Funding Does Carry Some Strings Attached
All NIH projects, of course, are required to comply with requirements regarding results, usability, security, privacy, ethics, protection of animal or human subjects in studies, environmental impact and other standards and regulations. Because digital health is a relatively new area for the NIH, those standards are still in formation. The NIH is examining a wide variety of standards, frameworks, best practices and guidelines for the development of digital health apps. This review is a critical stepping stone for further work on producing appropriate standards that can help mitigate risks, whether clinical, privacy-related or economic.
The NIH recently discussed these in depth at a workshop, which reviewed proposed digital health standards and regulations used by other agencies. Among those is the Food and Drug Administrations 2019 Technology Modernization Action Plan, which describes important near-term actions that FDA is taking to modernize use of technology computer hardware, software, data, and analytics to advance the FDAs public-health mission. The FDAs plan is so far the most comprehensive one of any U.S. government agency, and until it develops its own standards and regulations, its likely the NIH will use the FDAs plan to decide on digital health project funding.
Scientific Research & Experimental Development Incentive
Rather than a grant, the SR& ED incentive is a tax credit that the Canada Revenue Agency says your organization may qualify for if its doing a systematic investigation or search, through experiment or analysis, to advance science or technology.
Should your tech company meet the eligibility criteria, youll be able to use the SR& ED investment tax credit to reduce your tax payable by deducting anywhere from 15-35% of eligible SR& ED expenditures from your income.
You can learn more about this incentive by accessing our on-demand webinar with SR& ED tax experts from KPMG.
Top 5 Singapore Government Grants For Tech Startups
At first glance, having your startups based in Singapore seems like a bad idea due to the small market size, expensive labor force, and high opportunity costs. But the country has turned the tide with its business-friendly policies and timely government grants, creating a paradise for startups and small businesses to grow without excessive red tape or financial burden.
Here are some worth noting public supports that are offered by our government:
1 | ||
Capability building, innovation, and internationalization | ||
8 | IRAS | Tax Incentives |
While each of them deserves a dedicated article to fully explore, lets talk about non-equity BUSINESS GRANTS today as they are the hot topic for startups in this time of uncertainty.
The COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our economy and pushed businesses to the brink of bankruptcy. As a result, these grants have become the lifesaver and fuel for startups and small businesses to flourish.
Unfortunately, finding out which grants are available and suitable for you is anything but simple. And more often than not, firms found themselves confused due to the sheer Singapore grants options and rules that need to follow.
This is why we created this article to show you which grants are considered useful for startups in building internal capabilities, scaling businesses, focusing on innovation, or expanding offshore operations.
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Capital Investors For Small Businesses
Capital investors refer to both angel investors and venture capital funds. Accredited investors can help provide funding for your business startup in return for equity ownership or convertible debt .
The biggest benefit to capital investors is that they can provide you with large sums of money in a relatively short amount of time. At times, they can also provide valuable mentorship as you work to grow your own business.
Learn more:
Are You Building An Innovative Technology Company

1. Industrial Research Assistance Program This grant provides small to large grants to support the development and commercialization of innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services, or processes in Canada. Funding could be hundreds of thousands in total and is provided to you before you incur the expenses. You need at least 1 full-time employee to qualify, though larger companies tend to get more funding.
2. Scientific Research and Experimental Development Geared towards companies conducting R& D activities in Canada, this is a refundable tax credit, so you get the credit after you have incurred the expenses. This is likely going to be your biggest source of cash, though the application and reporting are the most involved.
3. SmartStartProviding up to $70,000 , this grant supports Ontario-based start-ups transition from product development to market entry and company building. There are four application deadlines a year , though rumour has it that they run short on funds later in the year. So, it is best to apply earlier in the year.
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We’ve Compiled All The Information Startups Need To Find Grants From The Federal Government Including: R& d Grants Helpful Links To The Grantsgov Database As Well As Resources For State
When it comes to financing a startup, government grants for small businesses arenât the first thing most founders look toward. And they shouldnât be. While itâs great to get âfree moneyâ if you can, federal grants are only available for specific fields and specific uses â and theyâre not easy to get.
However, if your startup does qualify for a government grant for small business, then theyâre potentially a great source of funding that you donât have to pay back.
But unlike other industries, startups have another source of funding that we donât have to pay back, at least immediately: Venture Capital.
Venture capital is also hard to acquire and certainly comes with stipulations â including giving up equity in your startup â but itâs usually a lot more money than a federal grant and is less restrictive about usage. And the paying back part only happens if your startup is a success. So it might be worth checking out venture capital first before going this route.
However, if youâre still interested in a government grant for small businesses â and itâs definitely potentially a great option for a subset of startups â check these out:
Caleb Brown Urban Excellence Community Grant
Caleb Brown Venture Capital provides a monthly $1,000 Community Grant to young urban entrepreneurs providing training and jobs in city communities and neighborhoods. The grants also provide 500 hours of complimentary business consulting services.
Best practices for finding good grant opportunities
You can stay on top of new grant opportunities without spending endless hours combing through databases and websites. Just follow these simple steps.
Also Check: How Do I Sign Up For Government Assistance
Economic Development Administration Grants
The Build to Scale Program seeks to build regional economies by funding scalable startups through various grant competitions. Total funding stands in the millions, with $45 million in federal funds available to startups in 2022.
- Award amount: Varies
- How to apply: Visit the website for details on grant competitions.
The B2S program accepts applications for three different competitions: Venture Challenge, Capital Challenge, and Industry Challenge.
How Can You Apply For A Grant From The Government
There are more than a hundred grants awarded by the UK government and other regional institutions. Each grant is aimed at different projects, has different application requirements and provides different benefits.
We can help you find the grant that best matches your needs.
When weve identified the right grant scheme for your startup or SME business, well help you put together all of the following:
- detailed project description
- Founder of Plotto Limited
“It’s a pleasure to work with the F6S team and I would highly recommend them to any tech startup.”
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Industrial Research Assistance Program
Canadas IRAP program has been providing financial support to small businesses and medium-sized companies pursuing technology-driven innovation for more than 70 years.
Two key offerings under the IRAP program include:
- Small Technology Innovation Projects. Offers grants of up to $50,000 to fund the R& D or commercialization of technology projects
- Mid-sized Technology Innovation Projects. Offers larger grants for larger projects involving internal R& D or the creation of original software
Youll find a comprehensive list of this and similar innovation funding programs on the Government of Canadas website.
Where To Find Business Grants
Below is a list of some of the most robust resources for finding grants that can aid your business:
- SBA.gov is one of the top places to search for grants. The government site is filled with various grant and financing opportunities.
- Grants.gov is the ultimate database for federal grants. You can search for grants by funding type, eligibility, category and agency. Be forewarned: Sorting through the database will require some effort, but the potential payoff is that you may find a grant opportunity that is perfect for your company.
- The Economic Development Administration administers grants for economically depressed communities to stimulate new jobs and commercial growth.
- Similarly, Small Business Development Centers offer local resources that can help your business.
In the wake of the coronavirus, there are resources, including federal and private funding sources, that are helping businesses cope with the drastic economic contraction that is affecting the world.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans are administered by the SBA and can provide businesses with working capital to pay employees, rent and other expenses.
- In addition to government loans, companies like Verizon have created funds that provide grants to small businesses.
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Look For Grants Within Your Industry
A lot of small business grants are industry specific, so it can help narrow down your search if you focus on organizations and research institutions within your particular industry. Focusing on one industry also builds buzz around your business, and can help build connections with industry figures who may be able to offer guidance and investment opportunities.
Keep Equity And Decision

Receiving funding often means you have to give something back. That can be interest payments if youve taken a loan or equity if youve received VC funds. The SBIR/STTR programs allow you to retain full ownership of your company and IP. The administrators also arent interested in driving strategy they believe in your vision and want to help you bring it to fruition. Their goal is to invest in a better future for our shareholders: the American public.
CoCoPIEs vision is to enable real-time AI for off-the-shelf mobile devices. If adopted by the semiconductor, digital media and IoT industries, it can significantly improve the way we consume, learn and interact with our devices.
But, like any deep tech company, the question becomes how to get it widely adopted. We are using the SBIR/STTR funds to convert our technology into a minimum viable product, an essential step for us to reach a broader customer base. Thus far, our technology has attracted multiple key pilot customers, including Tencent, a global gaming giant that utilizes our super-resolution technology to enhance its customers gaming experience.
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Regional Grant Funding In Wales
Is your SME or Startup based in Wales? If so, Business Wales has grant funding available for companies already based in Wales or wishing to set up there. Some of these are particularly lucrative and have high chances for you to win:
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Smart Cymru R& D grants
Smart Cymru R& D grants provide up to 75% grant funding to businesses, principally SMEs. You can get up to £200,000 in grant funding to support your feasibility studies, prototyping and market launch costs that will lead to innovative products or processes.
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Smart Cymru innovation vouchers
Smart Cymru innovation vouchers support the procurement of specialist capital equipment or technical expertise to progress technical projects that deliver new or transformative products or processes. Innovation Vouchers provide financial support up to £25,000 for work commissioned from a third party that delivers advancements in new products and processes or capital investment in transformational technology. Theres a requirement to prove that the investment results in a step change in the technology base of the company. We can help you determine this in a free consultation.
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Welsh Food and Drink grants
Welsh Food and Drink grants support Welsh companies that process, market or develop agricultural or horticultural products and who wish to undertake capital expenditure projects to expand their business. You can receive up to 40% of the total investment cost of their project in grant funding.
Building A Future Economy In St Louis Through Game
The Arch Grants team is passionate about the family of entrepreneurs they have nurtured and launched throughout the decade. Arch Grants creation in St. Louis speaks for itself. Our organization will be forever grateful for not just the monetary grant, but the trust, support, and confidence they provided over the years. Our organization will successfully remain in St. Louis and grow with Arch Grants always helping hand and friendship.
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Best For Tech Startups: Sbir Program
Grant amount: $150,000-$1 million
The SBIR program provides grants for startups and entrepreneurs to enable them to develop and research high-tech innovations for federal agencies that have the potential for commercialization. Common areas for startups that receive this funding include homeland security, clean drinking water, healthcare, green construction, and more.
The mission of this program is to support scientific excellence and innovative technology to grow and build the US economy. For technology startups, the SBIR program provides substantial seed money and contracts with government agencies that will help qualifying startups research and develop new technologies.
To apply for an SBIR business grant, you need to meet the following criteria/eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be a for-profit business.
- Applicants must have less than 500 employees.
- A majority of ownership must be held by one or a combination of the following:
- One or more individuals that are citizens or permanent residents
- Other for-profit businesses
- Venture capital-operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms
Know What Youll Be Spending The Grant Money On
Some organizations may stipulate what grant money will be spent on, but even when they dont, its still important to have an idea of how you plan on using the money. When an organization is determining whether to issue your business a grant, having a business plan and knowing how the money will be spent will help them understand more clearly how your business aligns with their mission.
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Youre Our First Priorityevery Time
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about , but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.Here is a list of our partners.
American Association Of University Women
The American Association of University Women not only offers academic and research grants but also grants for career development for women looking to change careers or reenter the workforce.
- Award amount: $2,000$20,000
- How to apply: Visit the website for a timeline and eligibility requirements.
In addition to grants for individual career betterment, the AAUW also grants funds for projects that encourage and jump-start young girls’ careers in technical fields.
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State Small Business Grants
Federal small business grants are limited by industry and in number, and theyâre often very competitive. Donât feel discouragedâlook for grants and assistance programs at a state or municipal level for access to a wider variety of lesser-known opportunities. They typically offer grants for local economic and community development meaning a smaller pool of applicants youâre competing against.
Below are some places to start looking, but we recommend doing a deep dive into what your own state and local area can offer.
Bridge Proof Of Concept

Are you a newly graduate student with bachelors degree, or someone with a master of science degree? Do you have basic research experience, or an innovative idea that requires R& D to produce a marketable product? And are you looking for funding opportunities to supplant your idea for research?
Then the BRIDGE Proof of Concept is just what youre looking for.
BRIDGE Proof of Concept is a funding program designed to provide financial assistance to young researchers to turn their research data into practical products/services with high potential market value.
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