Get up to S$5 million under the Smart Energy Challenge to develop innovative ideas that address Singapore’s energy needs or help grow the energy industry.

Applications for ERDF are currently open till 20 February 2010 under the Smart Energy Challenge Request for Proposal. Find out more about the Smart Energy Challenge.

For who?

• Singapore-based organisations, including:
  
  
  • private sector companies
  • company-affiliated research laboratories/institutions
  • not-for-profit organisations/research laboratories
  • Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)
  • public sector agencies
    
    
• Organisations are welcome to collaborate with each other to apply for funding.

For what?

• To provide financial incentives for the development and implementation of innovative energy solutions that:
  
  
  • diversify Singapore’s energy sources and improving Singapore’s energy security
  • help to achieve Singapore’s energy intensity reduction targets, and
  • develop Singapore’s energy industry
    
    
• ERDF focuses on projects which are close to deployment and show potential to be economically competitive in the future.
  
  
• Projects submitted for the Smart Energy Challenge can be in the following 3 areas:
  
  
  1. Power Generation, e.g. new solar energy technologies, next-generation biofuels, etc.
  2. Energy For Transport, e.g. development of electric vehicles, platforms for electric vehicles to store energy and sell electricity to the power grid, etc.
  3. Energy Efficiency For Industry, e.g. improved cooling systems for data centres, combining and recycling waste heat generated from industrial processes into electricity, etc.

How much?

• Up to S$5 million for each project approved under the Smart Energy Challenge:
  
  
  • at least 75% of the funding awarded must be used to carry out research activities in Singapore
  • up to 25% of the funding awarded may be used for research activities overseas
    
    
• Private sector companies can claim up to 70% of qualifying direct costs.
  
  
• Not-for-profit organisations, IHLs and public sector agencies can claim up to 100% of qualifying direct costs.
  
  
• Direct costs include manpower, equipment, intellectual property, materials and consumables, living allowances, subcontracting expenses, etc.
  
  
• Indirect costs include overhead expenses (e.g. utilities, lease, insurance, consultancy fees, etc.). Only not-for-profit organisations, IHLs and public sector agencies can claim up to 20% of qualifying indirect costs.
  

Smart Energy Challenge (SEC)

• To seek innovative energy ideas, the SEC was launched on 16 November 2009. SEC draws its funds from ERDF and is administered by the ERDF Secretariat.
  
  
• SEC opened 20 November 2009 and will close at 4 p.m. on 20 February 2010.
  

Things to note

• Your project should not take more than 3 years to complete.
  
  
• Projects with 100% of their research activities in Singapore will be given priority.
  
  
• You cannot withdraw a proposal after the closing date.

For more info
Energy Research Development Fund (ERDF)
Energy Market Authority (EMA)