SPRING Singapore has set aside S$6 million under this programme to increase the capabilities of precision engineering businesses in the semiconductor industry.

Higher funding support for enterprises to develop capabilities during the economic downturn is extended till 31 January 2011. Find out more about the changes.

Aims

• To encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in precision engineering (PE) to capitalise on opportunities in the semiconductor industry.
  
  
• To fund the development of new SemiCon capabilities, products and services.

For who?

• All SMEs in the PE sector that are offering or wish to offer SemiCon products and services.
  
  
• Your business qualifies as a SME if:
  
  
  • 30% - 100% of your shareholding is local
  • your group fixed assets are worth S$0 - S$15 million* 
  • you have 0 - 200 employees (for companies in the services sector)*

* Computed on a group basis i.e. checking up to three levels for corporate shareholders holding 20% - 100% of the total shareholding in your company and one level down where your company owns 51% - 100% of the shareholding in a subsidiary company.

For what?

• You can use Semicon CDP for:
  
  
  • Enterprise-Level Projects – projects that improve your business’ capabilities
    
    
  • Industry-Level Projects – projects with other businesses which improve collective capabilities
    
    
• Your project must result in:
  
  
  • new capabilities that significantly improve productivity and/or value-added per worker; and
    
    
  • significant contributions to the sector (e.g. developing new processes to meet stringent outsourcing requirements set by global SemiCon equipment companies)
    
    
• Projects supported by Semicon CDP include:
  
  
  • Process Improvement Projects
    E.g. Projects that improve the effectiveness or efficiency of processes such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Statistical Quality Control, etc.
    
    
  • Product & Process Development Projects
    E.g. Projects to develop new semiconductor equipment, semiconductor consumables and manufacturing processes.
    
    
  • Strategic Partnership Projects
    E.g. Projects that leverage on SMEs’ complementary skills to provide a wider range of services.
    
    
  • Certification Projects
    E.g. Projects to obtain certification to internationally recognised standards for products/processes such as ISO 9000 for quality management, ISO14000 for environment management, ISO/TS 16949 for automotive supply-chain management and SEMI-Environment and Safety certifications.

How much?

• Up to 70% of qualifying costs for industry-level projects and  enterprise-level projects.
  
  
• Qualifying costs include:
  
  
  • manpower-related costs 
  • equipment and materials 
  • professional services

Things to note

• Do not start on your project until your application has been registered with SPRING. Funding will not be given for on-going projects.

Background

• The SemiCon CDP is the fifth CDP introduced. The 4 previous CDPs were for the Marine, Logistics, Food & Beverage (F&B) and MedTech sectors.
  
  
• SPRING targets to generate S$120 million in total cumulative value-add over the next 3 years.

Changes from 1 February 2009 - 31 January 2011

• CDP is part of BUILD (Business Upgrading Initiatives for Long-Term Development) which helps businesses to strengthen their capabilities during the downturn for future growth.
  
  
• BUILD provides higher funding support to SMEs for all existing SPRING Singapore's capability development programmes. This applies to applications received between 1 February 2009 and 31 January 2011.

	Existing	Revised
Funding support for enterprise-level projects	Up to 50% of qualifying costs	Up to 70% of qualifying costs

For more info

Semiconductor Capability Development Programme (SemiCon CDP)
SPRING Singapore

Officer-in-Charge

Ms Michelle Lee
Manager
Precision Engineering, Industry Development Group
SPRING Singapore

Tel:  (65) 6279 3153
Fax: (65) 6271 5429
Email: michelle_lee@spring.gov.sg

Related Official Speeches

• Speech by Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman of SPRING Singapore for the launch of the Semiconductor Capability Development Programme, 28 April 2008

Related Press Releases

• New SPRING programme to strengthen Semiconductor capabilities, SPRING Singapore Press Release, 28 April 2008