EDGE Automation Grant Singapore

Pre-scoped Equipment

Pre-scoped Equipment supports the adoption of equipment that falls within an Enterprise Singapore activity and satisfies its mandatory technical specifications.

The catalogue covers a range of sector-specific and generic automation solutions, including robotics, manufacturing equipment, material handling and other productivity systems.

This route is generally appropriate where:

• the company already knows what equipment it needs;
• the solution fits an existing EDGE activity;
• the equipment meets the published mandatory specifications;
• the project is primarily technology adoption rather than enterprise-wide transformation.

Individual activities have their own technical specifications and activity-level cost caps.

Large-scale Automation

Large-scale Automation is intended for materially more ambitious projects involving advanced technology, systems integration and significant operational transformation.

A qualifying project should strengthen core business operations through advanced automation above normal industry standards and involve integration or standardisation across production and operational systems.

Potential projects can include:

• advanced industrial automation;
• robotics and automated assembly lines;
• smart manufacturing systems;
• IoT-enabled machinery and real-time monitoring;
• automated material handling and warehousing;
• integrated process-control and optimisation systems;
• automation connecting production, quality, logistics and maintenance workflows.

A larger equipment budget alone does not make a project Large-scale Automation.

What does Pre-scoped Equipment support?

Each pre-scoped activity has its own specification and cost ceiling.

The equipment generally needs to be:

A pre-approved vendor is not necessarily required for equipment. What matters is whether the equipment and vendor proposal satisfy the selected activity's conditions.

Individual caps vary materially between activities, so there is no single universal "automation equipment cap".

Standard automation projects also contribute to the company's combined S$30,000 annual Automation & Digitalisation sub-cap.

This is the route most likely to apply where a company is purchasing a defined productivity solution rather than redesigning its operating model.

Standard Automation

Selected standard Automation & Digitalisation activities are subject to a combined S$30,000 annual A&D grant sub-cap within the overall EDGE framework.

Individual pre-scoped equipment activities can also have their own lower activity-level cost or grant ceilings.

For a normal equipment adoption project, the company should therefore assume that the specific activity rules and the S$30,000 A&D sub-cap may constrain the available support.

Large-scale Automation

Enterprise Singapore's published FAQ defines the S$30,000 A&D sub-cap for:

• single-function digital solutions;
• integrated enterprise systems; and
• selected automation activities.

Large-scale Automation is separately published as a customised activity and its activity page does not state the S$30,000 sub-cap.

The standard EDGE framework provides up to S$100,000 of total grant support per company per year.

However, Enterprise Singapore's Business Refresh Package also states that companies requiring more support under EDGE may submit applications for case-by-case assessment.

This means a qualifying Large-scale Automation project can potentially be considered beyond:

• the S$30,000 standard A&D sub-cap; and
• where justified, the normal S$100,000 annual EDGE ceiling.

Support above S$100,000 is discretionary. It should be treated as a project-specific funding discussion with Enterprise Singapore, not as an automatic entitlement.

Commercially, a substantial integrated automation programme should be assessed under Large-scale Automation before assuming that the company's opportunity is limited to S$30,000 or S$100,000.

What is generally not supported?

For Pre-scoped Equipment, exclusions are defined activity by activity but commonly include:

• GST;
• maintenance;
• used, refurbished or second-hand equipment;
• equipment that does not meet the required specifications.

For Large-scale Automation, Enterprise Singapore currently excludes or restricts examples such as:

• equipment deployed overseas;
• duplicate equipment or software already possessed by the company;
• basic business setup or operational costs;
• conventional off-the-shelf equipment;
• maintenance;
• replacement of obsolete machinery with little or no technology upgrading;
• standalone software modules or features;
• used or refurbished equipment.

The practical distinction is:

Is the company replacing equipment, or is it creating a materially stronger and more integrated operational capability?

What expenditure can qualify?

For Pre-scoped Equipment, the eligible cost base is defined by the individual activity and normally centres on the approved equipment. Some activities may expressly include essential software, configuration or training components.

For Large-scale Automation, qualifying expenditure can include approved:

• equipment;
• software;
• systems integration;
• implementation costs;
• professional services required for the transformation project.

Only expenditure accepted under the approved project and Letter of Offer is ultimately supportable.

When should you apply?

EDGE Automation is available on a rolling basis.

For a pre-scoped project, the grant should be assessed once the company has identified the equipment category and potential vendor, but before placing the order or paying a deposit.

For Large-scale Automation, the ideal trigger is earlier: while management is still defining the operating problem, production architecture, integration requirements, vendor scope and investment budget.

This is particularly important for larger projects because the way the programme is structured can determine whether the project looks like a standard equipment adoption or a genuine Large-scale Automation transformation.

What will Enterprise Singapore expect?

For standard equipment activities, documentation generally focuses on:

• vendor quotation;
• mandatory technical specifications;
• expected cost savings or productivity impact;
• evidence of installation at completion.

For Large-scale Automation, the application is materially more substantive. Current Enterprise Singapore guidance requires information including:

• project proposal;
• vendor proposals and quotations;
• audited or management-certified financial statements;
• three-year projections of revenue growth, cost savings and overseas sales where applicable;
• projected new jobs, including Singaporean jobs above the specified salary threshold.

The application therefore needs to explain not simply what equipment is being purchased, but how the project changes the company's operating capability and business performance.

Is EDGE Automation relevant to your project?

EDGE Automation is a strong route where the company has a defined operational bottleneck and a measurable productivity case.

For relatively standard equipment, the first question is:

Does the equipment fit an existing EDGE activity and its mandatory specifications?

For a larger programme, the question becomes:

Does the automation materially transform core operations through advanced technology and systems integration?

A weak Large-scale Automation project is generally one that amounts to machinery replacement or isolated equipment adoption.

A strong Large-scale Automation project connects:

operational problem advanced automation integrated process change measurable productivity/capability impact.

For substantial projects, it is also important not to prematurely assume the funding opportunity is capped at S$30,000 or S$100,000. The large-scale route should be assessed on its own merits before those standard ceilings are applied.

How Reeve | R&D supports EDGE Automation

Route assessment

Determine whether the project belongs under Pre-scoped Equipment or Large-scale Automation.

Eligibility and timing

Confirm ownership, project status and whether the company can still apply before commitment.

Project structuring

For large-scale projects, define the automation architecture, integration, capability development and measurable productivity case.

Funding modelling

Assess eligible expenditure, the applicable standard caps and whether a substantial customised project may justify discussion with Enterprise Singapore above the normal EDGE ceiling.

Application preparation

Coordinate the technical case, business case, vendor documents, financials and projections.

Enterprise Singapore interaction

Support clarification and additional-information requests during assessment.

Post-Award Management

Manage expenditure, milestones, evidence, project changes and claim preparation through closure.

Assess your automation project

Does automation need to use a pre-approved vendor?

Not necessarily. Vendor requirements depend on the activity. For pre-scoped equipment, the key issue is generally whether the equipment meets the mandatory activity specifications.

Is every automation project subject to the S$30,000 sub-cap?

No. Enterprise Singapore defines the S$30,000 A&D sub-cap for single-function digital solutions, integrated enterprise systems and selected automation activities. Large-scale Automation is separately published and its current activity page does not state that sub-cap.

Is Large-scale Automation capped at S$100,000?

S$100,000 is the standard company-wide annual EDGE ceiling. However, Enterprise Singapore has stated that companies requiring more support under EDGE may submit applications for case-by-case assessment. A sufficiently substantial Large-scale Automation project may therefore warrant a discussion above the standard ceiling.

Can I replace an old machine under Large-scale Automation?

Replacement alone is generally insufficient where there is little or no technology upgrading or capability development. It may fit only where the replacement forms part of a larger integrated transformation.

Can robotics qualify?

Yes, depending on the project. Some robotics equipment fits standard pre-scoped activities, while larger integrated robotics programmes may potentially fit Large-scale Automation.

Can equipment be deployed overseas?

Large-scale Automation currently excludes equipment deployed overseas. Pre-scoped equipment is generally intended for use in Singapore.

Can I start the project before applying?

The application should be submitted before work starts or payment/deposit is made to a supplier, vendor or third party.