This glossary covers the most common terms you’ll encounter when applying for Singapore government grants. Use it as a quick reference when reading grant guides or filling out applications.
Grant & Scheme Names
| Acronym | Full Name | What It Funds |
|---|---|---|
| PSG | Productivity Solutions Grant | Pre-approved software and equipment for productivity (50%, S$30K cap) |
| EDG | Enterprise Development Grant | Business transformation, innovation, and market access projects (50-70%, no cap) |
| EEG | Energy Efficiency Grant | Pre-approved energy-efficient equipment |
| MRA | Market Readiness Assistance | Overseas market promotion, business development, and setup (50%, S$100K/market) |
| EFS | Enterprise Financing Scheme | Government risk-sharing loan scheme (not a direct grant) |
| EFS-VD | EFS Venture Debt | Venture debt financing for high-growth startups (S$20M cap) |
| BizAdapt | Business Adaptation Grant | Support for business adaptation activities (FTA compliance, supply chain) |
| SFEC | SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit | One-time S$10K credit for enterprise/workforce transformation (90% of out-of-pocket) |
Startup SG Programmes
| Programme | What It Funds |
|---|---|
| Startup SG Founder | Seed funding and mentorship for first-time entrepreneurs (requires 51% local equity) |
| Startup SG Tech | Grants for deep tech Proof of Concept (POC) and Proof of Value (POV) projects |
| Startup SG Accelerator | Support for accelerators and incubators nurturing startups |
| Startup SG Equity | Government co-investment programme for startups |
Government Agencies
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| EnterpriseSG | Enterprise Singapore - main government agency administering SME grants (PSG, EDG, MRA, EFS) |
| EDBI | Enterprise Development Board Investment - investment arm of EDB for strategic investments in growth-stage companies |
| ACRA | Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority - Singapore's business registry |
| WSG | Workforce Singapore - agency for job redesign, career conversion, and workforce development. Merging with SSG into a new statutory board (Budget 2026) |
| SSG | SkillsFuture Singapore - agency administering SkillsFuture training programmes. Merging with WSG into a new statutory board (Budget 2026) |
| IRAS | Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore - tax authority; manages GIRO for grant disbursements |
| National AI Council | PM-chaired council coordinating Singapore's national AI strategy. Announced in Budget 2026 |
Government Portals & Systems
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| BGP | Business Grants Portal - the central online platform for submitting grant applications and claims. Access via Corppass. |
| Corppass | Corporate digital identity for government transactions. Required to access BGP. See our Corppass Setup Guide. |
| Corppass Admin | Company officer (usually director) authorized to manage Corppass access and assign e-Services to staff |
| GoBusiness | Government portal for business services, including the PSG solutions catalogue (GoBusiness Gov Assist) |
| BizFile+ | ACRA's online portal for company registration, filings, and business profile extracts |
| SkillsFuture for Business | Portal for checking SFEC credit balance and enrolling staff in eligible training |
Business Registration Terms
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| UEN | Unique Entity Number - your company's unique identifier (e.g., 202012345A). Required for all grant applications. |
| SSIC | Singapore Standard Industrial Classification - codes categorising business activity. Some grants use SSIC codes for eligibility. |
| Local equity | Percentage of company shares held by Singapore Citizens or PRs. Most grants require minimum 30%; Startup SG Founder requires 51%. |
| Paid-up capital | Capital shareholders have actually paid into the company. Startup SG Tech requires 10-20% of grant amount at application. |
Payment & Disbursement
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| PayNow Corporate | Real-time payment system for businesses. Recommended - grant disbursement within 14 working days. See our PayNow Corporate Setup Guide. |
| GIRO | General Interbank Recurring Order - bank-to-bank payment for grant disbursements. Takes up to 8 weeks. See our GIRO Setup Guide. |
| Reimbursement basis | Grant model where company pays vendor first, then claims back the approved percentage after project completion. |
| Disbursement | Payment of approved grant funds to the applicant company's bank account. |
Eligibility Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SME | Small and Medium Enterprise. For most grants: group annual sales turnover ≤S$100 million OR group employment size ≤200 employees. |
| Local shareholding | At least 30% ownership (direct or indirect) by Singaporeans or Singapore PRs. Required for most grants. |
| SC | Singapore Citizen - counts toward local equity requirements. |
| PR | Permanent Resident - counts toward local equity requirements. |
| Pre-approved solution | Software or equipment vetted and listed in the PSG catalogue. Only pre-approved solutions qualify for PSG funding. |
| Pre-approved vendor | A vendor listed in the PSG catalogue to implement a specific solution. IT solutions must use listed vendors; equipment can use any vendor. |
| New market | For MRA eligibility: overseas market where company's annual sales haven't exceeded S$100K in any of the past 3 years. |
| IPC | Institution of Public Character - charitable organization status; excluded from PSG eligibility. |
| VWO | Voluntary Welfare Organisation - non-profit type; excluded from PSG eligibility. |
Application Process Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| LOO | Letter of Offer - formal grant approval document that must be accepted before starting the project or making payments. |
| Commenced project | Project where work has started, payment made, or contract signed before application. Makes grant application ineligible. See Grant Pitfalls Guide. |
| Retrospective application | Applying for activities already started. NOT permitted for most Singapore grants. See Grant Pitfalls Guide. |
| Group application | Joint application by two or more companies. NOT allowed for PSG, MRA, and most grants. |
| Annual cap | Maximum grant claimable per financial year. PSG cap is S$30K per UEN (Apr 1 to Mar 31). |
| Annex 3 | PSG specification document that vendor quotations must match exactly for IT solutions. See our Annex 3 guide. |
| Change request | Formal process to modify approved project scope or timeline; submitted via BGP. |
| Project qualifying period | Approved timeframe for completing grant-funded activities. |
| AMP | Accredited Mentor Partner - EnterpriseSG-approved accelerators/incubators for Startup SG Founder applications. Direct application not possible. See quick-start guide. |
Claims & Audit Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Claims submission | Process of submitting invoices and proof of payment through BGP to receive grant reimbursement. |
| Audit Report | Independent verification of project costs by Pre-Qualified Panel auditor. Required for EDG and MRA claims. |
| Pre-Qualified Panel | EnterpriseSG-approved auditors for verifying grant claims. Audit costs supported up to 50%, capped at S$500. |
| Statement of Claim | Document submitted with audit report for MRA reimbursement. |
| Usage report | PSG document showing IT solution usage for at least 30 days after deployment. Required for claims. |
| Cost documentation | Invoices, bank statements, and receipts proving project expenditure for claims. |
| Qualifying costs | Expenses eligible for grant support (consultancy, software, equipment). Does not include salaries or business-as-usual costs. |
EDG-Specific Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Core Capabilities | EDG category for strengthening business foundations: strategy, financial management, HR, service excellence, branding. See EDG Categories Explained. |
| Innovation & Productivity | EDG category for transformation: automation, process redesign, product development. See EDG Categories Explained. |
| Market Access | EDG category for expansion: pilot projects, test bedding, standards adoption. See EDG Categories Explained. |
| Investment Allowance (IA) | 100% tax incentive for EDG automation projects, capped at S$10M per project. |
| Sustainability boost | Enhanced 70% support (vs 50%) for sustainability-related EDG projects. Valid until 31 March 2026. |
| TR 43 / SS 680 | Certification standards required for management consultants under EDG. |
| Third-party consultancy fees | Costs for external consultants; covered by EDG. |
| Internal manpower cost | Staff costs covered only by EDG (not MRA or PSG). |
| Transformational project | Project that fundamentally changes organizational capabilities (not business-as-usual improvements). |
MRA-Specific Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Overseas Market Promotion | MRA pillar for brand awareness: trade fairs, road shows, PR campaigns, marketing (S$20K cap). See MRA Pillars Explained. |
| Overseas Business Development (OBD) | MRA pillar for finding partners: distributors, agents, licensees, JV partners (S$50K cap). See MRA Pillars Explained. |
| Overseas Market Set-up | MRA pillar for establishing presence: staff deployment, legal setup, IP advisory (S$30K cap). See MRA Pillars Explained. |
| Overseas Marketing Presence (OMP) | MRA activity for deploying an employee overseas for business development. |
| LEAD | Local Enterprise and Association Development Programme. Trade fairs under LEAD are not eligible for MRA. |
SFEC-Specific Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SDL | Skills Development Levy - mandatory employer contribution. ≥S$750 SDL contribution is one SFEC eligibility criterion. |
| Out-of-pocket expenses | Cost remaining after primary grant support. SFEC covers up to 90% of this. |
| Grant stacking | Combining multiple grants/credits (e.g., PSG + SFEC) to maximize funding. |
| Enterprise transformation | SFEC category (S$7K cap) covering PSG, EDG, MRA, ELT, ADF, BIF. |
| Workforce transformation | SFEC category (no cap) covering training courses, career conversion, job redesign. |
Startup-Specific Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| POC | Proof of Concept - early-stage validation project under Startup SG Tech (requires 10% paid-up capital). |
| POV | Proof of Value - advanced validation project under Startup SG Tech (requires 20% paid-up capital). |
| First-time entrepreneur | Startup SG Founder requirement: founder must not have owned substantial stake in previous companies. |
| Proprietary technology | Novel technology owned by the startup. System integration of off-the-shelf components does not qualify. |
Workforce & Hiring Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| LQS | Local Qualifying Salary - minimum monthly salary for a local employee to count toward WP/S Pass quota. Raised to S$1,800 from Jul 2026. See Budget 2026 Workforce & Hiring Costs. |
| EP | Employment Pass - work pass for foreign professionals earning above qualifying salary. Minimum raised to S$6,000 from 2027. See Budget 2026 Workforce & Hiring Costs. |
| S Pass | Work pass for mid-skilled foreign workers. Minimum salary raised to S$3,600 from 2027. See Budget 2026 Workforce & Hiring Costs. |
| PWCS | Progressive Wage Credit Scheme - government co-funding for mandated wage increases under the Progressive Wage Model. Extended in Budget 2026. See PWCS scheme page. |
| SEC | Senior Employment Credit - wage offset for employers hiring workers aged 60+. Extended through 2027 in Budget 2026. |
| COMPASS | Complementarity Assessment Framework - points-based system for EP applications, considering salary, qualifications, diversity, and skills bonus. |
Budget 2026 Programmes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Champions of AI | Budget 2026 programme by EnterpriseSG and DISG for enterprise-wide AI transformation. See Champions of AI guide. |
| National AI Missions | Government-led AI deployment across key economic sectors, coordinated by the National AI Council. |
Other Grant Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| PFI | Participating Financial Institution - banks and finance companies participating in EFS. Loans provided by PFIs, not government. |
| ELT | Enterprise Leadership for Transformation Programme - leadership development programme covered by SFEC. |
| ADF | Aviation Development Fund - aviation sector transformation grant covered by SFEC. |
| BIF | Business Improvement Fund - business improvement grant covered by SFEC. |
| Career Conversion Programmes | WSG programmes for mid-career hiring and training. Covered by SFEC workforce transformation. |
| Lifetime carbon abatement | (EEG Advanced Tier) Total carbon emissions reduction over equipment's expected operational lifetime. Must exceed 350t to qualify. |
Industry & Technical Terms
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| POS | Point-of-Sale - systems for processing customer payments and managing transactions |
| CRM | Customer Relationship Management - software for tracking leads, customers, and sales pipelines |
| ERP | Enterprise Resource Planning - integrated software for managing core business processes |
| WMS | Warehouse Management System - software for inventory and fulfilment operations |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning - climate control systems (relevant for EEG) |
| D2C | Direct-to-Consumer - selling directly to customers rather than through retailers |
| SLA | Service Level Agreement - contractual performance targets (e.g., delivery timelines) |
| IP | Intellectual Property - trademarks, patents, copyrights. Standalone IP registration not covered by EDG. |
| ISO | International Organization for Standardization - develops standards like ISO 9001, ISO 45001 (basic standards not covered by EDG). |
| SS | Singapore Standard - national standards (e.g., SS 506, SS 444). Basic standards not covered by EDG. |
Key Eligibility Thresholds
| Requirement | Threshold | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Local equity (standard) | ≥30% | PSG, EDG, MRA, EFS |
| Local equity (startup) | ≥51% | Startup SG Founder, some [BizAdapt](/grants/business-adaptation-grant/) |
| SME turnover | ≤S$100M | PSG, MRA |
| SME employees | ≤200 | PSG, MRA |
| New market sales | MRA eligibility | |
| POC paid-up capital | ≥10% of grant | Startup SG Tech |
| POV paid-up capital | ≥20% of grant | Startup SG Tech |
| [SFEC](/grants/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit/) - SDL | ≥S$750 | [SFEC](/grants/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit/) (Period 1) |
| [SFEC](/grants/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit/) - Local employees | ≥3 SC/PR monthly | [SFEC](/grants/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit/) |
Funding Caps Summary
| Grant | Cap | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| PSG | S$30,000 | Per application, annual cap (Apr 1 - Mar 31) |
| MRA - Promotion | S$20,000 | Per market |
| MRA - Business Dev | S$50,000 | Per market |
| MRA - Setup | S$30,000 | Per market |
| MRA Total | S$100,000 | Per company per new market |
| EDG | No cap | Project-based assessment |
| [SFEC](/grants/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit/) | S$10,000 | One-time (S$7K enterprise + S$3K+ workforce) |
| EFS-VD | S$20M | Per borrower group |
Related Guides
Getting Started
- First-Time Grant Application Checklist - End-to-end preparation for your first grant
- Corppass Setup Guide - Set up corporate login for BGP
- PayNow Corporate vs GIRO: How to Choose? - Choose the right disbursement method
Grant-Specific Guides
- EDG Grant Explained - Complete guide to Enterprise Development Grant
- EDG Three Categories Explained - Core, Innovation, Market Access
- PSG Grant Explained - Complete guide to Productivity Solutions Grant
- PSG Pre-Approved Solutions Guide - Navigate the PSG catalogue
- MRA Grant Explained - Complete guide to Market Readiness Assistance
- MRA Three Pillars Explained - Promotion, Business Dev, Setup
- SFEC Quick-Start Checklist - Check your SkillsFuture credit eligibility
- Startup SG Founder Quick-Start - Getting started with startup funding
Pitfalls & Decision Guides
- How to Choose? PSG vs EDG vs ADS — comprehensive 3-way comparison for digital and transformation grants
- Grant Pitfalls Guide - Common rejection points by scheme
- PSG vs EDG Decision Matrix - Choose the right grant
- MRA vs EDG Decision Matrix - Overseas expansion grant choice
- Hiring & Training Grants Guide - EDG for HR development
-
Singapore Grants Glossary — key terms and definitions
Official Links
Grant Schemes
- Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)
- Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)
- Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG)
- Market Readiness Assistance (MRA)
- Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS)
- Startup SG Founder
- Startup SG Tech
Government Portals
- Business Grants Portal (BGP) - Submit and track grant applications
- Corppass - Set up corporate login for government services
- GoBusiness Gov Assist - PSG solutions catalogue
- SkillsFuture for Business - Check SFEC credit balance
- ACRA BizFile+ - Company registration and filings
Government Agencies
- Enterprise Singapore - Main agency for business grants
- Workforce Singapore (WSG) - Job redesign and workforce development
- Startup SG - Startup programmes ecosystem
Need help with your application?
Check if you're eligible and get your document checklist in 30 minutes.
Check Eligibility