Major Research Grant Awarded: Inclusive AI Governance in Southeast Asian Cities

Published on 4 August 2026
Inclusive AI Governance in Southeast Asian Cities
Inclusive AI Governance in Southeast Asian Cities

The SMU Urban Institute is pleased to announce that a new four-year research programme, Inclusive AI Governance in Southeast Asian Cities, has been awarded funding under Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) 2025 Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Special Programmatic Grant.

Led by Orlando Woods (SMU Urban Institute / SMU College of Integrative Studies), the project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Singapore Management University, National University of Singapore, and the National Institute of Education, Singapore. The research team includes Jason Grant Allen (SMU Yong Pung How School of Law), Terry van Gevelt (SMU College of Integrative Studies), Yasmin Ortiga (SMU School of Social Sciences), Diganta Das (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University), Naomi C. Hanakata (NUS College of Design and Engineering), and Araz Taeihagh (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy).

Over the next four years, the team will examine how artificial intelligence (AI) systems are designed, governed, and experienced across six major Southeast Asian cities: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila.

Rather than focusing solely on AI technologies, the programme approaches AI as a socio-technical challenge, investigating how governance frameworks, institutions, and everyday practices influence whether AI systems are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to local urban contexts.

Working closely with policymakers, industry partners, civil society organisations, and local communities, the research team will develop:

  • A taxonomy of urban AI systems;
  • An analytical framework for inclusive AI governance; and
  • A handbook on inclusive AI governance that provides practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners.

This ambitious programme reflects the SMU Urban Institute's commitment to advancing human-centred, interdisciplinary, and Asia-focused research that addresses pressing urban challenges while delivering meaningful real-world impact.

Join Our Team

The project is currently recruiting Postdoctoral Researchers and Research Assistants to support fieldwork, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary research.