Enterprise Development Grant
For Singapore companies starting new projects to upgrade their business, explore new growth, or expand overseas
Funds individual projects tailored to your business
Due to a large number of grant applications submitted, you may encounter a longer processing time than usual. To check on the status of your application, you may visit the Business Grants Portal.
All successful applications will be subject to prevailing grant conditions. Incomplete applications will be rejected. However, applicants may reapply with all the necessary information required.
About this programme
The Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) supports projects that help you upgrade, innovate, grow and transform your business. Submit your individual project proposals with details on your business plans and project outcomes to take your business further.
EDG funds qualifying project costs namely third-party consultancy fees, software and equipment, and internal manpower cost.
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Up to 50% of eligible costs for local SMEsFrom 1 April 2023, SMEs can receive up to 50% support for EDG (sustainability-related projects may be supported at up to 70% from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026). Please refer to the Enterprise Sustainability Programme page for more details.
Eligibility
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Business entity registered and operating in Singapore
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Company has at least 30% local equity held directly or indirectly by Singaporean(s) and/or Singapore PR(s), determined by the ultimate individual ownership
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Company is financially ready to start and complete the project. Commonly used financial indicators, such as the current ratio, will be used for assessment.
- Applications will be assessed by EnterpriseSG based on project scope, project outcomes and competency of the service provider.
- Employers eligible for the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit can qualify for additional subsidies under the scheme.
Project categories
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Core Capabilities
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Innovation & Productivity
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Market Access
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Business Strategy Development
Formulate growth strategies and processes to improve your business development, better manage your intellectual property assets, optimise R&D operations, and implement sustainable practices.
Projects accepted:- Diagnosis and gap analysis in your company
- Assessment of internal and external factors, such as strengths and weaknesses, and competition
- Development of a strategic roadmap, business frameworks, policies or processes
- Recommendations and plans for implementation
- Sustainability strategy projects that include one or more of the following components:
- Assessment of sustainability risks and opportunities
- Strategy development
- Governance framework
- Setting metrics and targets
What is not covered:- Stand-alone IP registration costs
- Stand-alone reports/assurance
- Stand-alone set-up of sustainability unit and/or hiring of Chief Sustainability Officer/Sustainability Lead
Resources:
IP Business Guides
IP Clinics (Business/Legal)
IP Management Guide
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Financial Management
Optimise your company’s financial performance and equip your management team with better skills to steward your company’s assets and resources more effectively.
Projects accepted:- Diagnosis and gap analysis in your company
- Development of a strategic roadmap, business frameworks, policies or processes
- Recommendations and plans for implementation
- Development of plans to optimise financing, investment, and risk management
- Identification of business risk exposure, and development of proper risk management processes and controls
- Formation of international corporate structures to minimise tax liabilities
What is not covered:- Regulatory compliance costs, such as preparation of consolidated financial statements, accounting/ tax filing services
- Drafting of legal documents
- Procurement of ICT solutions
Resources:
Financial Management Toolkit -
Human Capital Development
Strengthen your teams with the right skills as you scale and support business growth.
Projects accepted:- Diagnosis and gap analysis in your company
- Development of a strategic roadmap, business frameworks, policies or processes
- Recommendations and plans for implementation
Areas covered:- Compensation & Benefits
- Employee Engagement & Communication
- Employee Value Proposition
- HR Management
- International Mobility
- Job Redesign
- Learning & Development
- Manpower Planning
- Organisation Culture
- Performance Management
- Recruitment & Selection
- Talent Management & Succession Planning
What is not covered:- Standalone training courses
- Incentives, benefits and welfare subsidies for employees
Resources:
Human Capital Diagnostic Tool
Talent Attraction and Development Initiatives
HR Industry Transformation Plan
Retail Job Redesign Deliverable Instruction Guide -
Service Excellence
Improve the quality of your service and products by gaining a deeper understanding of your customers’ needs and understanding their decision-making processes.
Projects accepted:- Diagnosis and gap analysis in your company
- Assessment of internal and external factors, such as strengths and weaknesses, and competitors
- Development of a strategic roadmap, business frameworks, policies or processes
- Recommendations and plans for implementation
- Customer Diagnostics: Diagnosis and gap analysis of customer needs to improve service levels and drive customer-centric behaviour
- Service Innovation: Adoption of advanced customer research, analytics and service process redesign to enhance customer experience
What is not covered:- Incentives for mystery shoppers and customer survey respondents
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Strategic Brand and Marketing Development
Differentiate your brand and marketing offerings through strategies that better capture your target audience and extend your reach.
Projects accepted:- Diagnosis and gap analysis in your company
- Assessment of internal and external factors, such as strengths and weaknesses, and competitors
- Primary or secondary research
- Recommendations and plans for implementation
- Development of effective brand strategy that appeals to targeted consumers and offers differentiated proposition from the competition
- Assessment of a brand’s financial value and identification of brand levers
- Development of a strategic plan to optimise marketing resources and improve customer communications
What is not covered:- Production of corporate and/ or marketing collaterals, such as brochures, videos, websites, photography, stock pictures, and copywriting
- Implementation of marketing or PR campaigns, including retainer fees of consultants, advertising and media buys, engagement of social media influencers, management of websites/ social media platforms, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Resources:
Marketing Toolkit
SME Consulting Programme
Transform your business through innovative products, processes, and new business models. Optimise resource usage to make routine tasks more efficient and improve performance.
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Automation
Improve resource efficiency through automation and technology.
To defray the cost of large scale deployment of automation solutions, eligible businesses can also apply for the 100% Investment Allowance (IA). The support under IA is net of grant and the approved capital expenditure is capped at S$10 million per project. As announced at Budget 2023, the scheme will be extended for another three years until 31 March 2026.
You may indicate your interest when applying for EDG. EnterpriseSG will evaluate the application and advise if you are eligible for the Investment Allowance.
Projects accepted:- Adoption/development of sophisticated hardware and/or software solutions
- Development of solutions that involve purchase of machinery and integration of systems
- Training of staff to deploy solutions
- Resource optimisation projects with specified projected quantitative resource efficiency improvements, such as reduction of:
- Carbon emissions (tCO2e)
- Energy consumption (kWh or kJ)
- Waste generation (tons)
- Water consumption (l or cm3)
What is not covered:- Set-up costs that are essential to starting a business
- Cost of equipment and gadgets, such as copiers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones
- Equipment and software costs that are supported under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
- Replacement/ addition of solutions with little changes to resource efficiency and no new capabilities developed, unless the replacement/ addition is part of a larger, integrated system that enhances resource efficiency
- Replacement of faulty solutions or equipment
- Installation of conventional, operational and off-the-shelf solutions, appliances or devices (e.g. energy-saving LED lightings, solar panels)
Resources:
GoBusiness Gov Assist -
Process Redesign
Review existing processes and identify possible areas to improve efficiency before undertaking automation or technology transformation.
Areas can cover:- Review and streamlining of workflow and processes to reduce or remove redundant processes
- Exploring the use of technology to automate processes
- Review and/ or development of performance measures
- Development of tracking and measurement system
- Development of detailed roadmap of actions for further improvement
- Review of resource consumption and identifying areas of improvement
- Piloting and implementation of recommended processes
- Resource optimisation with specified projected quantitative resource efficiency improvements, such as reduction of:
- Carbon emissions (tCO2e)
- Energy consumption (kWh or kJ)
- Waste generation (tons)
- Water consumption (l or cm3)
Resources:
Productivity Centres -
Product Development
Develop innovative technology and products with the end goal of commercialisation, including sustainable products, services, and solutions.
Areas can cover:- Assessment of market viability
- Development of product roadmap and proposed functionalities for the product
- Demonstration of market validation
- Development of commercialisation plan
- Review of IP considerations, such as IP/Trade Secrets protection, IP strategy, and Freedom to Operate analysis
- Development of prototype and small batch production, where relevant
- Sustainable products/services may be defined as those which:
- are designed to be either: (a) more durable or energy or resource efficient (b) reparable (c) recyclable, or (d) made with a preference for recycled materials;
- enable third parties to improve their sustainability performance
What is not covered:
- Development of first product
- Projects with low levels of technology innovation in relation to industry norms
Resources:
Centres of Innovation (COI)
Intellectual Property Intermediary (IPI)
IP Registration
Patent Analytics
Trade Secret Enterprise Guide
Defray the costs of venturing overseas as you look to expand your business into overseas markets.
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Pilot Project and Test Bedding
Expand into new geographical or product markets by building your track record and testing your products.
Areas can cover:- Demonstration of product/solution viability and establishment of a track record to scale in new markets
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Standards Adoption
Enter markets easily as you increase business competitiveness locally and internationally through an increased trust in your products and services.
Areas can cover:- Assessment, training, first time certification and adoption of relevant standards for business growth.
- Sustainability standards adoption
What is not covered:- Cost of annual surveillance or recertification of current standards which the company is already certified to
- Standards referred to in local regulatory acts
- Product testing and validation of existing or off-the-shelf products
- Basic standards such ISO 9001, ISO 14001*, SS 506, SS 444 and ISO 45001
How to apply
If you apply for EDG support for management consultancy-related costs, you must engage management consultants with the Singapore Accreditation Council -accredited TR 43 or SS 680 certification.
These certifications recognise individual management consultants who possess the adequate know-how, competence, professional and ethical conduct to provide consultancy services, in accordance with TR 43:2015 / SS 680:2021. Management consultants are incited to obtain TR/SS-certification from the accredited personnel certification bodies, but this is not a mandatory certification and not a licence to operate.
However, to tap the EDG grant, the consultants must be certified except for:- Members/ specialists in the consultancy team who are not providing management consultancy services, but are performing dedicated functions, such as market research, audit, fieldwork, design/ artwork, equipment installation, and drafting of legal agreements.
- Consultants offering technical advice and expertise in the development of new technology, and solutions vendors.
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Checklist of a suitable consultantGeneral competency
✔ Relevant academic qualifications
✔ Breadth of consultancy experience
✔ Good track record and client testimonials Domain expertise
✔ Knowledge or familiarity with clients' industry (e.g. business landscape, trends, best practices)
✔ Knowledge or expertise in the business function related to clients' project (e.g. financial management, HR management) Soft skills
✔ Ability to synthesise information quickly and assess clients' issues accurately
✔ Resourcefulness in gathering information or resources for the clients' project
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Institute of Management Consultants (Singapore)
Registered Management Consultant (RMC)
Find out more here -
Singapore Business Advisors and Consultants Council LtdPractising Management Consultants (PMC)
- Practising Management Consultant (PMC)
- Senior Practising Management Consultant (SPMC)
Find out more here -
TÜV SÜD PSBSingapore Certified Management Consultant (SCMC)
- Professional Singapore Certified Management Consultant (PSCMC)
- Expert Singapore Certified Management Consultant (ESCMC)
Find out more here
You will need to sign in to your Corppass account to transact on the BGP portal. Sign up if you do not have a Corpass account yet, and use this guide for any help needed.
Check that you have prepared your project proposal and relevant supporting documents for your application.
Note that projects must be new, have not commenced, and are not generating any revenue at the point of grant application.
Projects are considered to have commenced if any of the following took place before the application date:- Applicant started work
- Applicant made payment to third-party, who is part of the application
- Applicant signed contractual agreement with a third party, who is part of the application
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Project proposal templates
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Documents to prepare
Mandatory documents
✔ Latest ACRA search or instant information (dated no earlier than 6 months from date of project application)
If there are corporate shareholders, please provide the information for the corporate parents as well
✔ Audited financial statements or certified management accounts for the last Financial Year (FY)
✔ Consolidated financial statements for the last FY of your ultimate parent company, if any
✔ Project proposal
✔ Relevant proof of quotation for the cost of your project items. Where applicable, EnterpriseSG may seek clarifications on the choice of vendor and/or alternative quotation source.Supporting documents
✔ Quotation of hardware and software costs by number of units and unit cost
✔ Employment or Appointment letters of staff*For Consultancy cost
✔ Consultancy proposal details with fee breakdown by phases, description of activity and man-days required
✔ For projects where management consultants are engaged, please include the consultants’ proposal detailing the scope of work, man-day rate breakdown of the service, as well as the CVs and scanned copies of the Singapore Accreditation Council -accredited TR 43 or SS 680 certification(s) of each individual consultant.Projected figures to provide:
✔ Company revenue
✔ Staff remuneration
✔ Depreciation
✔ Net operating profit before tax for three years’ post-project (inclusive of the year of project completion)
✔ Impact on workers (Singaporean or PR) benefitting from project in the form of increased wages, job creation, job-redesign or training
Claims
EDG projects are supported on a reimbursement basis. Claims can be submitted when all project deliverables have been achieved. Claims must reach Enterprise Singapore no later than six months from the end of the project qualifying period*.
- Project Qualifying Period
- Project Deliverables
Projects should have been completed within the specified qualifying period, and all project deliverables should have been achieved.
Prepare the following documents required for claims submission (Claims submission checklist):
1. Update your preferred mode of disbursement on BGP and submit necessary information
Please submit the necessary information for your preferred mode of disbursement. Disbursement of the Grant will be credited directly to your bank account through PayNow (preferred) or GIRO.
- Please provide the necessary details on BGP when claims are being submitted.
GIRO
- Please provide your bank account details on BGP when claims are being submitted.
Do note that the following scenarios would require an endorsed DCA form and declaration form to be submitted via formsg here:
- Your account is not from any of the 4 banks (OCBC,DBS, POSB, UOB) OR
- Your account is a Joint Bank Account under Partnership or Limited Partnership legal structure OR
- Your company falls under Institutes of Public Character/Associations
2. Deliverables Documentation
- Project Summary report (Project Summary report template)
- Documentation of project deliverables (e.g. consultant’s report, images of equipment, etc)
3. Cost Items Documentation for audit (e.g. Invoices, bank statements, employment contract, etc.).
- Log on to the Business Grant Portal (BGP) and select “File a New Claim”. Refer to the BGP guide for more information.
- Upload project summary report and documentation of project deliverables under “Project Report” tab in BGP.
Select auditors
- During final claim submission in BGP, select an auditor from Enterprise Singapore’s Pre-Qualified Panel to verify your claims, unless expressly exempted by Enterprise Singapore.
- Upload cost items documentation (e.g. invoices, bank statements) under “Supporting Documents” in BGP.
- Upon completion of the above steps, submit the claim and record the claim number for future reference. If you require further technical support on your claim submission, please contact Enterprise Infoline.
- An EnterpriseSG officer will verify that the project deliverables have been met, and may contact you for further information if required. A site visit or presentation meeting may be arranged for this purpose. You may be asked to revise your Project Report if the information is incomplete.
- Concurrently, the auditor that you have appointed will verify your claim documents and issue an Audit Report upon completion of the verification. The auditor may contact you for further information if required.
- The approved claim amount will be disbursed within six to eight weeks via your selected mode of disbursement to your designed bank account after successful verification of project deliverables AND expenses. First time applicants will need to ensure your PayNow or GIRO is set up and furnish the PayNow or GIRO details to EnterpriseSG for fund disbursement.
- You will be informed via email when the grant has been approved
An email will also be sent out by DBS to the email address entered at the mandatory email field in CA/claim form to inform on the credit of the fund.
Need additional help?
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)
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