Enterprise Singapore has announced that it will invest up to (SGD) 120 million over the next five years to strengthen the capabilities of Singapore’s Centres of Innovation (COIs). The objective is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop new products and technology solutions and bring them to market.
The funding should be understood correctly. It is an investment in the capability of a public innovation-support platform, not a (SGD) 120 million pool of cash grants paid directly to SMEs. The funding will strengthen facilities, technical expertise and innovation-ecosystem connections so that businesses can obtain better support for technology discovery, testing, validation, adoption and commercialisation.
At the same time, EnterpriseSG will consolidate the COI network from 27 touchpoints into 10 enhanced, theme-based COIs. The enhanced COIs will also take on relevant technology-discovery and technology-matching services from EnterpriseSG’s wholly owned subsidiary, Innovation Partner for Impact (IPI). IPI is scheduled to wind down on 31 March 2027.
For SMEs, the practical significance is not simply another grant channel. It is a more concentrated route to technical expertise, validation facilities and commercial partners.
WHY THE CENTRES OF INNOVATION ARE BEING STRENGTHENED
Many SMEs do not lack ideas. The difficulty is turning an idea into a product that can be tested, manufactured, certified and sold. A business may need to answer several questions at the same time: whether an existing technology can be adopted, whether it can conduct proof-of-concept work, where it can access laboratories and experts, how the product will meet regulatory requirements, and how it will find manufacturing, supply-chain and market-access partners.
EnterpriseSG states that COIs are established within Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning and provide SMEs with access to specialised facilities and technical expertise to co-develop, test and validate innovations.
As SME innovation becomes more complex, a single institution may not be able to provide technology, manufacturing, compliance and market resources at the same time. The enhanced COI model is designed to provide broader technical and ecosystem connectivity.
THE FOUR SERVICE AREAS SUPPORTED BY THE (SGD) 120 MILLION INVESTMENT
TECHNOLOGY DISCOVERY
The COIs will source technologies from Singapore and overseas and match them to SME needs. The purpose is to reduce duplicated research and development, shorten the time required to identify solutions and improve the efficiency of innovation spending.
TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
The COIs will identify proven technologies and solutions and promote their adoption across enterprises and industry use cases. For many SMEs, adopting a suitable mature solution may produce a commercial result faster than developing a solution from the beginning.
ECOSYSTEM CONNECTIVITY
The COIs will connect SMEs with partners in manufacturing, regulatory compliance, certification, market access and other areas needed for commercialisation. Completing technical development does not mean that a product is ready for market. Supply-chain capacity, production, quality systems and distribution channels must also be addressed. The enhanced COIs will also facilitate access to overseas innovation centres and global technologies.
OUTREACH AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
The COIs will deepen engagement with SME Centres, trade associations and chambers. This should help SMEs understand technology trends and identify relevant public-support and ecosystem resources. The function is particularly valuable to SMEs that do not have a dedicated research and development team.
EnterpriseSG has not published a detailed annual allocation of the (SGD) 120 million across the four areas. Nor has it stated that the funds will be distributed as a single direct cash-grant pool for businesses.
THE CONSOLIDATION FROM 27 TOUCHPOINTS TO 10 THEME-BASED COIS
The restructured network will consolidate 27 touchpoints into 10 enhanced theme-based centres. The stated objectives are to bring together specialised facilities, expert teams and industry connections, reduce overlaps and create clearer technical access points for SMEs.
The themes cover areas including advanced manufacturing, electronics and the Internet of Things, aquaculture, supply-chain management, energy, environmental sustainability, food manufacturing, beauty and personal care, the built environment and urban agriculture.
The centres are supported by polytechnics, universities and specialised research institutions. They create platforms for industry-academic collaboration. Depending on its needs, an SME may approach the relevant centre to discuss proof-of-concept work, prototyping, performance testing, formulation changes, process improvements or automation.
A thematic match is only the starting point. Actual access will depend on the project’s technical objectives, the company’s preparedness, available facilities and expertise, and the centre’s assessment of feasibility and industry value.
IPI INTEGRATION AND THE CHANGING ACCESS ROUTE FOR BUSINESSES
The enhanced COIs will take over selected technology-discovery and technology-matching services from IPI. IPI will wind down on 31 March 2027. EnterpriseSG has stated that redeployment will be the first priority for affected staff, including redeployment to the enhanced COIs, the Public Service and the wider innovation ecosystem.
For businesses, the key operational issue is continuity. During the transition, companies with existing IPI or COI projects should confirm whether project files, intellectual-property information, technical assessments, test data, contacts and follow-up responsibilities have been transferred.
Businesses with ongoing projects should clarify:
Who is retaining the project outputs and records;
Who is responsible for proof-of-concept work, prototypes and test data;
How intellectual property and confidential information are protected;
Whether existing contracts and payment arrangements are affected; and
Who will lead manufacturing, certification and market-access work after technical validation.
COI SUPPORT AND THE EDGE GRANT ARE NOT THE SAME THING
Businesses should distinguish between two forms of public support.
COIs provide access to technical platforms, experts, facilities, research collaboration, technology matching and ecosystem connections. Whether a particular facility is available, whether charges apply and how a project is structured should be confirmed with the relevant COI and partner institution.
EDGE is a separate EnterpriseSG grant launched on 30 September 2026. It consolidates the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant and the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), enabling businesses to apply for support based on the activity they intend to undertake.
Under EDGE, support is generally up to 50% for SMEs and up to 30% for non-SMEs. For internationalisation and sustainability activities, support can be up to 70% for SMEs and up to 50% for non-SMEs, subject to the relevant activity and eligibility requirements.
Each company has an annual EDGE grant cap of (SGD) 100,000. The cap resets each grant year, from 1 April to 31 March of the following year. Applications must be submitted by the business through the Business Grants Portal. Vendors and other third parties should not submit applications on behalf of the applicant company.
A company may purchase a solution after submitting an application but before approval, but it does so at its own risk. Submission does not guarantee approval. EDGE is administered on a reimbursement basis rather than as an advance cash payment, and the company must meet the relevant completion, payment and claim requirements.
The most important procedural principle is not to start first and apply later. According to EnterpriseSG’s FAQ, work started or deposits or payments made before application submission may cause the application to be treated as retrospective and unsupported.
INNOVATION PROJECTS MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR TAX RELIEF
In addition to grants, an SME working with a polytechnic, the Institute of Technical Education or another qualified partner may qualify for the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS).
Subject to the relevant conditions, IRAS provides a 400% tax deduction for up to (SGD) 50,000 of qualifying expenditure per Year of Assessment on qualifying innovation projects carried out with qualified partners. The qualifying conditions, eligible partners, project activities and the treatment of government grants must be checked carefully.
Where a project receives government support, the company should not automatically treat all project spending as qualifying expenditure. IRAS states that the deduction for a qualifying innovation project is generally based on qualifying expenditure net of any government grant or subsidy received for that project.
HOW SMES CAN PREPARE FOR A PROJECT
DEFINE THE BUSINESS PROBLEM BEFORE SEARCHING FOR A FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY.
The company should describe the production, quality, cost, energy, supply-chain or market problem it needs to solve and establish measurable indicators. A clear problem statement improves the quality of technology matching.
PREPARE BASIC PROJECT INFORMATION.
Organise the current workflow, technical bottleneck, product specifications, target customers, budget, timeline, regulatory requirements and existing test results. This helps the COI assess whether the project is suitable for proof-of-concept work or technology adoption.
SET INTELLECTUAL-PROPERTY AND CONFIDENTIALITY BOUNDARIES.
Before disclosing materials to a university, research team or external technology partner, confirm the confidentiality arrangements, background intellectual property, new intellectual property created by the project, rights to use project outputs and future commercialisation rights.
PLAN COMMERCIALISATION AT THE SAME TIME AS TECHNICAL VALIDATION.
A project should not stop at laboratory success. The company should consider manufacturing cost, suppliers, certification, regulatory approval, quality control, market entry and after-sales support early, so that a technically successful solution does not remain commercially unusable.
CONFIRM GRANT ELIGIBILITY BEFORE INCURRING COSTS.
If the company intends to apply for EDGE or another support scheme, review the activity requirements first. Confirm the applicant entity, project start date, vendor relationships, eligible expenses and claim documents. Commitments and payments made before approval may remain the company’s responsibility.
Singapore’s strengthened COI model brings public research facilities, technical experts and commercialisation resources into a more concentrated support network. Consolidating 27 touchpoints into 10 theme-based centres should reduce the cost of finding technical and commercial partners for SMEs. The up-to-(SGD) 120 million investment is intended to build platform capability, not to create a direct cash pool that businesses can simply claim.
The most effective approach for an SME is to define its technology problem, identify the relevant COI, complete a feasibility assessment, agree on intellectual-property and confidentiality arrangements, and confirm EDGE or other grant requirements before incurring expenditure.
The businesses most likely to benefit from the reform will be those that can connect their technical needs, development plan, funding structure and commercialisation pathway, while documenting the project’s objectives and measurable results.
