IBM last week signed an agreement with Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority to hire and train 300 Singaporeans in emerging tech areas over the next four years. The roles encompassed under the Memorandum of Intent include big data engineers, data scientists, cloud architects, and UX designers, among others.

60 of the roles are specifically reserved for mid-career professionals, including those moving to tech from other industries, and IMDA in its announcement stated that the training program "welcomes a diversity of talent with relevant skills and knowledge base".

The program involves intensive, hands-on training, according to the announcement, with participants expected to quickly pick up knowledge of emerging technologies such as AI, advanced analytics, blockchain, or cloud, and assigned to work on local, regional, and global projects. Participants will be expected to "focus on industry transformation, business reinvention, and delivering tangible business outcomes quickly, especially in an environment of uncertainty and charting the 'new normal' post-COVID."

The collaboration represents an investment in a pipeline of local tech talent, according to IMDA Assistant Chief Executive Kiren Kumar. “As we push forward with our national digitali\ation movement, the ICT sector continues to hold promise for job creation. It remains important to provide opportunities for our professionals to build the necessary skills for tech jobs that power the sector," he said.

IBM has previously partnered with other Singapore government agencies to offer skills training in emerging tech, including programs targeting mid-career professionals and training on AI and cybersecurity, and the tech giant has said it is looking to employ some of the graduates from these courses.