Singapore is set to become a key regional hub for one of the world’s largest philanthropic organisations, as the Gates Foundation prepares to open a new office in the city-state to support health, development, fintech and AI innovations across Southeast Asia.
The announcement came directly from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during a panel at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025, where he shared the stage with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
This will be the Gates Foundation’s 12th office globally and its first in Southeast Asia.
Headquartered in Seattle, the foundation also operates a second office in Washington, DC, and maintains nine others across major regions including the United Kingdom, India, China, Ethiopia, Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya.
With its new Singapore presence, the foundation strategically expands its regional reach, supporting its overarching objectives of advancing global health progress and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The move reflects a growing focus on Asia’s innovation potential, particularly in artificial intelligence and financial technologies.
According to Hari Menon, the foundation’s director for South and Southeast Asia, the decision builds on Singapore’s strengths.
Menon said,
“Singapore’s leadership in innovation and philanthropy makes it an ideal hub to help scale solutions that improve lives across the region and beyond.”
Backed by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the new office is expected to enable deeper collaborations with local and regional institutions.
It will also act as a base for engaging with scientists, researchers and philanthropic partners working on initiatives in clean energy, vaccine development, and inclusive economic growth.
The foundation’s presence in Singapore was welcomed by top government leaders, signalling the importance of the partnership at the highest levels.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met with Gates on 5 May and later shared on Facebook that they discussed “a range of critical issues, from clean energy solutions to vaccine development”.
He added that Singapore looks forward to working closely with the foundation “to advance innovation and improve lives – here in Asia and around the world”.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also met Gates the same day, and highlighted ongoing talks involving local organisations including Temasek Trust and Singapore’s universities.
In his Facebook post, Lee noted that Singapore welcomes efforts from the Gates Foundation “to bring their businesses and interests here… and deepen our ties with the region”.
Jermaine Loy, managing director of the EDB, pointed to Singapore’s ecosystem as a launchpad for innovation.
Loy said,
“Singapore’s strategic location and research ecosystem make it a strong platform for advancing healthcare, fintech and artificial intelligence innovations that can deliver meaningful impact across the region and the world.”
The office will serve not just as an operational base, but as a gateway for the Gates Foundation to explore new approaches in AI and fintech that align with its mission—improving lives and promoting inclusive growth.
With an endowment of US$75.2 billion as of the end of 2023, the Gates Foundation remains one of the most well-funded philanthropic entities in the world.
It has committed to distributing US$9 billion annually by 2026, with a 2025 operating budget of US\$8.74 billion.
The new Singapore presence signals how some of these resources will be channelled into Asia through innovation partnerships and development initiatives.
While the foundation has yet to reveal detailed plans for the office’s structure, it confirmed that its presence in Singapore will strengthen cross-border collaboration and accelerate regional progress in health, tech, and development.
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