When running a small business in Singapore, there’s often little time to do anything else but focus on growing your company. Even if there were government grants available that could support one of your business goals, the effort and time needed to do your research, prepare your application and then follow up on it would be a significant drain on your limited resources.
Fortunately, the Business Grants Portal helps business owners apply for all their relevant government grants quickly and easily.
What Is The Business Grants Portal?
The Business Grants Portal is a collaboration between the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and GovTech Singapore. It was launched in January 2017 and serves as a centralised one-stop service for businesses to find and apply for government grants without having to go to different agencies.
On the platform, you can also manage your grants application by getting status updates from the Government agencies processing them, as well as receive and accept the Letter of Offer for approved grants.
What Do You Need To Access The Business Grants Portal?
To access the Business Grants Portal, you will need a Corppass account. You will also need your company’s Corppass Admin to assign you with the appropriate ApplyGov Corppass role – BGP Viewer, BGP Preparer or BGP Acceptor.
| Role | Description |
| BGP Viewer | This role can view the details of all the company’s grant applications. It should be assigned to employees who simply need to monitor and report on grant information. |
| BGP Preparer | This role can view, create, edit and submit all the company’s grant applications. It should be assigned to employees overseeing the grant project and acting as the point of contact. |
| BGP Acceptor | This role has all the rights of the previous two and has the authority to accept the terms and conditions of the grant’s Letter of Offer on behalf of the company. Because of this, it should only be assigned to the company’s Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer or equivalent. |
Read Also: Guide To CorpPass And How To Set It Up For Your Company And Staff
What Grants Can You Apply For Via The Business Grants Portal?
There are 9 government grants that business owners can apply for via the Business Grants Portal.
| Grants | Purpose | Relevant Industry |
| Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) | Help businesses enhance their processes with technology | All |
| Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) | Help businesses co-fund investment in energy-efficient (EE) equipment | Construction, Data Centre, Food Services, Maritime, Manufacturing, Retail |
| Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) | Support businesses looking to expand into a new overseas market | All |
| Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) | Fund individual upgrading, growth and expansion projects by businesses | All |
| Business Improvement Fund | Help tourism businesses boost productivity and competitiveness through technology | Tourism, Technology |
| Aviation Development Fund | Supports productivity and development of the aviation industry in Singapore | Aviation |
| Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund | Help local farmers be more productive and efficient, as well as resilient to climate change | Farming |
| Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant | Co-fund installation of electric vehicle charging points at non-landed private residences | Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) |
| Experience Step-Up Fund | Increase the attractiveness of Singapore to visitors by enhancing Singapore’s tourism experiences | Tourism |
How Do You Apply For A Grant On The Business Grants Portal?
Step 1: Check to see which of the 9 grants available on the Business Grants Portal your company is keen on.
You may use the e-Adviser for Government Assistance service to help narrow down the grants you may want to apply for.
Step 2: Register your Corppass account and have the appropriate BGP role assigned to you. Then, log into the BGP using your Singpass.
Step 3: Fill in your company profile – some details will be automatically filled in from ACRA.
Step 4: Fill in your application and submit it to the relevant agency for processing, taking note of the agency’s contact details. You may monitor the progress of your application in the meantime. The agency should contact you via email should any clarification be needed.
Step 5: Log into BGP and accept the Letter of Offer you receive should your grant application be successful. Only someone with the BGP Acceptor role can do this.
Step 6: You will receive an email with information about how to submit your claims after accepting the Letter of Offer. File your claims via the BGP by the due date indicated on this email. The approved claims will be credited to your company’s bank account.
How Can I Get Further Guidance On Which Government Grants Are Suitable?
While the Business Grants Portal makes applications for various grants more convenient and streamlined, it can still be a lot of information to deal with. There is a network of 10 SME Centres around the island ready to partner with small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Their Business Advisors provide free one-to-one consultations including pointing out which government grants might be appropriate for your stage of development. Should you need further help, you can set up an appointment at the most convenient SME Centre.
Read Also: Step-By-Step Guide To Using The New GoBusiness Gov Assist For Finding Grants You’re Eligible For
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