For who?

• All Singapore-registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who want to use technology to develop and test their innovative ideas.
  
  
• Your business qualifies 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 service sector)*
  • your operation is physically present in Singapore

*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?

• To encourage SMEs to tap on the extensive engineering and resource base of knowledge institutions (KIs) to innovate and implement technology projects.
  
  
• IVS also promotes collaborations between the KIs and SMEs to facilitate knowledge transfer and innovation of projects.
  
  
• Each KI has different technical expertise and areas of focus. You are encouraged to contact the KIs directly on the specific services and projects that can be carried out prior to your application for IVS.

  Knowledge Institution	Areas Of Focus
  Centre of Innovation for Electronics (COIE) at Nanyang Polytechnic	• Design consultancy • Pre-compliance & verification • Interoperability test • Test engineering • Test-bedding of new products and services • Product / system characterisation and performance measurements
  Centre of Innovation for Environmental and Water Technology (EWT COI) at Ngee Ann Polytechnic	• Water and wastewater technology - Engineering design and innovation, performance evaluation treatment • Waste management - Resource conversion, recycling and reuse • Clean energy - Sustainable energy, energy management, energy auditing • Pollution control - Monitoring system development and enhancement, pollutant detection and characterisation
  Centre of Innovation for Marine and Offshore Technology (MOT COI) at Ngee Ann Polytechnic	• Design and analysis • Product / process improvement • Inspection and testing • Offshore construction and process equipment
  Food Innovation Resource Centre (FIRC) at Singapore Polytechnic	• Food safety and hygiene • Food processing to improve existing product lines • Development of new products • Packaging and shelf life evaluation
  Precision Engineering Centre Of Innovation (PE COI) at SIMTech	• Machining, laser processing, injection molding, metal forming, welding, surface coating • Manufacturing automation, mechatronic design and motion control • Computer aided design and engineering (CAD, CAE) • Measurement and diagnostics • Shop floor operation and management • Supply chain management • Embedded sensor and RFID applications • Manufacturing IT

How much?

• You can apply for an innovation voucher worth S$5,000 from SPRING Singapore to pay for consultancy and technology services at participating KIs.
  
  
• If the cost incurred is more than S$5,000, you are required to top up the additional amount. If the cost incurred is lower than S$5,000, the unused amount will not be refunded.
  
  
• You can also pool your voucher with other SMEs (up to a maximum of 10 SMEs) for a collaborated project if there are synergies or economies of scale. However, you are advised to consult the relevant KI on such feasibility.
  

Things to note

• You can apply to get the vouchers during any of the 3 application calls in 2009:

1. 27 March 2009 – 27 April 2009
2. 1 July 2009 – 31 July 2009
3. 1 October 2009 – 31 October 2009
   

• All applications must reach SPRING Singapore before the closing date of each application call.
  
  
• There are 150 vouchers for each call. If the number of applicants exceeds the available number of vouchers, a ballot will be conducted.
  
  
• The technology services applied under IVS should preferably be related to your current business activities and should also fall within the scope of expertise available in the KIs.
  
  
• You should understand your obligations for participating in IVS and the terms and conditions regarding the usage of the voucher. Learn more about the details on SPRING’s website.
  

For more info

Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS)
SPRING Singapore