Both schemes fund growth, but they answer different questions. Choosing the wrong one usually costs time rather than money — an application that was never eligible in the first place.
The short answer
Use PSG when you want a proven, off-the-shelf solution — accounting software, a POS system, equipment from a pre-approved list. Use EDG when the work is a project: entering a new market, redesigning processes, building something custom.
PSG buys a tool. EDG funds a change.
Scope and eligibility
PSG covers pre-scoped solutions that have already been assessed, so eligibility is largely a question of whether your chosen solution is on the list and whether your business meets the basic criteria — registered and operating in Singapore, with the purchase used here.
EDG is broader and correspondingly more demanding. Applications are assessed as projects across three pillars: core capabilities, innovation and productivity, and market access. You are expected to show what will change, how you will deliver it and what the measurable outcome will be.
The most common reason an EDG application stalls is not weak strategy — it is a project that was never scoped as a project.
Effort and timeline
PSG is the lighter lift. Because solutions are pre-approved, the assessment is simpler and turnaround is typically faster. For many SMEs it is the sensible first step.
EDG takes longer to prepare and longer to assess. Expect to invest real time in scoping before you submit — deliverables, milestones, vendor selection and the outcomes you will be held to.
Can you use both?
Yes, and many SMEs do. They are separate schemes with separate applications. The constraint is that the same cost cannot be funded twice — so the split has to be clean.
A common sequence: use PSG to put reliable systems in place, then use EDG for the larger transformation those systems make possible.
How to decide
- Is it on the pre-approved list? If yes, start with PSG.
- Is it a project with a defined outcome? If yes, EDG is the right route.
- Can you articulate the change? If not, scope it before applying — not after.
- Do you need it soon? PSG moves faster; plan EDG timelines realistically.
A note on approvals
No advisor can guarantee an approval, and you should be sceptical of anyone who says otherwise. What experience does buy you is knowing what assessors look for, and presenting an eligible project in the form they expect to read.
Not sure which one fits?
We’ll tell you in a free initial consultation — including if the answer is neither.
Frequently asked
Yes. They are separate schemes with separate applications, and many SMEs use both — PSG for off-the-shelf productivity tools and EDG for larger custom projects. They cannot fund the same cost twice.
PSG is generally faster because it covers pre-approved solutions with a lighter assessment. EDG involves a scoped project proposal and takes longer to prepare and assess.
No, you can apply directly. Advisors help most on EDG applications, where scoping, deliverables and outcomes must be presented in the way assessors expect.
