AI Grant Singapore: A Simple Guide to EDG and NTUC CTC Funding

Key Takeaways

If you are looking at an AI voice agent for your Singapore business, there is a good chance the government will help pay for part of it. Two schemes in particular are worth knowing about: the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant. Between them, they can cover up to 50 to 70 percent of the cost of adopting new technology, including AI calling. This guide breaks down both in plain English, so you can scan it in a few minutes and work out which one, if either, fits your business.

The Quick Version

• EDG covers up to 50 percent of costs for adopting new technology or transforming part of your business. Applied for through the Business Grants Portal.
• NTUC CTC Grant covers up to 70 percent, but you need to form a Company Training Committee first, and you must show a benefit to your workers, not just to the business.
• Both can potentially apply to an AI voice agent, depending on how the project is structured.
• EDG is being replaced by a new scheme called EDGE, expected in the second half of 2026. If you are planning to apply, it is worth doing so before that transition.
• Most bosses do not have the time to work through an application themselves. OpenGreet can help guide you through the process for either scheme.

What Is the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)?

The EDG is run by Enterprise Singapore. It is the main grant for local businesses that want to adopt new technology, improve productivity, or grow into new markets.

How much does it cover?

Up to 50 percent of eligible costs. A higher rate of 70 percent exists, but only for sustainability related projects specifically, not for general technology adoption like an AI voice agent.

Who is eligible?

Your business needs to be registered and operating in Singapore, with at least 30 percent local equity (owned by Singaporeans or Singapore PRs), and be in a financial position to actually complete the project.

What does it fund?

Third-party consultancy fees, software and equipment, and some internal manpower costs tied to the project. An AI voice agent would typically sit under the "Innovation and Productivity" category, specifically the automation subcategory, which covers adopting more sophisticated software solutions.

The catch

EDG will not fund software or equipment that is already supported under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG). If the specific solution you are buying has a PSG pre-approved listing, PSG is likely the more direct route for that purchase, and EDG suits a broader, more customised transformation project instead. It is worth checking with your solution provider which category your project actually fits before applying. EDG is also paid on a reimbursement basis, meaning you pay upfront and claim afterwards, and processing typically takes around 8 to 12 weeks.

What Is the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant?

The CTC Grant is run by e2i, NTUC's employment arm, through a $70 million fund. It is designed to support business transformation projects that also benefit workers directly, not just the business.

How much does it cover?

Up to 70 percent of qualifying costs.

Who is eligible?

Companies, societies, non-profits, restructured hospitals, autonomous universities, and social enterprises registered in Singapore. Government bodies are excluded. Importantly, you need to form a Company Training Committee first, a group made up of management and worker or union representatives, before you can apply. This is a real extra step compared to EDG, not just paperwork.

What does it fund?

Training costs (in-house training is funded at $9 an hour, external courses up to 70 percent of the fee), equipment and software, and consultancy services.

The catch

You must show at least one direct benefit to your workers as part of the project: a wage increase, a skills allowance, or an implemented Career Development Plan. This means a CTC application for an AI voice agent works best when it is framed around freeing your team from repetitive calls so they can move into higher value or better paid roles, rather than purely as a cost cutting exercise. The grant also only benefits local workers, and applications are submitted directly through e2i's own portal, not the Business Grants Portal. The current stated application deadline is 31 March 2028, though it is worth confirming the latest date directly with e2i, as it has been extended before.

EDG vs NTUC CTC Grant at a Glance

Can You Use Both Grants Together?

Neither official page explicitly rules this out, but we would not recommend trying to fund the same project through both schemes. Government grants generally do not allow the same costs to be claimed twice, which is exactly the overlap EDG already flags against PSG, so stacking EDG and the CTC Grant on one project is likely to run into the same issue and risks the application being rejected. If you want to pursue both, it is safer to treat them as two separate projects rather than one combined claim, and to confirm the approach with Enterprise Singapore or e2i directly.

How This Applies to an AI Voice Agent

An AI voice agent purchase can potentially fit under either scheme, but the angle is different for each.

• Under EDG, it is a technology adoption project, most likely under the automation subcategory. Worth checking first whether your specific solution is separately listed under PSG, since EDG will not fund the same costs.
• Under the CTC Grant, the case needs to go further than "this saves money." You would need to show what happens to the staff previously spending their time on repetitive calls, such as moving them into higher value work, a skills upgrade, or a pay increase, since that worker outcome is a mandatory part of the application.

How to Apply

Both processes take real time and paperwork, which most business owners are already short on. This is where OpenGreet can help, guiding you through scoping the project and preparing the application for either scheme, rather than leaving you to figure it out alone.

EDG

Apply through the Business Grants Portal using Corppass. You will need to outline your project, costs, and expected outcomes. Processing generally takes 8 to 12 weeks, and funding is paid out on a reimbursement basis after the project is completed.

NTUC CTC Grant

First, form a Company Training Committee with NTUC. Next, identify and scope your transformation project. Then engage e2i to review your plan before applying through e2i's own Grant Portal. Applications submitted by a third party or consultant on your behalf are rejected, so this needs to come directly from your business. Once approved, you have one year to complete the project.

Final Thoughts

Government support for AI adoption in Singapore is genuinely there, but the two schemes suit different situations. EDG is the more straightforward route if you are simply adopting new software as part of a broader transformation project. The CTC Grant covers more of the cost, but only if you are also willing to commit to a clear benefit for your workers and go through the process of forming a Company Training Committee first. Either way, it is worth speaking to Enterprise Singapore or e2i directly to confirm eligibility for your specific project before you commit.
If you would like to see how an AI voice agent could fit into your transformation project, including our pricing, and how we can help guide you through the grant application itself, get in touch and we will walk you through it.

Sources

• Enterprise Singapore, Enterprise Development Grant: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/enterprise-development-grant
• e2i, NTUC Company Training Committee Grant: https://www.e2i.com.sg/employers/ntuc-ctc-grant/