The main SME grants open in Singapore in 2026 are the EDGE Grant, the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit, the Energy Efficiency Grant and the SME Cash Grant 2026. EDGE took over from PSG, EDG and MRA on 30 September 2026. Our take: a grant is the government co-funding your project. For EDGE and most project grants, you pay first and claim later, so plan for the full cost.

What SME grants are available in Singapore in 2026?

Four grants cover most SMEs this year. They pay very different amounts, and the money arrives at different milestones. Here they are side by side, as of October 2026.

Grant Agency What it funds Support Cap Deadline How it’s paid
EDGE Grant Enterprise Singapore Over 100 activities, from digital tools to overseas expansion Up to 70% for SMEs, up to 50% for non-SMEs, depending on the activity S$100,000 a year across all activities Ongoing; the cap refreshes on 1 April Reimbursed after the activity is completed and paid
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (current) Enterprise Singapore Approved workforce and enterprise transformation programmes One-off credit Up to S$10,000 per entity Final claims by 30 Nov 2026 Claimed against approved programmes
Energy Efficiency Grant (Base) Enterprise Singapore Energy-efficient equipment, in any sector Up to 70% for SMEs, 30% for non-SMEs S$30,000 per company Until 31 Mar 2028 Grant on approved equipment
Energy Efficiency Grant (Advanced) Enterprise Singapore Energy-efficient equipment in construction, manufacturing and maritime The lower of the Base rate or an amount based on expected lifetime energy savings Up to S$350,000 across tiers Closes 31 Mar 2027 Grant on approved equipment
SME Cash Grant 2026 IRAS General support S$500 per local employee; a flat S$500 for sole proprietorships, partnerships and LLPs with a local owner but no local staff Up to S$2,500 Paid November 2026 Automatic

Scroll sideways to see the full table on mobile.

Sources: EDGE Grant, EDGE FAQ, Energy Efficiency Grant, SFEC FAQ and IRAS. The support level changes from one activity to the next, so look at the agency’s own page before you apply. Industry agencies also have schemes of their own for their sectors.

Which grant fits your project?

Work backwards from what you’re spending on. For most business projects that means EDGE. If it’s training, it’s SFEC. If you’re swapping out equipment to use less energy, it’s the Energy Efficiency Grant.

If your project is… Look at Watch for
Buying a software tool or digital solution EDGE (Automation & Digitalisation) A S$30,000 sub-cap on single-function digital solutions, integrated enterprise systems and selected automation activities; use a pre-approved vendor where there’s a list
Expanding overseas EDGE (Internationalisation) Shares EDGE’s yearly cap with your other EDGE projects
Upgrading strategy, finance or processes EDGE (Business Strategy, Financial Management, Innovation, Standards) Support level depends on the activity
Training staff SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit The current credit ends on 30 Nov 2026
Replacing equipment to cut energy use Energy Efficiency Grant Advanced tier only for construction, manufacturing and maritime

What replaced PSG, EDG and MRA?

EDGE did. Enterprise Singapore took its last applications for the three older schemes on 29 September 2026 and opened EDGE the day after.

If you applied before the switch, your application is still assessed under the old scheme’s rules. Projects already running keep their support until they finish and the claim is paid (EDGE FAQ).

EDGE’s business areas include Automation & Digitalisation, Business Strategy, Financial Management, Innovation, Internationalisation, Standards and Sustainability. Find your exact activity on the EDGE list. Work that fitted one of the old schemes won’t always land in the obvious place.

How does the EDGE Grant work?

For SMEs, EDGE pays up to 70% of qualifying costs. Non-SMEs get up to 50%. The actual rate is set per activity (Enterprise Singapore), and the most any company can get is S$100,000 a year across everything it does under EDGE.

A few activities carry a lower sub-cap of S$30,000. These are single-function digital solutions, integrated enterprise systems and selected automation activities (EDGE FAQ).

You qualify if your business is registered in Singapore and Singapore citizens or permanent residents own at least 30% of it. Some activities have extra conditions on top. And where Enterprise Singapore has a pre-approved vendor list, you have to pick from that list.

How an EDGE Grant claim works: businesses pay project costs in full before being reimbursed.

What does the S$100,000 yearly cap mean for your plans?

It is one pot for the whole grant year, whatever the activity. Buy a digital tool in May, then start an overseas marketing push in August, and both come out of the same S$100,000. The cap resets on 1 April yearly. If two projects together go over S$100,000, the excess isn’t covered that grant year.

When is the grant money paid?

Enterprise Singapore’s own wording is that “grant support is disbursed on a reimbursement basis”. You claim once the activity is finished and fully paid for (Enterprise Singapore).

Say you run a S$60,000 overseas expansion project at the top rate. You pay your vendors all S$60,000 up front, and only then claim up to S$42,000 back, subject to activity completion or pre-agreed milestones being met. Until the claim comes through, the full S$60,000 is gone from your cash flow.

What other SME grants are still open?

Beyond EDGE, several more are open. With each, make sure you’re eligible, and that you can stick to its guidelines from start to finish.

SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

The current SFEC is a one-off credit of up to S$10,000 per entity for eligible employers. It runs out on 30 November 2026. Claims for approved programmes have to be in by that date (Enterprise Singapore). If you have approved programmes you haven’t claimed for, submit them now.

An enhanced SFEC starts on 1 December 2026. This one is a digital wallet, and SWDA runs it (SWDA FAQ).

Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG)

Any sector can now apply for the Base tier of the Energy Efficiency Grant, which is open until 31 March 2028 (METI). The Advanced tier covers three sectors, each run by its own agency: manufacturing (NEA), construction (BCA) and maritime (MPA). It goes up to S$350,000 across tiers and closes on 31 March 2027 (NEA).

Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt)

BizAdapt is for Singapore businesses hit by tariff measures that export or have operations overseas. It co-funds advice from pre-approved vendors, such as helping with trade compliance or diversifying your supply chain. Manufacturers that relocate production or change suppliers can also claim some logistics and inventory holding costs. From 1 April 2026 to 6 October 2027, SMEs can get up to 70% and non-SMEs up to 50%, capped at S$100,000 per company (Enterprise Singapore, Budget 2026).

SME Cash Grant 2026

Active SMEs with at least one local employee get S$500 per local employee, up to S$2,500, paid in November 2026. Sole proprietorships, partnerships and LLPs with a local owner but no local employees get a flat S$500. No application is required (IRAS). Eligible businesses will receive the grant via GIRO or PayNow Corporate.

Startup SG Founder

Startup SG Founder supports first-time entrepreneurs with a startup grant of S$20,000 to S$50,000, plus mentorship from an Accredited Mentor Partner. You apply with your mentor partner, and you need to put matching capital into the company at a 1:1 ratio to the grant, with at least half of it as paid-up capital (Startup SG Founder). Check the programme page for current eligibility.

The grant does not remove the need to plan your cash flow, since the matching capital has to be in the company when you apply. If you need working funds, our guide to Start-Up Financing explains how that loan works.

Sector-specific grants

Industry agencies have schemes for their own sectors too, each with its own support level and cap. Ask the agency that looks after your industry.

What do SMEs get wrong about grants?

The big one, in our view, is treating a grant as free cash. It’s co-funding meant to offset capability development costs. You and the agency split the cost, but until the claim is paid, your business is carrying the full capital outlay.

Picking the wrong grant is another common slip. A project can look a lot like one that was approved and still fall under a different grant, or under none. Match the grant to what you’re actually doing before you spend.

Then there’s timing. Every grant comes with its own procedures and deadlines, and if you break them, you can be denied the claim. EDGE, for one, has to be applied for before the project starts. Read them before any money goes out, and be sure you can keep to them until the project is done.

Our take: plan as if you’re paying the full cost yourself

The headline rate is the most you could get back. It tells you nothing about when the money turns up. How long you wait depends on the grant you pick and how closely you’ve followed its guidelines.

Before you start a grant-funded project:

  1. Budget for 100% of the cost. Count the grant only once it’s in your account.
  2. Line up the dates each vendor payment is due against the cash you expect to have, so the project doesn’t squeeze payroll.
  3. Decide at the start how you’ll cover the gap. That might be cash reserves, or working capital financing sized to the project and how long you expect to wait. From 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, the government’s risk share on EFS Working Capital Loans is 70%, up from 50% for most borrowers. You still repay the full loan. If you borrow, you should be able to repay out of normal business cash flow. Never plan loan repayments around the grant receivable.

None of this is a rule for everyone. With plenty of cash relative to the project, just pay for it directly. Borrowing would add cost for little benefit. Small projects that fit inside normal monthly cash flow don’t need a separate plan. If you’re unsure your project qualifies, confirm with Enterprise Singapore before you plan any financing around it.

If you’ve decided financing is the right way to bridge the gap, compare SME loan options from Funding Societies against the project’s timeline.

How do you apply for an SME grant in Singapore?

It’s different for each grant. Apply for EDGE and the Energy Efficiency Grant on the Business Grants Portal, and do it before the project starts. Enterprise Singapore’s EDGE page lists the activities. SFEC needs no application. The credit is applied to supportable programmes, and final claims go to each programme’s agency by 30 November 2026. The SME Cash Grant needs no application at all; it just arrives.

Before you apply for anything, check these in order:

  1. Are you eligible? Local shareholding counts, and so does SME size.
  2. Can you follow the grant’s rules, timings included, for the whole project?
  3. Which grant, and which activity within it, fits what you’re doing?

If in doubt, approach Enterprise Singapore or your nearest SME Centre.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still claim under PSG, EDG or MRA for an ongoing project?

Yes. Enterprise Singapore keeps supporting ongoing projects until they’re completed and the claim is paid (EDGE FAQ).

Is PSG still available?

No. The Productivity Solutions Grant closed to new applications on 29 September 2026, and digital solutions now fall under the EDGE Grant. If you applied for PSG on or before 29 September 2026, you’re still assessed under PSG rules.

What are the EDGE Grant eligibility requirements?

The business has to be registered in Singapore and at least 30% owned by Singapore citizens or permanent residents. Some activities ask for more (EDGE FAQ).

Do I need to apply for the SME Cash Grant 2026?

No. IRAS pays it automatically to eligible companies, up to S$2,500, in November 2026 (IRAS).

What qualifies as an SME in Singapore?

Under Enterprise Singapore’s financing schemes, an SME has group revenue of up to S$100 million or no more than 200 employees, plus at least 30% local shareholding (Enterprise Singapore).

Can I use a loan and a grant for the same project?

They’re separate. A grant co-funds an approved project, while any financing is a separate loan that you repay from normal business cash flow, whatever the outcome of the grant. Don’t plan loan repayments around incoming grant money.

FS Capital Pte. Ltd. is a Participating Financial Institution on the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS). Neither FS Capital Pte. Ltd. nor any entities within the Funding Asia Group is able to assess, approve or advise on government grant applications. Grant details here are summarised from Enterprise Singapore’s published information as at 31 Oct 2026 and may change; refer to enterprisesg.gov.sg for current terms. Any financing from Funding Societies is a separate loan, subject to our own approval, and repayable regardless of the outcome of any grant application.

Related reading

The above article was last updated on 31 October 2026 and is accurate as of that date. Grant terms change, so check the official agency page before applying.

Disclaimer: The information provided to you in this blog post is intended only for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. The materials and the information provided are not intended to be and do not constitute an advertisement or solicitation. In no event will Funding Societies be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages for use of such information by you or any unauthorised third party.

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Dorcas Pang
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