TECS FAQs

A. General

1. I have an innovative idea to develop a new product. Can I apply for TECS?
2. Can you elaborate on the difference between POC (Proof-Of-Concept) and POV (Proof-Of-Value)?
3. Do I need to undertake a Proof-of-Concept first for my project before applying for the Proof-of-Value?
4. I am applying for a POC grant. Do I need to address the commercial merits of my project at this stage?
5. Can I apply for the TECS grant for more than one project?
6. Can I apply for TECS if I have already received a grant from another government agency?
7. What options are available to researchers from local public sector research organisations and IHLs?
8. I find the page limit in the template restrictive. Can I submit a longer proposal?
9. I want to find out more about the types of projects supportable under ICT. Can you provide specific examples for each of the sub-categories?

B. Timeline

10. Can I apply for TECS if the project has already started?
11. How long do I have to wait to know the results of my submission?

C. Qualifying Costs

12. Are market research expenses supportable?
13. Why is the salary support excluded for founders or personnel with substantial stakes in company under the POC?
14. I intend to outsource a significant portion of my R&D activities for my project. Can the TECS grant be used to cover the costs?

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A. General

1. I have an innovative idea to develop a new product. Can I apply for TECS?

The TECS is an R&D grant for the commercialization of a technology idea. Entrepreneurs / start-ups will need to demonstrate and explain the science or technology involved in the project in the proposal. For the development of products or innovative ideas which do not involve significant R&D in a specific science or technology area or lead to development of a technology IP, they will not be considered for support under the TECS.

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2. Can you elaborate on the difference between POC (Proof-Of-Concept) and POV (Proof-Of-Value)?

POC projects involve technological concepts that are still in the conceptualization stage, meaning the technology or science behind the idea is not proven to be workable in the context of the project as yet. They are typically further away from the market and the entrepreneur or start-up needs to undertake R&D to prove that the idea will actually work. A POV project, on the other hand, builds on a technology idea that has already been proven to work, potentially from a POC project, and undertake further R&D, including the development of a first working prototype, which allows the start-up to validate the commercial merit of the project and seek out external funding from potential investors or reference customers. Such a task would be a POV project.

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3. Do I need to undertake a Proof-of-Concept first for my project before applying for the Proof-of-Value?

Applicants may apply directly for the Proof-of-Concept grant or Proof-of-Value grant, depending on the stage of development their technology is at. The 2 awards are administered and evaluated independently.

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4. I am applying for a POC grant. Do I need to address the commercial merits of my project at this stage?

The intent of the TECS is to help entrepreneurs / start-ups bring good technology ideas to the market. In view of this, it is important that the entrepreneur / start-up understands and highlights the commercial potential and commercialization plans for the project even at the POC stage.

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5. I apply for the TECS grant for more than one project?

Yes, applicants can submit more than one project during the grant call. All proposals will be evaluated based on their technical and commercial merits, and ranked against other proposals received during the evaluation process. Should more than one proposal be shortlisted, the entrepreneur / start-up will have to demonstrate to the panel their ability to successfully carry out the projects and see it through to commercialisation. The panel will take this into consideration in making a recommendation for the grant award.

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6. Can I apply for TECS if I have already received a grant from another government agency?

You may do so if the previous funding received was for a different project. I.e. The entrepreneur / start-up may receive a grant from another government agency for project A, while at the same time receive the TECS grant for project B.

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7. What options are available to researchers from local public sector research organisations and IHLs?

Entrepreneurial researchers from the public sector research organizations and IHLs may apply for the TECS if they have plans to spin-off and commercialise the idea upon successful completion of the POC. Otherwise, they may consider other sources of research funding, either internally within the organization, or from grant schemes administered by other bodies, such as the POC from NRF.

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8. I find the page limit in the template restrictive. Can I submit a longer proposal?

Due to the large number of proposals that are received and assessed in each grant call, we strongly advise applicants to provide the salient points requested within the proposal template and abide by the page limit to facilitate the overall evaluation process. Additional information which may be important to support the proposal may be appended under “Supporting Enclosures / Attachments”.

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9. I want to find out more about the types of projects supportable under ICT. Can you provide specific examples for each of the sub-categories?

Mobility Technology - This covers wireless software and applications that can be developed for the various platforms such as Linux, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, etc to enable access to mobile data and services. Infocomm Security Technology - This covers infocomm security applications and hardware that will protect data integrity and prevent security breaches. Infocomm Infrastructure and Architecture - This covers broadly the network infrastructure ranging from telecommunications networks to mobile, enterprise and sensor networks. Architectures such as cloud computing, grid computing that enable peer-to-peer computing and software / platform to be provided as a service may also be supported. Green Information Technology - This covers solutions which would result in the efficient use of computing resources. Cloud Computing - This covers solutions which leverage on computing resources as a service, with companies simply paying for the resources they use without having to invest in or maintain their own IT infrastructure.

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B. Timeline

10. Can I apply for TECS if the project has already started?

No. Entrepreneurs / start-ups are advised to start their projects upon confirmation of the TECS award, or they would have to bear the risk of their proposal being rejected during the evaluation process. Alternatively, they may consider other sources of government support, such as the Technology Innovation Programme, if they wish to start on their project before the completion of the grant call.

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11. How long do I have to wait to know the results of my submission?

It takes between 8-10 weeks after the close of a grant call to screen, and involve our technical panel to evaluate all the proposals received. We aim to inform all applicants whether or not their proposals have been shortlisted within this period. Applicants may reach us via the contact details provided under the ‘Contact Us’ section if they do not receive any news after 8-10 weeks.

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C. Qualifying Costs

12.Are market research expenses supportable?

Market research activities involving the gathering and evaluation of data regarding consumers’ preferences leading to the evaluation of the commercial merit of a prototype are supported under the POV Phase. All other marketing related costs are not supported under TECS.

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13. Why is the salary support excluded for founders or personnel with substantial stakes in company under the POC?

The POC award already provides generous support of up to 100% for qualifying cost items, with no need for the entrepreneur or start-up to demonstrate any co-funding for the project. In lieu of this, the time contributed by the founder or personnel with substantial stakes in the company will be taken as contribution-in-kind towards the project, and the salaries will not be supported.

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14. intend to outsource a significant portion of my R&D activities for my project. Can the TECS grant be used to cover the costs?

Depends. The intent of the TECS is to catalyse the formation and growth of technology enterprises which have the capability to develop and exploit their proprietary IP on their own, beyond the support of TECS. Hence, applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to undertake primary R&D activities in-house. If the intention is to engage an external expert from an R&D institution to undertake parts of the project, the entrepreneur / start-up should consider possibly bringing him into the company to work on the project instead. The TECS will not be used to support projects which merely outsource the core development of the technology / IP to external parties.