EDG vs PSG vs MRA: Which Singapore Government Grant Is Right for You?

Singapore SMEs have one of the most generous government grant ecosystems in the world. Three schemes — the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), and the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant — together cover the bulk of practical funding requirements for growing companies, from off-the-shelf software adoption to bespoke transformation projects to overseas market entry. Yet many founders we speak to are unsure which grant fits their situation, in what order they should apply, and whether they can stack support.

This article walks through each grant — eligibility, support level, typical use cases, and indicative timelines — and finishes with a decision tree that should help you pick the right scheme on the first try in 2026.

Quick Comparison Table

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

PSG is the easiest of the three to apply for, because the supported solutions are pre-approved by Enterprise Singapore. You select a solution from the IMDA / EnterpriseSG vendor catalogue (covering accounting software, HR / payroll, CRM, e-commerce, food services automation, and many more verticals), get a quote, and submit. Approval timelines are typically 2–6 weeks. PSG is also available for sector-specific equipment in industries such as F&B, retail, and logistics, plus for engagement of pre-approved consultancy services in HR, financial management, and cybersecurity.

For a fuller walkthrough of PSG mechanics, eligibility, and recent updates, see our complete PSG guide for SMEs in 2026.

When PSG is the right choice

PSG is the right answer when you have a defined, off-the-shelf need: replace legacy accounting software, deploy a CRM, automate inventory in a retail outlet, set up a basic e-commerce site, or buy a piece of pre-approved equipment. If your problem fits a solution already on the catalogue, PSG is faster, cheaper to apply for, and lower-risk than EDG.

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

EDG is Enterprise Singapore’s main strategic-transformation grant. It funds projects across three pillars: Core Capabilities (financial management, branding, business strategy), Innovation and Productivity (process redesign, automation, product development), and Market Access (going overseas, M&A, FTA support). Up to 50% of qualifying costs are funded for SMEs.

EDG applications are heavier than PSG. The grant requires a detailed project proposal — scope, milestones, budget, vendor selection rationale, and measurable outcomes (revenue growth, productivity, jobs created). Decisions are typically taken by Enterprise Singapore project officers within 2–3 months. Companies must be Singapore-registered, have at least 30% local shareholding, and be financially viable.

For more detail, see our guide to the Enterprise Development Grant.

When EDG is the right choice

EDG fits when you are pursuing a project that is bespoke, larger in scale, and tied to a strategic transformation — engaging a consultant to redesign your supply chain, building a new product line, or undertaking a multi-stage internationalisation programme. EDG is also the right answer when the engagement is with a non-pre-approved vendor and you want flexibility on scope and outcomes.

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

MRA is the focused export-readiness scheme. Up to 50% of qualifying overseas market expansion costs are funded, capped at S$100,000 per company per new market over a three-year period. MRA covers four pillars: Overseas Market Promotion (e.g., overseas marketing, branding, in-market PR), Overseas Business Development (e.g., engaging consultants for in-market entry strategy), Overseas Market Set-up (e.g., legal, tax, IP advice for setting up an overseas entity), and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) consultancy.

Eligibility requires the company to be Singapore-registered, with at least 30% local shareholding, group annual sales not exceeding S$100 million or fewer than 200 employees. The applicant must not have established overseas presence (operating company or office) in the target market. We have a deeper read on the scheme in our MRA grant overview.

When MRA is the right choice

MRA is the right grant when your top priority is overseas market entry and you have a specific market in mind. It pairs well with subsequent EDG support for larger, more strategic internationalisation moves. MRA cannot be used to fund domestic Singapore activity.

Decision Tree: Which Grant Fits My Situation?

Can I Stack Grants?

Generally, the same project cost cannot be supported by more than one grant — what is funded under PSG cannot also be funded under EDG, for the same line item. However, distinct projects can be funded by different grants in parallel or in sequence. A common pattern: deploy a CRM under PSG (small, fast, off-the-shelf), then engage a consultant for sales-process redesign under EDG (bespoke), then expand into Vietnam under MRA (international). The three grants address three different problem layers and can be sequenced into a coherent growth roadmap.

Be aware also of the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) which can offset another 90% of out-of-pocket expenses on supportable initiatives, capped at S$10,000 per company. Where SFEC is available, it stacks with EDG / PSG / MRA. We touch on the broader funding landscape in our grants and incentives overview, and on grants for hiring and upskilling employees in our workforce grants guide.

Common Pitfalls

The most common mistake we see is starting work or signing the vendor contract before grant approval — qualifying costs are usually only those incurred after the application’s submission or approval date, depending on the scheme. Second, applicants often pick the wrong grant for the job — using EDG for a vanilla software install adds three months of process for no upside, and using PSG for a custom transformation project is impossible because no catalogue solution will fit. Third, internationalisation applicants under MRA sometimes apply for the wrong “new market” — having a single existing customer abroad does not necessarily disqualify, but having a registered subsidiary or local sales presence usually does.

Across all three grants, the post-approval reporting matters. Claims must be supported by invoices, receipts, and evidence of project completion. Audits do happen. Keep clean documentation throughout.

References

All three grants are administered by Enterprise Singapore. Application portals are accessible via Business Grants Portal. SFEC and related programmes are coordinated through EnterpriseSG and IRAS for tax-related claims.

Conclusion

EDG, PSG, and MRA are not competing schemes — they are three different tools for three different jobs. Picking correctly the first time saves three months and tens of thousands of dollars in lost cycles. As a rough heuristic: if it is off-the-shelf and fast, use PSG. If it is strategic, custom, and large, use EDG. If it is overseas, use MRA. Map your roadmap to all three over a 12–18 month horizon and you will extract substantially more public funding than competitors who treat grants as a one-off bolt-on.

The team at Raffles Corporate Services has supported clients on all three grants — from PSG-funded accounting software deployments to multi-stage EDG and MRA programmes for international expansion. We can help you scope, sequence, and submit.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services