Programmes for SMEs

A*STAR provides support to the industry in different ways, from long-term pre-competitive R&D with industry groups to R&D that helps to enhance the technology competence of individual companies. Companies are welcome to explore the R&D competencies of the A*STAR Research Institutes to find a good partner to enhance their technology edge, to identify and develop:

Core research capabilities to address global challenges
Long-term R&D programmes to grow new industry
Pre-competitive R&D to move existing industries up the value chain
Specific technology transfer assistance for SMEs

A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) has various schemes under its Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) programme to help SMEs achieve the above objectives.

They include:

Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-Up) – a multi-agency effort which involves seconding Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs) to local enterprises.

Operation and Technology Roadmapping (OTR) – provides the "big" picture view of the technology required to meet various business and market needs. Financial co-support will also be provided to eligible companies.

Technical Advisory Support (TA) – offers advice from senior research staff at Research Institutes on technological related matters and challenges.

A*STAR Facility Sharing Programme (A*FSP) - Growing Enterprises may leverage on the Research Institutes laboratory facilities for their R&D related activities.

Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrade (GET-Up)

GET-Up is a pro-active integrated approach aimed at boosting the global competitiveness of local technology-intensive enterprises to equip them for the knowledge-based economy.

We call these SMEs which aspire to grow with technology upgrading the "Growing Enterprises" or "GEs" in short. Receptive GEs will be able to leverage on the technical assistance and manpower secondment from A*STAR Research Institutes to upgrade themselves, in addition to the currently available financial incentives and assistance from EDB, SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore.

Objectives

To help promising local companies grow, glow and globalise through a holistic & integrated approach by harnessing the existing schemes of EDB, SPRING Singapore, IE Singapore and the technical capabilities of A*STAR Research Institutes to address their financial, human resource and technology constraints.

Programme Description

To make the combined resources of various agencies available to companies, GET-Up will involve the following:

Initial company visit to understand areas of required assistance -
Follow-up actions by relevant agencies
Tailoring of a package of existing financial schemes and possible technical assistance from the Research Institutes for the company.

Eligibility

The initiative is targeted at GEs which are promising local enterprises, which need technology upgrading. Current financial incentives from participating government agencies will be used where applicable.

Contact Details

For further information, please email Dr. Lim Ee Meng at a-star_getup@a-star.edu.sg.