While AI has rapidly advanced in recent years, one challenge remains stubbornly unresolved: how to move promising algorithmic models from controlled experiments into practical, real-world use. The effort to balance algorithmic innovation with real-world application has been a consistent theme in the career of Xinxing Xu, principal researcher at Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore, and also represents one of the foundational pillars of the newly established Singapore lab.
“Innovative algorithms can only demonstrate their true value when tested with real-world data and in actual scenarios, where they can be continuously optimized through iteration,” he says.
Xu’s commitment to balancing algorithmic innovation with practical application has shaped his entire career. During his PhD studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Xu focused on emerging technologies like multiple kernel learning methods and multimodal machine learning. Today he’s applying these techniques to real-world use cases like image recognition and video classification.
After completing his doctorate, he joined the Institute of High Performance Computing at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), where he worked on interdisciplinary projects ranging from medical image recognition to AI systems for detecting defects on facade of buildings. These experiences broadened his perspective and deepened his passion for translating AI into real-world impact.
In 2024, Xu joined Microsoft Research Asia where he began a new chapter focused on bridging between academic research and real-world AI applications.
“Microsoft Research Asia is committed to integrating scientific exploration with real-world applications, which creates a unique research environment,” Xu says. “It brings together top talent and resources, and Microsoft’s engineering and product ecosystem strongly supports turning research into impactful technology. The lab’s open and inclusive culture encourages innovation with broader societal impact. It reflects the approach to research I’ve always hoped to contribute to.”
Azure AI Foundry Labs
Get a glimpse of potential future directions for AI, with these experimental technologies from Microsoft Research.
Bringing cross-domain expertise to AI’s real-world frontiers
As a key hub in Microsoft Research’s network across Asia, the Singapore lab is guided by a three-part mission: to drive industry-transforming AI deployment, pursue fundamental breakthroughs in the field, and promote responsible, socially beneficial applications of the technology.
To reach these goals, Xu and his colleagues are working closely with local collaborators, combining cross-disciplinary expertise to tackle complex, real-world challenges.
Xu draws on his experience in healthcare as he leads the team’s collaboration with Singapore’s SingHealth to explore how AI can support precision medicine. Their efforts focus on leveraging SingHealth’s data and expertise to develop AI capabilities aimed at delivering personalized analysis and enhanced diagnostic accuracy to enable better patient outcomes.
Beyond healthcare, the team is also targeting key sectors like finance and logistics. By developing domain-specific foundation models and AI agents, they aim to support smarter decision-making and accelerate digital transformation across industries. “Singapore has a strong foundation in these sectors,” Xu notes, “making it an ideal environment for technology validation and iteration.”
The team is also partnering with leading academic institutions, including the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), to advance the field of spatial intelligence. Their goal is to develop embodied intelligence systems capable of carrying out complex tasks in smart environments.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life, researchers at the Singapore lab are also increasingly focused on what they call “societal AI”—building AI systems that are culturally relevant and trustworthy within Southeast Asia’s unique cultural and social contexts. Working with global colleagues, they are helping to advance a more culturally grounded and responsible approach to AI research in the region.
Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore: Expanding global reach, connecting regional innovation
Realizing AI’s full potential requires more than technical breakthroughs. It also depends on collaboration—across industries, academia, and policy. Only through this intersection of forces can AI move beyond the lab to deliver meaningful societal value.
Singapore’s strengths in science, engineering, and digital governance make it an ideal setting for this kind of work. Its collaborative culture, robust infrastructure, international talent pool, and strong policy support for science and technology make it fertile ground for interdisciplinary research.
This is why Microsoft Research Asia continues to collaborate closely with Singapore’s top universities, research institutions, and industry partners. These partnerships support joint research, talent development, and technical exchange. Building on this foundation, Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore will further deepen its collaboration with NUS, NTU Singapore, and Singapore Management University (SMU) to advance both fundamental and applied research, while equipping the next generation of researchers with real-world experience. In addition, Microsoft Research Asia is fostering academic exchange and strengthening the research ecosystem through summer schools and joint workshops with NUS, NTU Singapore, and SMU.
The launch of the Singapore lab further marks an important step in expanding the company’s global research footprint, serving as a bridge between regional innovation and Microsoft’s global ecosystem. Through its integrated lab network, Microsoft Research fosters the sharing of technologies, methods, and real-world insights, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation.
“We aim to build a research hub in Singapore that is globally connected and deeply rooted in the local ecosystem,” Xu says. “Many breakthroughs come from interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration. By breaking boundaries—across disciplines, industries, and geographies—we can drive research that has lasting impact.”
As AI becomes more deeply woven into industry and everyday life, Xu believes that meaningful research must be closely connected to regional development and social well-being.
“Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore is a future-facing lab,” he says. “While we push technological frontiers, we’re equally committed to the responsibility of technology—ensuring AI can help address society’s most pressing challenges.”
In a world shaped by global challenges, Xu sees collaboration and innovation as essential to real progress. With Singapore as a launchpad, he and his team are working to extend AI’s impact and value across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Three essential strengths for the next generation of AI researchers
AI’s progress depends not only on technical breakthroughs but also on the growth and dedication of talent. At Microsoft Research Asia, there is a strong belief that bringing research into the real world requires more than technical coordination—it depends on unlocking the full creativity and potential of researchers.
In Singapore—a regional innovation hub that connects Southeast Asia—Xu and his colleagues are working to push AI beyond the lab and into fields like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. For young researchers hoping to shape the future of AI, this is a uniquely powerful stage.
To help guide the next generation, Xu shares three pieces of advice:
- Build a strong foundation – “Core knowledge in machine learning, linear algebra, and probability and statistics is the bedrock of AI research,” Xu says. “A solid theoretical base is essential to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving field. Even today’s hottest trends in generative AI rely on longstanding principles of optimization and model architecture design.” While code generation tools are on the rise, Xu emphasizes that mathematical fundamentals remain essential for understanding and innovating in AI.
- Understand real-world applications – Technical skills alone aren’t enough. Xu encourages young researchers to deeply engage with the problems they’re trying to solve. Only by tightly integrating technology with its context can researchers create truly valuable solutions.
“In healthcare, for example, researchers may need to follow doctors in clinics to gain a true understanding of clinical workflows. That context helps identify the best entry points for AI deployment. Framing research problems around real-world needs is often more impactful than just tuning model parameters,” Xu says.
- Develop interdisciplinary thinking – Cross-disciplinary collaboration is becoming essential to AI innovation. Xu advises young researchers to learn how to work with experts from other fields to explore new directions together. “These kinds of interactions often spark fresh, creative ideas,” he says.
Maintaining curiosity is just as important. “Being open to new technologies and fields is what enables researchers to continually break new ground and produce original results.”
Xu extends an open invitation to aspiring researchers from all backgrounds to join Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore. “We offer a unique platform that blends cutting-edge research with real-world impact,” he says. “It’s a place where you can work on the frontiers of AI—and see how your work can help transform industries and improve lives.”
To learn more about the current opening, please visit: https://jobs.careers.microsoft.com/global/en/job/1849717/Senior-Researcher (opens in new tab)
