Most Singapore SMEs we speak to know there is grant money for software and AI. Fewer know that the money is lost at the very first step, before anyone has looked at a quote.
Here are the two rules that decide whether you get funded.
Rule one: apply before you commit
You must submit your application before you sign a contract with the vendor, and before you pay any deposit. If the work has already started, the application is rejected. There is no way to fix this after the fact and no appeal worth making.
In practice this means the order of your project is:
- Decide what you want built, and get a quote for it.
- Apply, and wait for the letter of offer.
- Accept the letter, then sign with the vendor and start the work.
A quote is not a commitment, so getting one costs you nothing. A signed contract is.
Rule two: you apply, not your vendor
The application goes in through your own Corppass. Nobody else can submit it for you, and nobody else can manage it for you. Most routes run through the Business Grants Portal.
A good vendor still helps. They write the quote in the format the grant expects, describe the project in the terms the assessor is looking for, and tell you which route fits. Then you file it yourself.
What each route pays for
The routes are not interchangeable. They fund different kinds of work, and picking the wrong one is the second most common way applications fail.
| Route | Best for | Government pays | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSG | Off-the-shelf software already on the approved list | 50% | $30k a year |
| EDG | A custom build that gives your business a new capability | 50% | Set per project |
| WDG (JR+) | HR and workforce tech, paired with redesigning the jobs | 70% | $150k |
| SFEC | A $10k credit on top, for the training side | Credit | $10k |
| EIS | A tax deduction, not a grant. Stacks on whatever funds the build | 400% deduction | $50k a year for AI |
If you are buying a tool off a list and using it as it comes, that is PSG. If someone is building something around the way your company actually works, that is EDG. If the project is really about changing what your people do all day, look at WDG (JR+), where the government share is highest.
The cash reaches you at different times
This matters more than most people expect.
- EDG pays you back. You pay the full amount first, then claim, then wait for the money. Budget for that gap.
- WDG (JR+) charges you the smaller share. You pay only your part, and the government pays the consultant directly.
Approvals take time too. Roughly six weeks for PSG, and eight to twelve weeks for EDG. Plan your start date backwards from that.
Two dates worth putting in the calendar
PSG, EDG and MRA are being merged. They are being replaced by one activity-based grant called EDGE, launching in the second half of 2026, capped at $100,000 a year. The existing grants stay open until it launches. If you are planning a project for the end of this year, you may end up applying under EDGE, so write your plan around the work rather than the scheme name.
The current SFEC expires on 30 November 2026. A redesigned one starts the next day with a fresh $10,000. Anything you have not used by then does not carry over.
What to do this week
Write down the one job in your company that eats the most hours. Get a quote for fixing it. Then apply, and only sign after the letter of offer lands.
If you want to know which route your project falls under, our grants page walks through it, or book a call and we will tell you straight.