Green Buildings Innovation Cluster Programme

Who qualifies

• GBIC R&D targets solution providers or research institutes with a building owner/developer sponsor/adopter; Product Prototyping targets a private-sector solution provider with research-institute collaborator and building owner/developer sponsor/adopter; GBIC Demo targets building owners/developers, and Demo applications require proposals from consortiums led by ESD Consultants together with technology and solution providers.
• GBIC R&D projects start at TRL 3 and end at TRL 7–8; Product Prototyping starts at TRL 5 and ends at TRL 8; Demo starts at TRL 7 and ends at TRL 9.
• Private-entity R&D projects with a total project budget above S$0.5 million, and Product Prototyping projects above S$2 million, are funded only on condition of collaboration with a public research performer.
• Project duration is up to two years for GBIC R&D and up to one year for Product Prototyping.
• Desired outcomes: R&D technologies at least 30% and Product Prototyping technologies at least 25% better than current GM 2021 Platinum standards or existing best-in-class solutions, with potential payback of 3–5 years; Demo targets 75% building energy efficiency improvement from 2005 levels based on Energy Use Index.

What it funds

• R&D, product development, prototyping, IP
• Energy efficiency, decarbonisation, green certification, waste reduction

Costs covered: Hardware, machinery, IT equipment; Software licences and SaaS; Physical materials and consumables consumed by the funded project (e.g. construction materials, prototypes); Third-party consultant or professional service fees.

Maximum support: up to 70%.

Maximum direct-cost support by entity type: 70% for SG SMEs, SG start-ups and SG not-for-profits, 50% for LLEs, 30% for all non-SG private-sector entities. Singapore-based IHLs and Research Institutions are supported up to 100% of approved qualifying direct costs, and only IHLs receive indirect-cost (overhead) support.

Recorded cap: S$3,000,000.

GBIC Demonstration is up to 70% and capped at S$3 million; GBIC Product Prototyping is capped at S$500,000 per project; GBIC R&D funding size is reviewed case by case.

Payment: Paid after the company incurs the cost and files a claim.

How to apply

Contact BCA_GBIC@bca.gov.sg for the applicable GBIC initiative and proposal process; the programme page does not publish a single submission portal or fixed document list.

1. Select the applicable GBIC initiative: R&D, Product Prototyping, or Demonstration.
2. Form the required solution-provider, research-performer, and building-owner/developer partnership for that initiative.
3. Contact BCA for proposal and application requirements.
4. Submit the proposal through the process advised by BCA.

Contact: BCA_GBIC@bca.gov.sg

Application window: The programme page states no application window; evaluation criteria are noted as subject to change based on challenge calls.