Best Government Grants for SMEs in Singapore

In this article

• 1. Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
• 2. Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)
• 3. Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant
• 4. SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)
• 5. Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG)
• 6. How Do the Top SME Grants Compare In 2026?
• 7. What Has Changed for SME Grants In 2026?
• 8. Government Grants FAQs

Running an SME means there is rarely a shortage of things to spend money on. New software, equipment, staff training, overseas expansion and process improvements can all help the business grow, but they also put pressure on cash flow. Singapore has several government grants and support schemes that can offset part of these costs.

There have also been some important changes in 2026. The Market Readiness Assistance Grant now offers higher support for SMEs, the Productivity Solutions Grant has been expanded to cover more digital and AI-enabled solutions, and a new grant called EDGE is set to bring PSG, EDG and MRA under one framework.

Here are five schemes small businesses should know about in 2026.

1. Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

The PSG Grant is useful for SMEs that want to improve everyday operations through technology or equipment.

PSG supports pre-approved sector-specific and general business solutions. In 2026, the scheme continues to support local small businesses at up to 50% of eligible costs, with support of up to S$30,000. This can be particularly relevant to a small business that is still handling too many processes manually.

For example, accounting solutions are among the types of pre-approved digital tools currently listed through GoBusiness.

Who can apply?

For the SME support described by Enterprise Singapore, the business generally needs to:

• Be registered and operating in Singapore
• Have at least 30% local equity
• Have group annual sales turnover of no more than S$100 million, or group employment of no more than 200 employees
• Use the purchased or subscribed solution in Singapore

You must also avoid paying a vendor or making a deposit for the relevant solution before submitting your application.

PSG applications are made through the Business Grants Portal. Enterprise Singapore currently states that a complete application usually takes around six weeks to process. One detail SMEs often overlook is the financial paperwork. The current PSG application requirements include financial statements for the previous three years. Newly incorporated companies may provide alternatives such as up-to-date unaudited statements or management accounts.

2. Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

The EDG Grant is aimed at larger transformation projects rather than simply buying an off-the-shelf business tool.

EDG supports projects under three broad areas:

• Core Capabilities
• Innovation and Productivity
• Market Access

For local small businesses, the standard support level is currently up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible sustainability-related projects may receive support of up to 70%.

EDG can cover qualifying costs including third-party consultancy, software, equipment and internal manpower, depending on the project. There is also a financial management category. It can support work such as developing financial management frameworks, improving financing and investment planning, or strengthening risk-management processes.

Who can apply?

The company must:

• Be registered and operating in Singapore
• Have at least 30% local equity
• Be financially ready to start and complete the project

Enterprise Singapore specifically notes that financial indicators such as the current ratio may be considered when assessing financial readiness.

EDG applications also require financial information. The current application checklist includes audited financial statements or certified management accounts for the latest financial year, together with a project proposal and relevant quotations. Complete applications currently take around 8 to 12 weeks to process. Projects must be new and must not have started before the application.

3. Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

Planning to sell overseas? The MRA Grant helps SMEs manage some of the cost of entering international markets. From 1 April 2026, eligible local SMEs can receive support of up to 70% of eligible costs. The current grant cap is S$100,000 per company per new market.

The S$100,000 is divided across three areas:

• Overseas market promotion — up to S$20,000
• Overseas business development — up to S$50,000
• Overseas market set-up — up to S$30,000

Activities can include overseas marketing, trade fairs, finding overseas partners, outsourced business development and certain market-entry costs.

Who can apply?

For the current scheme, an SME generally needs to:

• Be registered and operating in Singapore
• Have at least 30% local equity
• Have group turnover of no more than S$100 million or no more than 200 employees
• Meet the current requirements relating to the target overseas market

Under the existing MRA rules, sales in the target market must not have exceeded S$100,000 in any of the previous three years. This requirement is expected to change when EDGE is implemented. Enterprise Singapore has announced that the “new market” criterion will be removed, allowing support to cover deeper expansion into existing overseas markets too.

MRA applications currently take approximately 8 to 12 weeks, and retrospective applications are not allowed. Financial statements for the past three years are also among the application documents, with alternative documentation available for companies incorporated for less than a year.

4. SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

The SFEC Credit works differently from the other schemes on this list. It is a credit for eligible employers to spend on qualifying enterprise and workforce transformation programmes.

Eligible employers receive a one-off credit of up to S$10,000, which can offset up to 90% of qualifying out-of-pocket expenses. Up to S$7,000 of the credit can be used for Enterprise Transformation programmes, while the remaining amount is reserved for Workforce Transformation. This is particularly useful for employers investing in employee training, job redesign or other qualifying transformation programmes.

There is also an important 2026 deadline. The existing SFEC scheme will expire on 30 November 2026, and final claims for eligible programmes must be submitted by then. Enterprise Singapore states that a redesigned SFEC will take effect from 1 December 2026, with further details to come from the Skills and Workforce Development Agency.

Another correction to older information about SFEC: companies do not simply submit a new SFEC application today based on paying a certain amount of Skills Development Levy. Eligible employers under the existing scheme were identified through earlier qualifying periods and have already been notified.

If you are unsure whether your business has unused SFEC, check your status rather than assuming you qualify.

5. Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG)

The EEG Grant helps businesses reduce the cost of investing in energy-efficient equipment.

The Base Tier currently supports eligible SMEs at up to 70%, with support capped at S$30,000 per company. An Advanced Tier is available for certain larger energy-efficiency investments, with the combined support cap reaching up to S$350,000 for eligible businesses.

Who can apply?

At present, Enterprise Singapore’s published eligibility information covers businesses in sectors including:

• Construction
• Data centres and their users
• Food services
• Manufacturing, including food manufacturing
• Maritime
• Retail

The Government has also announced that the EEG Base Tier will expand to all sectors and be extended further to 31 March 2028, although Enterprise Singapore says more details on the expansion will be provided later in 2026. This means SMEs outside the currently listed sectors should check the latest eligibility before making a purchase.

As with other grants, do not rush to buy the equipment first. Enterprise Singapore states that companies may become ineligible if procurement has already started before the grant application.

How Do the Top SME Government Grants Compare In 2026?

Support is subject to the individual scheme’s eligibility rules and assessment. PSG, EDG and MRA are also due to transition into EDGE.

What Has Changed for SME Government Grants In 2026?

The biggest change is EDGE, a new grant announced under Singapore’s 2026 Business Refresh Package.

EDGE is intended to combine three major schemes like the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant into one system. Enterprise Singapore has said EDGE will support eligible activities up to S$100,000 per year and will be available to Singapore businesses, including non-SMEs.

However, SMEs should not assume that PSG, EDG and MRA have already disappeared. Enterprise Singapore’s current pages state that PSG, EDG and MRA remain accessible until EDGE launches in the second half of 2026.

There are a few other changes worth knowing:

• MRA support for local SMEs increased to up to 70% from 1 April 2026.
• PSG has been expanded to support more digital and AI-enabled solutions.
• The Energy Efficiency Grant has been extended, with a further expansion announced in 2026.
• The existing SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit expires on 30 November 2026, ahead of a redesigned scheme from 1 December 2026.

That makes 2026 something of a transition year. Always check the current scheme before committing to a project.

Government Grants FAQs

N Jency Flora

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