Up to 24 months with potential for extended support and community engagement

    Best Practices for a Successful Application

    Start with clarity of ambition - define what digital transformation means for your business and expected value

    Have some baseline digital experience - DLP favors firms with existing digital footprint

    Prepare a credible roadmap showing how projects align, phased approach, expected metrics, sustainability

    Don't underestimate manpower aspect - hiring capable CTO/digital leads with domain + tech skills is critical

    Design impactful, measurable projects with clear KPIs (revenue uplift, cost reduction, productivity gain)

    Balance quick wins vs long bets - include shorter turnaround projects while planning strategic initiatives

    Engage tech partners/consultants wisely but ensure knowledge transfers internally

    Show leadership commitment - senior management must visibly champion transformation

    Be flexible and iterative - build in feedback loops and adjustments for technology projects

    Think about sustainability beyond DLP support - ensure digital team and systems are maintained post-program

    Document everything centrally - project plans, progress reports, metrics, lessons learned

    Sample Use Cases & Scenarios

    Building in-house digital teams with CTO and specialized digital roles
    Implementing AI adoption projects with guidance and pilot environments
    Developing data analytics capabilities and automation systems
    Creating new digital services and value streams
    Success story: EtonHouse hired CTO, revamped systems, integrated digital platforms, and automated processes through DLP

    Additional Information

    Recent Enhancements (2025 Onward): In September 2025, IMDA announced enhanced DLP push to support 2,000 local enterprises in harnessing AI and deeper digital transformation. The enhancements emphasize three pillars: • Uplift leadership mindset through workshops, playbooks, awareness • Instill confidence/capability to deliver AI projects via tech guidance, pilot projects, hands-on execution • Build internal competencies via funding support for hiring digital teams and operationalising AI/tech initiatives Enhanced AI Focus: Under recent enhancements, there's stronger emphasis on supporting AI adoption - helping enterprises deploy AI with guidance, find use cases, and scale. IMDA provides more structured modules and curated support including modular training, coaching, sandbox/pilot environments. Three-Pronged Approach Structure: • Empower: Training, leadership mindsets, workshops, discovery, strategic guidance • Enable: Funding/support to build in-house digital teams, developing roadmaps, executing digital projects • Engage: Community, partnerships, access to tech partners, co-innovation networks, peer sharing DLP is positioned as foundation/backbone for companies to become Digital Leaders and anchor further transformation, especially leveraging AI. The programme offers ongoing community engagement, tech partner matchmaking, and peer learning opportunities beyond the initial 24-month support period.

    Contact Information

    Official Website
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: +65 6211 0888

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where Volty fits

    For businesses that answer customers on WhatsApp

    Volty is Voltade's WhatsApp AI agent builder. A business trains its own agent on its SOPs, products and brand voice, and the agent answers enquiries on the business's own WhatsApp number, then takes the booking, logs the order or updates the record in the tools the business already runs. Volty starts at S$199 a month on the Plus plan, with unlimited seats. Volty is sold under Voltade AI Solutions, a PSG Pre-Approved Solution, so eligible Singapore SMEs can receive up to 50% PSG support on it. Talk to Volty to start a 7-day trial: Volty interviews your team and drafts its own instructions, and you read them before anything is live.

    Talk to Volty