The EDGE Grant’s Internationalisation activities are Enterprise Singapore’s main grant support for overseas expansion, taking over from the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant since 30 September 2026. They cover professional costs of entering a market (incorporation, licences, IP, tax advice, agreements), international branding, overseas trade fairs, business matching and overseas business development staff. Singapore-registered companies with at least 30% Singaporean or PR ownership can receive up to 70% of qualifying costs if they are SMEs, or up to 50% otherwise, within the S$100,000 annual EDGE cap.
Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.
What overseas activities does EDGE fund?
MRA closed to new applications on 29 September 2026. Its activities now sit in the Internationalisation area of EDGE, alongside other business areas such as Automation and Digitalisation, Standards and Sustainability. The activities with their own Enterprise Singapore pages that we reviewed are summarised below.
| Activity | What is supported | Outcome | Complete within |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Entry Setup | Professional services for drafting agreements, entity incorporation, import or export licences, intellectual property, tax advisory and trade credit insurance | 6 weeks | 18 months of approval |
| International Branding | Professional services for brand research and analysis, brand strategy, and developing or refreshing brand identity for overseas markets | 10 weeks | 12 months of approval |
| Overseas Physical Trade Fairs | Booth space rental and booth design and construction (each capped at 36 sqm), pitching or speaking slots, and marketing collateral for the fair | 6 weeks | 12 months of approval |
The EDGE FAQ also covers business matching (finding overseas partners and leads) and overseas business development (BD) staff. Their detailed terms are summarised further below.
How much funding can you get?
- SMEs: up to 70% of qualifying costs.
- Non-SMEs: up to 50% of qualifying costs.
- Cap: all EDGE activities share a company cap of S$100,000 per grant year (1 April to 31 March).
An SME is a company with group annual sales of up to S$100 million or group employment of up to 200 workers. Internationalisation projects do not count against the separate S$30,000 sub-cap for software and equipment, which we explain in our guide to the EDGE digital solutions and equipment sub-cap. They do, however, draw down the same S$100,000.
GST, travel, accommodation and staff costs (other than the BD staff activity), investment activities such as investor sourcing or capital raising, and any activity aimed at domestic business are not supported on the activity pages we reviewed.
Who is eligible?
- Registered and operating in Singapore.
- At least 30% direct or indirect Singaporean and/or PR ownership, by ultimate individual ownership.
- No work started, and no payment or deposit made to any supplier, before you submit. The trade fair activity is an exception for booth space: deposits or payments for booth space made before applying are permitted.
- Vendors must not be related to the applicant, its related companies, directors or common shareholders.
Eligibility must still be met when you claim. A change in local shareholding during the project can therefore cost you the grant.
Market Entry Setup: incorporating and licensing overseas
This is the activity most foreign-market founders reach for first. Only professional service costs are supported. Key points from the activity page and FAQ:
- Overseas entity. If you incorporate a subsidiary, the deliverables include shareholding documents showing more than 50% ownership. The FAQ says the overseas entity must have the Singapore applicant registered as corporate shareholder, unless local rules prohibit corporate shareholding and you can document that. Where the target market caps foreign ownership, show the maximum allowed stake.
- Agreements. The first set of agreements must show market-specific provisions, annotated. Generic or template agreements are not supported.
- Intellectual property. International systems (Madrid, PCT, Hague) can be covered in one application; direct national filings need one application per market. The trademark or patent must be owned by the applicant, not a licensor or franchisor.
- Licences and certifications. Import and export registration costs, such as FDA or factory registration, are supportable.
- Tax advisory. The deliverable is a consultancy report with recommended structures and implementation guidance.
International Branding: what is and is not covered
EDGE funds the thinking behind an overseas brand, not the spending that follows. Supported areas are brand research and analysis, brand strategy and brand identity. Operational items such as collateral production, website development, social media management, implementing the brand roadmap and marketing campaigns are not supported.
The vendor must hold SS 680 certification, and the application needs an overseas market strategy and expansion plan. The deliverable is a final report on findings and how the project supports overseas expansion. If you are choosing a branding consultant, our article on verifying SS 680 and consultant credentials may help.
Overseas trade fairs: the rules that trip companies up
- Timing. Apply no earlier than six months before the fair’s official start date, and submit one application per fair.
- Booth size. Space rental and design and construction are each supported up to 36 sqm.
- Your own booth, your own brand. Shared booths and booths staffed by vendor representatives are not supported. Your company name or brand must be clearly shown on the booth and the exhibitor listing. If you show a brand you do not own, you need proof of authorised use, for example as exclusive distributor.
- International trade fairs only. Public, domestic-only or non-international fairs are excluded.
- No LEAD-supported fairs. If Enterprise Singapore already supports the fair through a trade association’s LEAD programme, EDGE will not fund your booth, even if the Singapore pavilion is full or you prefer a better spot outside it. See our guide to the LEAD programme.
The deliverables are a participation report, the official exhibitor listing showing your name or brand and booth details, and photos of the booth and branded materials.
Business matching and overseas BD staff
Business matching. Enterprise Singapore expects partner-search projects to be mainly in person; virtual meetings can be initial touchpoints. A separate application is needed for each market.
Overseas BD staff. According to the FAQ:
- Only basic salary is supported.
- The staff member must be stationed in the target market for the whole project.
- Owners and shareholders of the applicant are not supported.
- If the hire is not yet confirmed, submit a job description in place of the appointment letter.
- The person may be employed by the Singapore company or its subsidiary; if by a subsidiary, inter-billing must show the Singapore applicant bears the cost.
How do you apply?
- Confirm eligibility and that the activity is not already funded by another agency or under LEAD.
- Collect the documents. For the activities we reviewed, these include the vendor’s proposal and quotation, the vendor’s track record in the target market, projected overseas sales for one year after completion, and projected new jobs for one year after completion (overall, and Singaporean jobs paying above S$5,000 gross a month). Trade fairs also need the event brochure and proof that the vendor is the organiser.
- Apply on the Business Grants Portal through the company’s own Corppass users. Third parties cannot apply or manage the grant for you.
- Accept the Letter of Offer, then deliver and pay for the project in full.
- Claim from 1 January 2027 onwards. Engage an auditor from Enterprise Singapore’s Panel of Auditors and submit the claim within 14 working days of signing the engagement letter.
If the target country changes after approval, the FAQ says to terminate and submit a fresh application. Our guide to EDGE claims and change requests explains the claim stage.
A worked example
Example: A Singapore food manufacturer (hypothetical SME, 100% Singaporean-owned) plans to enter Vietnam in 2027.
- Market Entry Setup: S$40,000 of legal and tax advisory fees to incorporate a majority-owned Vietnamese subsidiary and draft a distribution agreement with market-specific terms. At up to 70%, the grant could be up to S$28,000.
- Trade fair: a 24 sqm booth at an international food trade fair in Ho Chi Minh City that is not on the LEAD list, with S$30,000 of booth rental, design and collateral. At up to 70%, up to S$21,000.
- Together, up to S$49,000 of the S$100,000 annual cap is used, leaving room for an International Branding project later in the same grant year.
The company pays no deposits to the law firm before applying (only the booth deposit is allowed early), keeps the subsidiary’s shares registered in the Singapore company’s name, and recharges any costs its Vietnamese entity pays back to Singapore by inter-billing.
Frequently asked questions
Is EDGE the same as the old MRA grant?
No. MRA closed to new applications on 29 September 2026. EDGE now covers similar overseas activities under its Internationalisation area, with its own pages, rules and a single S$100,000 annual cap.
Can a non-SME get EDGE for overseas expansion?
Yes, at up to 50% of qualifying costs, if it meets the 30% local ownership and other conditions.
Are travel and hotel costs for a trade fair covered?
No. Travel, accommodation and staff costs are listed as non-supported on the trade fair page.
Can I also claim the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation?
The EDGE FAQ says yes, on the same expenses, but the qualifying amount is computed net of the EDGE grant. See our guide to DTDi in Singapore.
Does EDGE pay for website development for a new market?
Not under International Branding, which excludes website development and marketing campaigns.
Where can I compare other grants for expansion?
See our directory of Singapore government grants for companies.
Information checked against official sources on 6 November 2026. Official references: EDGE Market Entry Setup, EDGE International Branding, EDGE Overseas Physical Trade Fairs and the EDGE Grant FAQ.
Free grant consultation: is the EDGE Grant right for your company?
Raffles Corporate Services has in-house certified grant consultants who are experienced with Singapore grant applications and the full grant process, from checking eligibility and preparing the proposal and supporting documents to submitting claims and meeting the conditions after approval. We can arrange a free consultation to review your company and identify which grants, including the EDGE Grant, may be applicable.
Email [email protected] or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133 to book a time. Enterprise Singapore decides every application, and no consultant can guarantee approval.
The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services