TLDR: Enterprise Singapore’s Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant, along with the EDG and PSG grants, stops taking new applications on 29 September 2026. From 30 September, one new grant replaces all three: the EDGE Grant.
If you’ve used MRA to help pay for overseas trademark or patent or design filings, here’s what changes, what doesn’t, and what to do now.
Why this matters to IP owners
MRA has been one of the most practical ways for Singapore SMEs to fund overseas IP protection. Under its overseas market set-up pillar, it covered advisory, legal and documentation costs for IP applications in a new market. Support was up to 70% for eligible SMEs, capped at S$30,000 per market for that pillar and S$100,000 per company per new market overall.
For many clients, that funding covered most of the cost of protecting their brand before launching in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam or further afield.
If you already have an MRA approval: nothing is lost
Your approval stays valid. Enterprise Singapore has confirmed that ongoing EDG, MRA and PSG projects will keep being processed, and you can claim through the Business Grants Portal once the project is complete.
You don’t need to reapply or move to EDGE. Your original Letter of Offer still governs. That means:
Don’t mix schemes. Costs under an MRA project and a future EDGE project must be claimed separately.
Stay within the approved scope. If you want to change markets, add trademark classes or add a patent filing, get written approval from Enterprise Singapore first. Don’t assume it will be accepted.
Complete the project within the approved period. MRA projects typically run for up to 12 months.
Keep your claim paperwork clean. Invoices must match the approved items. We can give you invoices itemised by market and filing to make this easier.
If you were planning an MRA application: decide this week
New MRA applications close on Tuesday, 29 September.
If you already have a filing plan and quotation ready, you can still apply under MRA. If you’re still deciding which markets to file in, don’t rush a weak application just to meet the deadline. EDGE may suit you better (see below).
One rule applies either way: grant support generally does not cover costs you incur before your application is submitted. Don’t instruct overseas filings you intend to claim until your application is in.
What EDGE changes
EDGE combines the three grants into one framework covering eight business areas, including Internationalisation and Innovation.
What’s been published so far:
- Up to 70% support for SMEs and up to 50% for non-SMEs. Support levels vary by activity.
- Up to S$100,000 in total grant support per company per year, shared across all EDGE activities and reset every 1 April.
- Larger companies can now qualify. Non-SMEs were previously shut out of MRA.
- The “new market” requirement is expected to go, so companies may be able to get support for markets where they already have sales.
What it means for your IP budget:
Still to be confirmed: Enterprise Singapore has not yet published the detailed activity list showing exactly how IP filing and legal costs are treated under EDGE, or at what support level. We’ll update you when it does. Until then, check the live activity terms before committing to costs.
Good news: more companies qualify, and markets you already sell in may be eligible.
The catch: MRA gave you up to S$100,000 per new market.
EDGE gives you S$100,000 per year across everything, including digitalisation, consulting, sustainability and overseas expansion. IP filings will now compete with your other grant-funded projects for the same pot. Companies expanding into several markets in one year may get less support overall than before.
What we recommend
Find your Letter of Offer if you have an existing MRA approval. Check the scope, the approved costs and the completion date.
Plan your filings for the grant year. Under EDGE, it makes sense to decide early how much of your S$100,000 annual cap to set aside for IP, before other projects use it up.
Prioritise by market. With a shared cap, focus on the markets where losing your brand name or technology would hurt most.
Talk to us before you file. We can prepare itemised, market-by-market quotations to support either a last-minute MRA application or a first EDGE application.
Questions about your overseas filing plan or grant claims?
Contact the Auriga IP team. We’ll help you work out what to file, where, and how to structure the costs for your grant application.
Auriga IP has partnered with leading companies and innovative startups in Singapore and is committed to assisting our clients in navigating these evolving IP landscapes. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions or require further clarification on your trademark filings or how it may impact your existing or prospective IP portfolio. Our team is ready to provide tailored advice and support to ensure your IP strategy remains robust and cost-effective.
Disclaimer: This advisory is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Grant terms are set by Enterprise Singapore and may change. Please confirm eligibility and activity-specific terms with Enterprise Singapore or through the Business Grants Portal before committing to costs.
Lionel is the founder of Auriga IP and is a registered Patent Attorney with 20+ years of experience in IP. He is skilled in patent drafting, prosecution, IP strategy, and due diligence. Lionel has helped diverse companies, from startups to MNCs like Razer and Grab, build innovation culture and manage IP to create significant value and assets.
Email: lionel.ser@aurigaip.com