# A*STAR / AI Singapore – T-Up > A*STAR / AI Singapore – T-Up offers up to 70% for SMEs, 30% for LLEs for Singapore businesses, capped at S$250,000 per project. Max Support Up to 70% for SMEs, 30% for LLEs Cap S$250,000 per project ### On This Page ## Overview T-Up (Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading) is a programme jointly administered by A*STAR and AI Singapore, funded via Enterprise Singapore, aimed at helping Singapore local enterprises (especially SMEs) build up their R&D/technical capabilities by seconding scientists, research engineers, and technical experts into the company to work on innovation/technology projects. The idea is that by embedding research/technical staff into the enterprise, knowledge transfer happens, technical capacity is raised, and new/improved products, processes, or capabilities can be developed. ## Support Details #### Support Rate Up to 70% support for SMEs helps reduce cost burden on smaller firms, up to 30% for LLEs #### Cap S$250,000 project cap applies regardless of project scale or duration ### Support Levels & Internal Caps by Pillar #### Overall Support Support Rate: Up to 70% of qualifying costs for SMEs & startups, up to 30% for Large Local Enterprises (LLEs) Grant Cap per New Market: Support capped at S$250,000 per project regardless of duration or number of seconded staff | Pillar | Max Grantable Amount | | --- | --- | | General Secondments | Up to two years duration | | AI-specific Secondments (AISG/T-Up) | Typically one year duration | | Overseas Components | May include overseas costs (living allowances, airfare) in qualified costs | Note: These are maximum amounts within each pillar for a single new market. Each application must cover only one activity in a single overseas market. ### Project Duration & Scope Up to two years for general secondments, typically one year for AI-specific secondments under AISG/T-Up ## Eligibility Criteria - Must be a business entity registered or incorporated in Singapore - Must have at least 30% local equity (held by Singapore Citizens/PRs, direct or indirect) - SME definition: either group annual turnover ≤S$100 million OR group employment ≤200 employees - Financial capacity and commitment to complete project and co-fund as required - Projects eligible include R&D/innovation in AI, materials, microelectronics, automation, process/product innovation - For AI projects: role of seconded AI engineers is to scope new AI/technical innovation, deliver new product/process, transfer skills - AI engineers/seconded staff must not be in conflict/related to applying company - Alignment with commercial/technological growth targets required ### Application Process 1 Preliminary discussion/scoping with A*STAR/AISG/T-Up team to discuss problem statements, technology gaps, capabilities needed 2 Define business challenge, technical gaps, desired deliverables, and how seconded staff could help 3 Submit formal application with project proposal, budget, expected technical outcomes, timelines, staffing plan 4 AISG/A*STAR reviews, picks suitable scientists/engineers/AI experts to second, and aligns with company 5 Selection/secondment of experts from pool based on project requirements 6 Project execution with seconded experts collaborating with company's domain/technical teams 7 Carry out R&D/innovation work: designing prototypes, developing processes, validating experiments, building IP 8 Knowledge/technology transfer with seconded staff helping upskill in-house engineers 9 Monitoring, review and evaluation with periodic check-ins by A*STAR/AISG 10 Project completion and handover with deliverables, documentation, training, IP transfer 11 Post-project scaling with company continuing development internally #### Processing Time Application processing: 8-10 weeks for matching and approval, Project duration: 1-2 years depending on scope ### Project Duration & Completion Up to two years for general secondments, typically one year for AI-specific secondments under AISG/T-Up ### Best Practices for a Successful Application Start with well-defined technical challenge/pain point - clearer problems get better support and results Prepare good proposal with clear deliverables, metrics, milestone plan, risk mitigation, team roles Engage internal staff early - ensure company engineers/domain experts are part of work for knowledge absorption Ensure data/testbed readiness - have data access, measurement tools, baseline systems in place before secondment Select right seconded expert(s) with both domain + technical capability for your environment Manage scope - define what's feasible over 1-2 years and avoid chasing too many objectives Plan for handover and continuity from Day 1 with documentation, training, maintenance plans Monitor closely with checkpoints, reviews, stakeholder alignment throughout project Leverage external grants/stacking - follow up with EDG, PSG, or other innovation grants for next stages Be realistic about scaling - moving from prototype to production often requires additional investments ### Sample Use Cases & Scenarios Moveon Technologies: Worked with T-Up to develop optical/imaging/AR innovations and system capabilities Lion TCR: Used T-Up to advance therapy/biotech R&D capabilities A*STAR's ARTC: Uses T-Up to second technical advisors into member firms for process/product innovation AI/data science/machine learning projects for building internal capability or prototype solutions Advanced manufacturing/process optimization/automation projects Material/chemical/biotech/bioengineering innovations Microelectronics, sensors, photonics, and other hardware/component R&D Process innovation in production, quality control, and operational efficiency Cross-discipline projects combining software + hardware + domain knowledge ### Additional Information Impact and Effectiveness Evidence: MTI Impact Evaluation Results: • Firms participating in T-Up spent 65.4% more on R&D compared to matched firms not in programme • 8.4 percentage points more likely to conduct R&D in a given year • Enjoyed 44.3% higher revenue and 21.9% higher employment compared to matched firms • Demonstrates effectiveness in boosting both innovation effort and business outcomes Key Strengths and Advantages: • Access to high expertise - small companies gain access to scientists, researchers, engineers they may not hire full-time • Knowledge/technology transfer - embedding experts helps transfer methods, practices, deeper technical skills to company staff • Risk mitigation - reduces technical/R&D risk with proven research staff working with you • Catalyst for R&D investment - grant support encourages companies to allocate resources into R&D/innovation • Broader scope - not limited to AI, applies to other deep tech, materials, processes, microelectronics Challenges and Risk Factors: • Scope creep/overambition - companies may propose too large/vague projects and struggle to deliver • Data readiness/feasibility issues can stall technical work • Absorption challenge - weak knowledge transfer if company staff not sufficiently engaged • Sustainability post-secondment - maintaining, scaling, integrating innovation internally is critical but often difficult • Cost control and matching requirements - companies must commit own resources and meet obligations • Grant cap/funding limits - S$250,000 cap may not fully cover very large or long projects Programme Evolution: • Originally launched around 2003 and has evolved over time • Manufacturing domain uses T-Up through A*STAR's ARTC for technical advisor secondments • AI-specific track added through AI Singapore partnership ## Contact Information Official Website Email: enquiry@enterprisesg.gov.sg Phone: +65 6898 1800 ## Frequently Asked Questions T-Up (Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading) is a programme jointly administered by A*STAR and AI Singapore, funded via Enterprise Singapore, aimed at helping Singapore local enterprises (especially SMEs) build up their R&D/technical capabilities by seconding scientists, research engineers, and technical experts into the company to work on innovation/technology projects. The idea is that by embedding research/technical staff into the enterprise, knowledge transfer happens, technical capacity is raised, and new/improved products, processes, or capabilities can be developed. Must be a business entity registered or incorporated in Singapore. Must have at least 30% local equity (held by Singapore Citizens/PRs, direct or indirect). SME definition: either group annual turnover ≤S$100 million OR group employment ≤200 employees. Financial capacity and commitment to complete project and co-fund as required. Projects eligible include R&D/innovation in AI, materials, microelectronics, automation, process/product innovation. The A*STAR / AI Singapore – T-Up provides Up to 70% for SMEs, 30% for LLEs funding support, capped at S$250,000 per project. Up to 70% support for SMEs helps reduce cost burden on smaller firms, up to 30% for LLEs Preliminary discussion/scoping with A*STAR/AISG/T-Up team to discuss problem statements, technology gaps, capabilities needed. Define business challenge, technical gaps, desired deliverables, and how seconded staff could help. Submit formal application with project proposal, budget, expected technical outcomes, timelines, staffing plan. AISG/A*STAR reviews, picks suitable scientists/engineers/AI experts to second, and aligns with company. Selection/secondment of experts from pool based on project requirements. Project execution with seconded experts collaborating with company's domain/technical teams. Carry out R&D/innovation work: designing prototypes, developing processes, validating experiments, building IP. Knowledge/technology transfer with seconded staff helping upskill in-house engineers. Monitoring, review and evaluation with periodic check-ins by A*STAR/AISG. Project completion and handover with deliverables, documentation, training, IP transfer. Post-project scaling with company continuing development internally. Visit the official portal at https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/grow-your-business/innovate-with-us/innovation-talent/technology-for-enterprise-capability-upgrading The A*STAR / AI Singapore – T-Up is administered by A*STAR / AI Singapore. You can contact them at enquiry@enterprisesg.gov.sg or +65 6898 1800. Where Volty fits ## For businesses that answer customers on WhatsApp Volty is Voltade's WhatsApp AI agent builder. A business trains its own agent on its SOPs, products and brand voice, and the agent answers enquiries on the business's own WhatsApp number, then takes the booking, logs the order or updates the record in the tools the business already runs. Volty starts at S$199 a month on the Plus plan, with unlimited seats. Volty is sold under Voltade AI Solutions, a PSG Pre-Approved Solution, so eligible Singapore SMEs can receive up to 50% PSG support on it. Talk to Volty to start a 7-day trial: Volty interviews your team and drafts its own instructions, and you read them before anything is live. Talk to Volty ## Other Relevant Grants Explore additional funding opportunities that might complement this grant Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI) · Up to S$555,000 total support support, S$150,000 consulting cap, companies co-pay 30% · Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) · Up to 50% support, S$100,000 per company per new overseas market · Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) · Up to 50% for SMEs, 70% for sustainability projects support, Project-based evaluation ## Links - [Enterprise Compute Initiative (ECI)Up to S$555,000 total support support, S$150,000 consulting cap, companies co-pay 30%](https://voltade.com/sg/grants/eci-grant) - [Market Readiness Assistance (MRA)Up to 50% support, S$100,000 per company per new overseas market](https://voltade.com/sg/grants/mra-grant) - [Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)Up to 50% for SMEs, 70% for sustainability projects support, Project-based evaluation](https://voltade.com/sg/grants/edg-grant)