Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2
CRPO initiates the Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 to back the commercialisation of cyber technologies and innovation in all areas of cybersecurity challenges including but not limited to IOT security, privacy, quantum safe Internet, communications network safety, AI security, IT/OT and hyperphysical systems on top of regular software and data and storage security issues The goal is to identify and fund projects that have obtained proof-of-principle/protypes and to enable them to build enterprise grade prototypes to spinoff a business or to commercialise through industry collaborator market channels.
The CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 is a competitive funding initiative aimed at fostering research projects that push the boundaries of cyber technologies within Singapore-based Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)1, Research Institutes (RIs)2, and Industry Partners3. We enthusiastically invite proposals from diverse and collaborative teams, including academics, researchers, scientists, engineers, domain experts, and other professionals, to contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge cyber technology and help create cybersecurity entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To facilitate the submission of this CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 application, a grant call briefing will be conducted.
CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 Briefing
Time: Jul 1, 2025 03:00 PM Singapore
Interested applicants can join the Zoom Meeting via this link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71043642911?pwd=RidbgXVf3vm6vhbRauGTHP1bwfD5a2.1
Scope of CRPO POC Grant Call
1.1. Aligned with the aforementioned goals and directions, this grant call will focus exclusively on cybersecurity technologies with a clear path to commercialisation. The CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 supports projects that have already demonstrated a working proof-of-concept or prototype. Early-stage research will not be funded. This grant is intended for teams ready to bring validated solutions to market, either through a spin-off or an industry partnership.
1.2. The Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 aim to demonstrate the technology and business feasibility of cybersecurity technologies for a commercial application or group of applications. These projects can be awarded to local researchers from various IHLs and RIs with the aim to spinoff a business or to commercialise through industry collaborator. Industrial collaboration will be in the form of support from an industry player or group of players and work with IHL and/or RI principal investigators in submitting a proposal. Industry players could participate by sharing their data, infrastructure, or providing a platform to demonstrate the feasibility of the project and business case. At the end of the project, awarded teams working with their respective technology transfer office, are expected to spinoff or license technology to industry collaborators. These projects will be evaluated on innovation, the business case and market opportunity. The projects seek to introduce cybersecurity technologies into new frontiers.
1.3. The grant applicant(s) is responsible for defining the proposed research, problem scope, technical approach, and potential impacts of the proposal.
Funding Support
2.1 Awardees of the CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 will receive S$250,000+ and projects are to be completed in maximum of 18 months.
2.2. The proposal shall be based on a realistic budget with appropriate justifications that correspond to the scope of work to be accomplished.
2.3. The total cost of each project includes all approved direct costs4 and indirect research costs/overheads5. All expenditure budgeted should be inclusive of any applicable Goods and Services Taxes (GST) at the prevailing rates.
2.4. The corresponding budget requested includes 30% Indirect Research Costs (IRC).
2.5. Research Scholarships are not eligible for support under the CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2.
2.6. Funds awarded cannot be used to support overseas R&D activities. All funding awarded must be used to carry out the research activities in Singapore IHLs/RIs.
Eligibility
3.1. The grant call is open to researchers from all Singapore-based Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs) [1].
3.2 The CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 supports potential commercialisation of cybersecurity technologies that have demonstrated proof-of-concept/prototype.
3.3 This CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 is limited to technologies in the area of cybersecurity.
3.4. Only research conducted in Singapore may be funded under CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2. Please refer to Annex B – Terms and Conditions of CRPO Grant.
3.5. Lead PI and Co-PIs should note that parallel submissions are not allowed – i.e., applicants must never send similar versions or part(s) of the current proposal application to other agencies or grants for funding (or vice versa). The proposals should not be funded, or currently considered for funding, by other agencies. Details of all grants currently held or being applied for by the Lead PI and Co-PIs in related areas of research must be declared in Annex C - CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 Preliminary Proposal Template.
References
[1] National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), A*STAR Research Institutes
Application & Selection process
4.1 Applicants are required to first submit preliminary proposal application to CRPO.
4.2 Proposals are to be submitted using the CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 Preliminary Proposal Template in Annex C.
4.3 Proposals should articulate these components to increase the chances of success:
- Problem statement and project scope
- Market opportunity and commercialisation potential
- Technical innovation, prototype, competency
- Team and industry endorsement
4.4 Applicant will be working with CRPO’s Translational Program Managers to refine the commercial perspective and business case.
4.5 After CRPO’s internal review, selected proposals are invited to submit a full proposal and a set of presentation slides using the CRPO Translation and Innovation Grant Series 2 Full Proposal Template.
4.6 Project PI will be required to present their proposal to an internal evaluation panel. Only the final shortlisted full proposals will be put forth to an external panel for selection and award.
4.7. CRPO reserves the right to reject late or incomplete submission, and submissions that do not comply with application instructions.
4.8 An illustration of the application, review and selection process is shown below:
