food-industry
Short Answer: If your business is registered in Singapore, has at least 30% local equity, and is financially ready to start and complete a project that drives growth or transformation, you likely qualify.
But let’s break it down clearly.
What Is the EDG?
The Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) supports Singapore-based companies in upgrading, innovating, and expanding overseas. It covers costs related to:
- Consultancy
- Equipment and software
- Internal manpower
It’s administered by Enterprise Singapore and is one of the most versatile grants available.
EDG Eligibility Checklist
Here’s a quick way to know if your company qualifies:
| REQUIREMENT | DETAILS |
| Business Entity | Registered and operating in Singapore |
| Local Equity | At least 30% held by Singaporean(s) or PR(s) |
| Financial Health | Able to start and complete the project |
| Project Status | Must not have started before application |
| Project Type | Must fall under one of the 3 supported categories (see below) |
What Types of Projects Are Supported?
Your project must fall under one of these three strategic categories:
- Core Capabilities
- Business strategy development
- Financial management
- Human capital development
- Strategic branding and marketing
- Innovation & Productivity
- Process redesign
- Automation
- Product development
- Market Access
- Overseas market expansion
- International branding
- Market entry strategies
How Much Funding Can You Get?
- Up to 50% of eligible costs for most projects
- Up to 70% for sustainability-related projects (until 31 March 2026)
Funding is reimbursed after project completion and audit.
Learn more about the EDG here
Not Sure If You Qualify?
FI Group Singapore offers free eligibility assessments. We’ll help you:
- Identify the right grant
- Prepare your application
- Maximise your funding
Contact us for a free consultation
Imagine a city with almost no farmland, yet striving to feed millions with fresh, locally grown produce. This is Singapore’s reality. With less than 1% of its land available for agriculture, the nation’s “30 by 30” goal, to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030, seemed ambitious. But Singapore’s response has been to turn constraint into opportunity, using technology and R&D to pioneer a new era of urban farming.
The Smart Farming Transformation: Inside Singapore’s High-Tech Farms
Step into one of Singapore’s vertical farms or high-tech greenhouses and you’ll see a landscape transformed by innovation:
- IoT Sensors: Crops are monitored around the clock for moisture, nutrients, and climate, enabling precision irrigation and fertilization.
- Drones & Robotics: Automated drones scan for crop health and apply treatments, while robots handle planting and harvesting, boosting consistency and reducing labor.
- AI & Data Analytics: Farms use AI-driven platforms to predict yields, optimize resources, and detect disease before it spreads.
- Automated Systems: Aquaculture tanks and climate-controlled greenhouses run on smart systems that maintain optimal growth conditions year-round.
These technologies are operational today, turning rooftops and warehouses into productive, sustainable farms.
For more on Singapore’s innovation in food production, read Agritech in Singapore 2025: Pioneering Sustainable Food Solutions.
Collaboration: The Heart of Singapore’s Agritech Ecosystem
What sets Singapore apart is its collaborative approach to agritech R&D:
- Innovation Hubs: Facilities like the Agri-Food Innovation Park and SAIL bring startups, corporates, and researchers together to pilot new technologies.
- Academic Partnerships: Universities and research centers work with industry to commercialize breakthroughs, from climate-resilient crops to digital twins for urban farms.
- Industry Testbeds: Companies can trial and refine solutions in real-world settings before scaling up.
Impact: Resilience, Sustainability, and New Business Frontiers
The results are clear:
- Resilience: Urban farms are less vulnerable to global supply disruptions.
- Sustainability: Smart farming slashes water and fertilizer use, aligning with Singapore’s green ambitions.
- Productivity: High-tech methods deliver more food per square meter—essential for land-scarce cities.
- Opportunity: SMEs and startups gain access to labs, pilot programs, and a thriving market for agritech solutions.
Looking to grow your agritech innovation?
At FI Group, we help businesses access R&D tax incentives, innovation grants, and government funding.
Talk to our experts and discover how we can support your growth.
Unlocking Growth: Government Support for Smart Farming R&D
Singapore’s government is a key enabler of this transformation, offering:
- Singapore Food Story 2.0 R&D Programme: Initiative that aims to aims to enhance Singapore’s food security, sustainability, and food safety through focused research in aquaculture, urban agriculture, future foods, and food safety, supporting both emerging ideas and translation of existing research results.
- Startup SG Tech: A popular grant supports Proof-of-Concept (POC) and Proof-of-Value (POV) projects for innovative technologies. Startups in Agritech can use this grant to validate and commercialize new solutions.
- R&D Tax Measures & Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS): Companies engaged in R&F and innovation can benefit from enhanced tax deductions and allowances, significantly reducing the effective cost of their research activities.
These programs lower the barriers for innovators, making it easier to turn ideas into impact.
Ready to Grow? How FI Group Can Help
Singapore’s Agritech landscape is rich with opportunity, but navigating the funding ecosystem can be complex. FI Group Singapore helps businesses:
- Identify the most relevant grants and incentives for smart farming and precision agriculture
- Streamline applications and compliance
- Optimize funding strategies for maximum innovation and growth
Are you ready to turn urban farming challenges into business opportunities? Contact FI Group Singapore to unlock public funding and drive your smart agriculture journey forward.
Singapore is leading the charge in the global quest for sustainable food solutions, with a particular focus on alternative proteins. As the world grapples with the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming, Singapore’s innovative approach to food production is setting new standards. Through robust research and development (R&D) initiatives, the city-state is pioneering the development of plant-based, cell-based, and fermentation-derived proteins.
R&D and Innovation: The Engine of Singapore’s Alternative Protein Boom
Cutting-Edge Startups and Global Players
Singapore is home to more than 60 alternative protein companies, ranging from pioneering startups focused in cultivated seafood or fermentation-based proteins to global leaders such as Nestlé, which recently expanded its R&D centre in Singapore to focus on alternative proteins and sustainable packaging. These companies are developing next-generation products: plant-based meats, cell-cultured seafood, and fermentation-derived ingredients that address both food security and climate change.
Innovation Hubs and Facilities
The city’s ecosystem is strengthened by dedicated infrastructure like Nurasa’s Food Tech Innovation Centre (FTIC). A state-of-the-art facility for scaling up production and enhancing the taste and nutrition of alternative proteins, featuring high-tech labs for plant protein extrusion and precision fermentation. Another example is the A*STAR and Perfect Day R&D Centre, a public-private partnership advancing fermentation and biotech-based protein research.
Looking to enhance your alternative protein innovation?
At FI Group, we help businesses access R&D tax incentives, innovation grants, and government funding.
Talk to our experts and discover how we can support your growth.
R&D Diversification and Market Expansion
Companies are diversifying beyond traditional plant-based meats into cultivated seafood, functional ingredients, and even alternative protein-based pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pet foods. Singapore’s regulatory agility enables rapid market testing and consumer feedback, making it a preferred launchpad for both local and international innovators.
Regulatory Environment: A Model for the World
Singapore set a global precedent in 2020 by being the first country to grant regulatory approval for cultivated meat. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) continues to provide clear, science-based pathways for novel food approvals, attracting startups eager to commercialize cutting-edge products. This regulatory clarity has made Singapore a regional reference point, with neighbouring countries looking to its frameworks as a model.
Additionally, explore Agritech in Singapore 2025: Pioneering Sustainable Food Solutions for insights into how agritech innovations are shaping the future of food sustainability.
Government Support and Funding: Powering R&D and Commercialisation
Singapore’s government offers a comprehensive suite of grants, incentives, and infrastructure to accelerate R&D and commercialization in alternative proteins:
- Singapore Food Story 2.0 R&D Programme:
Supports research in future foods, aquaculture, and sustainable urban agriculture. The programme funds both early-stage (“Seed”) and commercialization-focused (“Research Translation”) projects, requiring collaboration with public research partners.
- Startup SG Tech Grant:
Grant that supports Proof-of-Concept and Proof-of-Value projects, helping startups validate and commercialize innovative food tech solutions.
- Research and Innovation Scheme for Companies (RISC):
Offers up to 50% funding for local R&D activities, including alternative protein development, pilot production, and process innovation.
- R&D Tax Measures & Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS):
Up to 400% tax deduction on the first S$400,000 of qualifying R&D expenditure.
These schemes, combined with Singapore’s world-class innovation infrastructure, lower the barriers for companies to bring new protein solutions from lab to market.
Learn more about government grants for R&D and how they can benefit your business.
The Role of FI Group: Navigating Funding and Accelerating Growth
The alternative protein sector in Singapore is rich with opportunity, but navigating the complex funding and regulatory landscape requires deep expertise. FI Group Singapore helps companies:
- Identify the most relevant grants and incentives for alternative protein R&D and commercialization
- Streamline the application, compliance, and reporting process
- Full support in every step of the process
Ready to lead the future of food? Contact FI Group Singapore to unlock public funding, maximize R&D incentives, and take your alternative protein innovation to the next level.
