Can EDG or PSG pay for an AI project?

The short version

PSG — the Productivity Solutions Grant — is for buying a pre-approved solution from a pre-approved vendor list. It is fast and it is simple, because somebody has already done the assessment. If what you need is a piece of software that already exists and is on the list, this is the route.

EDG — the Enterprise Development Grant — is for a project. It covers consultancy, process redesign and bespoke development, and it is assessed on the business case rather than on a catalogue. Most of the AI work we are asked about is EDG-shaped, because it involves changing how a company works rather than installing a product.

Which one your project looks like

If you can name the software you want and it is on the PSG list, that is PSG. If you are describing a problem rather than a product — “quotes take three days and we do not know why” — that is almost always EDG.

AI training sits slightly awkwardly across both, because it is neither a product nor a build. It is usually scoped as part of a larger project rather than on its own, which is worth knowing before you apply for something standalone.

What the paperwork actually wants

Both schemes want to see the problem stated in business terms, a defined scope of work, a quotation, and some idea of what improves and by how much. The last part is where applications usually stall: “improve efficiency” is not a measure, and “reduce quote turnaround from three days to four hours” is.

This is why we scope projects with a baseline written down at the start, even when no grant is involved. It makes the application straightforward, and it also means you find out whether the thing worked.

The honest caveats

Eligibility is decided by the administering agency, not by us and not by any vendor who tells you otherwise. Support levels, qualifying costs and the approved vendor lists all change; anything you read on a consultancy website about specific percentages is a snapshot, so check the official source before you plan around it.

Grants are also assessed before the work starts. Applying after you have signed and started is the single most common way businesses disqualify themselves.

We are not grant consultants. We scope and document projects so they can be put forward, and we work alongside whoever handles your application.

Where to check

The GoBusiness portal is the official source for both schemes and the only one worth trusting on current figures. Your sector agency — Enterprise Singapore for most SMEs — is the second stop.