What is the Enterprise Development Grant?
The Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) is administered by Enterprise Singapore and supports Singapore companies undergoing business transformation — including technology adoption, process upgrading, and market expansion. For manufacturers considering a custom ERP or workflow system, EDG sits under the Core Capabilities and Innovation and Productivity pillars.
Unlike the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), which is tied to a pre-approved list of vendors and software packages, EDG is not restricted. A custom-built system can qualify if the company can demonstrate genuine business transformation: changed processes, measurable productivity improvement, and a business case that shows what the system changes and why.
PSG vs EDG for a custom ERP build
PSG is faster and simpler to apply for, but it requires the software to appear on the pre-approved vendor list. A custom build — by definition — does not appear on any list. PSG is the right path for off-the-shelf SaaS (accounting software, CRM, standard HR tools). For custom workflow systems, EDG is the correct grant.
- PSG: pre-approved packages only, vendor must be on the list, faster approval.
- EDG: supports custom development, no approved vendor list required, broader scope.
- PSG support level for SMEs: up to 50% of qualifying costs.
- EDG support level for SMEs: up to 50% of qualifying costs.
- Key difference: EDG requires a business case document; PSG uses the vendor's pre-approved description.
Who qualifies for EDG?
Your company must be registered and operating in Singapore, with at least 30% local shareholding. For the productivity and innovation support categories, the SME definition applies: annual sales turnover of not more than S$100 million, or fewer than 200 employees. Most Singapore manufacturers in the Excel-to-ERP gap sit well within these thresholds.
The project itself must be additional — meaning the company would not have undertaken it at the same scale or speed without the grant. A custom ERP that replaces a master Excel and changes quoting, production, and supplier coordination is typically considered additional. A minor software upgrade is not.
What costs are eligible?
- Consultancy and project management fees.
- Software development costs (third-party).
- System integration and configuration.
- Training directly related to the system.
- Hardware that is integral to the project (in some cases).
For a typical Start Canyon engagement, the development cost and associated project fees are the primary eligible items. Discovery costs may be eligible as consultancy fees — confirm this with your Accredited Management Consultant before submitting, as categorisation affects the claim.
The rule that most manufacturers miss: apply before work begins
This is the most common mistake. A manufacturer decides to build, signs with a developer, and then asks about grants. The answer is: it is too late. The project has already started, and EDG will not fund work that began before approval.
The practical implication is that the EDG conversation must happen during or before paid discovery. Discovery produces the workflow audit, system architecture, and fixed-scope build quote that form the core of the EDG business case. If EDG is in scope, the timeline must include an approval window of 4–8 weeks before the build start date.
The 5-step application path
- 1. Paid discovery — workflow audit, system architecture, fixed quote. This is the business case raw material.
- 2. EDG scoping — Start Canyon assesses whether your profile, scope, and productivity outcomes are likely to qualify.
- 3. AMC engagement — you engage an Enterprise Singapore Accredited Management Consultant to prepare and submit the formal EDG application.
- 4. Approval wait — ESG reviews and approves (typically 4–8 weeks). Work cannot begin during this window.
- 5. Build begins — once approved, the build kicks off. Grant is claimed after project completion.
What the business case must show
An EDG business case is not a sales brochure. It is a document that shows Enterprise Singapore: what the business currently does (current state), what the system will change (future state), what productivity outcomes are expected (quantified), and why the project scope and cost are appropriate.
Start Canyon's paid discovery output — the written workflow audit, the system architecture, and the fixed-scope build quote — maps directly to what this document needs. The workflow audit is the current state. The architecture is the future state. The scope and quote justify the cost.
What a typical EDG-funded build looks like financially
- Lean MVP (S$10,000 – S$15,000 gross) → up to S$5,000 – S$7,500 EDG subsidy → from S$5,000 – S$7,500 net.
- Standard build (S$15,000 – S$25,000 gross) → up to S$7,500 – S$12,500 EDG subsidy → from S$7,500 – S$12,500 net.
- Expanded build (S$25,000 – S$40,000 gross) → up to S$12,500 – S$20,000 EDG subsidy → from S$12,500 – S$20,000 net.
The net cost after EDG approval makes a Start Canyon build even more comparable to a month or two of the ongoing staff cost the system replaces. The grant claim is submitted after the project completes — you pay the full cost first, then claim the subsidy.
If you are considering EDG: what to do now
Run the cost estimator to confirm your engagement band. Then book a paid discovery. At the discovery booking stage, flag that EDG timing is a factor — we will structure the discovery deliverable and timeline to support the application, and surface whether the scope and company profile are likely to qualify.
Do not start the build first. The grant is only available if the application is approved before work begins. A six-week delay to process the EDG application pays for itself many times over when it saves 50% of the build cost.