Singapore Budget 2026: Business Grant Changes for MRA, EEG, and EFS
- Cha Aujla
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Summary
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant support for local SMEs rose from 50% to up to 70% of eligible costs: Effective 1 April 2026 through 31 March 2029, while the S$100,000 cap per company per market stays the same.
The Energy Efficiency Grant's (EEG) base tier now covers every sector: Now extended to 31 March 2028.
The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS)’s individual facility caps are lifted: A single facility can now carry more headroom than before.
Budget 2026 brought good tidings for three grant schemes many Singapore SMEs rely on: the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant, the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG), and the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS).
Support went up on MRA and EFS, and eligibility widened for EEG. All three moves aim to help businesses expand overseas, manage energy costs, and access financing at a time of rising global uncertainty.
In this article, we cover what the Singapore Budget 2026 changed in each grant scheme, and how the changes affect your eligibility and applications in the future.
Singapore Budget 2026 Grant Changes: A Summary
Let’s start with a tabulated summary of the changes, as below:
Scheme | What changed | Effective date |
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) | Support raised from 50% to up to 70% for local SMEs; scope extended to deepening existing markets | 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 |
Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) | Base tier expanded from 6 sectors to all sectors | Extended to 31 March 2028 |
Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) | EFS - SME Working Capital Loan: Government risk-share for SMEs’ operational cash flow is increased from 50% to 70%. EFS - Project Loan: Government risk-share for secured overseas projects is increased from 50% to 70%. Coverage is expanded to include domestic projects for local construction firms. | From September 2026 |
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA): Support Jumps to 70% for Local SMEs
MARKET READINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT ADVISORY
Get up to 70% government support to expand overseas.
The Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant traditionally helps local SMEs cover the cost of entering or expanding into overseas markets, including market studies, business matching, and setting up an overseas presence.
Thanks to Budget 2026, MRA support for local SMEs has now risen from 50% to up to 70% of eligible costs from 1 April 2026, running through 31 March 2029. The cap itself remains the same at S$100,000 per company per market.
Run the numbers on a typical engagement, and the difference is concrete. A S$100,000 market-entry project that previously qualified for S$50,000 in support now qualifies for up to S$70,000. For a business weighing whether a specific overseas push is worth the upfront spend, this swing can be the difference between shelving the plan and greenlighting it.
The scope for MRA has widened as well. From 2H 2026 onwards, the MRA eliminates the original new-to-market constraint, covering your existing presence in an overseas market.
Looking ahead, the MRA will be consolidated with the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) to form the EDGE Grant. Under the EDGE framework, your business will be evaluated to determine the most appropriate level of funding for your needs.
We currently do not have the full details of how EDGE will be managed, so if you plan on tapping the MRA to fund current overseas expansion projects, the best time to do so is now.
Reach out to our grant advisory team at Mezzanine Enterprise to learn more here.
Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG): Now Open to Every Sector, Extended to 2028
ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT ADVISORY
Get up to 70% government support to upgrade your equipment.
Previously covering just six sectors in food services, retail, manufacturing, construction, maritime, and data centres, the Energy Efficiency Grant's (EEG) base tier (up to 70% support for SMEs, capped at S$30,000) now covers every sector until 31 March 2028. This change comes as part of a broader support package responding to the Middle East situation's effect on global costs.
What this means is that a professional services firm, a wholesale trader, or an education provider can now apply for funding for pre-approved equipment on the same footing as a retailer or a manufacturer.
To illustrate, take a mid-sized professional services firm running an older commercial air-conditioning system. Under the old six-sector list, that firm had no route into the base tier at all. Under the current relaxed EEG rules, the same firm can now apply for base-tier support toward a pre-approved, energy-efficient replacement.
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Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS): Increased Government Risk-Share For Two Segments
The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) has also been modified under Budget 2026. From September 2026 to March 2027, the EFS’s enhanced financial support for Singapore enterprises will kick into place.
Under the enhanced EFS, two specific segments of the EFS will be modified as follows:
EFS - SME Working Capital Loan: Government risk-share for SMEs’ operational cash flow is increased from 50% to 70%.
EFS - Project Loan: Government risk-share for secured overseas projects is increased from 50% to 70%.
Coverage is expanded to include domestic projects for local construction firms
Adapt to the Budget 2026 Grant Changes With Mezzanine Enterprise
Budget 2026 has provided significant boons to three existing grant schemes, and navigating this change can be confusing for your business.
This is where Mezzanine Enterprise’s expert grant advisory team comes in, adeptly checking which of these changes apply to your business and correcting anything already in motion under the old terms.
Talk to us now if you're planning an MRA application, considering an EEG upgrade that your sector qualifies for, or restructuring financing under the EFS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed in Singapore's business grants for 2026?
Three grant schemes changed:
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA): Support level for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rose from 50% to up to 70%, effective 1 April 2026
Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG): Expanded from six eligible sectors to all sectors and was extended to 31 March 2028.
Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS): Increased government risk-share from 50% to 70% for the SME Working Capital and Project Loans.
Does the new 70% MRA support level apply to grants I've already been approved for?
No. The enhanced rate applies to applications submitted, or claims incurred, on or after 1 April 2026. An MRA Letter of Offer issued before that date was approved under the previous 50% rate, and the increase doesn't apply retroactively to it.
Am I still eligible for the EEG if my business isn't in one of the original six sectors?
Yes, as of the current base tier expansion. The EEG previously limited its base tier to food services, retail, manufacturing, construction, maritime, and data centres. This restriction has been removed, with the base tier now covering every sector.
When do these 2026 enhancements expire?
They don't all expire on the same date. The MRA's enhanced 70% support level runs through 31 March 2029. The EEG's expansion runs through 31 March 2028. The EFS's enhanced support will run from September 2026 to March 2027.
