Singapore and South Korea call for R&D projects

• 13 February 2024: Call opens
• 27 June 2024 at 16:00 CEST: Eureka deadline for all applicants
• 28 June 2024 at 16:00 (KST): National deadline for Korean applicants
• 28 June 2024 at 23:59 (SGT): National deadline for Singapore applicants
• September: Eureka Label

Although this call invites project in all thematic areas or application domains, special focus is given to the following domains (but are not limited to);

• Bio economy, including: bio and medical technologies; biopharmaceuticals; biochemicals and bioenergy; biomedical equipment; biofoods; bioinstruments and bioequipment
• Smart cities and digital transformation
• Artificial intelligence and information and communication technology
• Carbon reduction and future mobility
• Semiconductor

Singapore (EnterpriseSG)

EnterpriseSG helps Singaporean companies grow and transform through an Enterprise Development Grant. This grant supports projects that help companies upgrade their business, innovate or venture overseas under three pillars:

• Core Capabilities
• Innovation and Productivity
• Market Access

The Enterprise Development Grant funds up to 70% of qualifying costs for SMEs, and up to 50% of qualifying costs for non-SMEs. Grant applications will be assessed on group revenue and group employment size.

The grant funds qualifying project costs, namely third-party consultancy fees, software and equipment and internal manpower cost.

There are no pre-approved vendors for EDG.

All Enterprise Development Grant applications should include commitments to worker outcomes as part of the qualifying requirements. Worker outcomes include increase in wage increment, job creation, job re-design or training for existing staff.

Unionised companies and e2i partners under the Labour Movement are eligible to receive an additional 10% funding, subject to NTUC-e2i’s endorsement.

South Korea (KIAT)

The Korean budget provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and managed by KIAT is open to all applications from companies with registered R&D laboratories, research institutes and universities.

The funding amount is up to KRW 500,000,000 (approximately 370,000 euro, exchange rate is ₩1,350/€ 1, quoted as an illustrative purpose) annually.

The maximum duration of the project is 3 years.

Project funding comprises government grants and civilian dues (cash and in-kind). The amount of government grants will vary depending on the type of executing organisations and project in accordance with Article 24 (funding criteria) and Article 25 (civilian dues) of the Common Operational Regulations for the Industrial Technology Innovation Programs.

The total costs for each of the partners in the consortium should also be reflected in the SmartSimple application form and match the national application.

Eureka has limited eligibility criteria for organisations participating in a Network projects consortium:

• Your project idea must represent international cooperation in the form of a specific project.
• The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
• The project must have a civilian purpose.
• Your consortium must include one Singapore-based company and one South Korea-based company.
• No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.

EnterpriseSG has additional criteria for Singapore organisations to be eligible to receive funding:

• Be a business entity that is registered and operating in Singapore
• Be locally owned, i.e. the applicant should have ≥ 30% of its ordinary shares held directly or indirectly by Singaporeans/ Singapore PRs
• Be in a financially viable position to start and complete the project

KIAT has additional criteria for South Korea organisations to be eligible to receive funding:

• Korean consortium must include at least 1 company (private enterprise)
• Research institutes or universities are welcomed as additional participants
• Korean companies should be in operation for more than one year after being established, and the company must have a “Corporate R&D Centre Certification” issued by the Korean government (Korea Industrial Technology Association).
• Every Korean organisation must meet all eligibility criteria in accordance with the domestic regulations, or your application might be rejected.

Your project application will be reviewed according to our Network projects evaluation methodology.

1. Impact

• Is the market properly addressed (i.e. size, access and risks)?
• Is the value creation properly addressed (i.e. employment opportunities and environmental and societal benefits)?
• What are the competitive advantages of your project (i.e. strategic importance, enhanced capabilities and visibility)?
• Are your commercialisation plans clear and realistic (i.e. return on investment, geographical and sectoral impact)?

2. Excellence

• What is the degree of innovation? (i.e. is the proposed product, process or service state-of-the-art? Is there sufficient technological maturity and risk)?
• How is the new knowledge going to be used?
• Is your project scientifically and technically challenging for consortium partners?
• Is the technical achievability and risk properly addressed?

3. Quality and efficiency of implementation

• What is the quality of your consortium (i.e. balance of the partnership and technological, managerial and financial capabilities of each partner)?
• Is there added value through international cooperation?
• Is your project management and planning realistic and clearly defined (i.e. methodology, planning approach, milestones and deliverables)?
• Is your cost structure reasonable (i.e. costs and financial commitment for each consortium partner)?

4. Overall perception

Your national funding body carry out a further evaluation (performed by the national project coordinator and technical experts) according to national rules before allocating funds to successful applicants.

1. Contact your national funding body using the form below to discuss your project idea, financial viability, eligibility and national procedures.
2. Create an account on our application portal (one per consortium) and select the funding opportunity you want to apply to.
3. Using the portal, complete one application form per consortium (in English) and invite other consortium partners to fill in a partner form.
4. Upload a GANTT chart (one per consortium), a signed and completed co-signature form (which you can download from the platform) and any additional required annexes.
5. Your application will be checked for completeness and eligibility before being reviewed using a standard evaluation procedure. If successful, your project will receive a Eureka label.
6. Your national funding body may carry out a further evaluation (performed by your national contact and technical experts) according to national rules before allocating funds to successful applicants.
7. The final step is to complete and sign a consortium agreement. We recommend that you seek legal advice when drafting your consortium agreement.

Both Singapore and South Korea have additional steps for submitting your application:

Singapore

Singapore participants must also:

1. Fill in the preliminary assessment form hosted on FormSG by 21 June 2024.
2. Thereafter, when notified, submit the full application via the Business Grants Portal by 28 June 2024 at 23:59, with the following documents:
   1. Latest ACRA business profile (retrieved within six months from application date)
   2. Applicant’s latest and previous two years audited financial statements (company and group level), or official management account
   3. Supplementary Project Proposal Form (template)
   4. Relevant key quotations (e.g., equipment and software, materials and consumables, professional services).

South Korea

South Korea participants must also submit a formal national application through KIAT’s Project Advanced Smart System, including the Eureka application (in English).

The deadline is 28 June 2024 at 16:00 (Korea Standard Time).

Additional documents in Korean language, containing detailed information on the Korean participants, could be requested depending on the specific type of funding request by the company.

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