Temasek Foundation Liveability Grant
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Quick Answer
Open call for more mature solutions (TRL 6 and above) to liveability and sustainability problems that can be applied in Singapore, with milestone funding for up to three years.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Temasek Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
Temasek Foundation, a Singapore philanthropy, runs an open Liveability & Sustainability Innovations Grant Call. It funds more mature applied and translational research and development, and the commercialisation of innovative solutions to liveability and sustainability problems in Singapore, especially in cities. The call is open on a rolling basis with no deadline. Solutions can come from outside Singapore, so an Indian startup can apply, but the solution has to benefit Singapore or be usable there, and the lead principal investigator should ideally be based in Singapore.
What the program offers
No funding range is published. The amount depends on the extent of the work and is released in phases as milestones are completed. Projects can run for up to three years. Budgets must include the prevailing GST.
Eligible costs include basic manpower (salaries plus employer CPF, excluding bonuses; founders' salaries are not supported), professional services such as consultancy, subcontracting or prototyping by local third parties, new project-related equipment and software, general IT equipment only if necessary, IP licensing and technology acquisition from unrelated parties, and some operating costs such as directly related economy airfare, external training, patent costs and specialised equipment or facility rental, subject to approval. In-kind contributions, existing equipment, existing manpower costs and building costs cannot be requested.
Who can apply
The call suits teams that have completed their proof of concept and need support to build and demonstrate prototypes in a real operating environment. Solutions should preferably be at Technology Readiness Level 6 or above, or at the proof-of-value level. Early research is not funded. Example areas include air, biodiversity, energy, food and nutrition, infectious disease management, land, noise, waste management, water, and weather and climate; the list is not exhaustive.
Solutions that are economically sustainable and have considerable social impact have an advantage. Applicants must meet relevant ethics and regulatory approval requirements, and may be asked to prove other grant applications.
For an applicant in India, this means you can apply with a solution built outside Singapore, as long as you can show how it helps Singapore or can be adapted for it. It is a poor fit for an idea-level team, a purely research project, or a founder who wants the grant to pay their own salary.
How to apply
- Complete the online Intent to Apply form on the Temasek Foundation grant call page.
- Prepare a complete proposal. The source lists applicant and company details, the lead principal investigator's profile, project duration, the Singapore problem and your solution, competitive advantage, impact, commercial application and partners, a declaration of other funding, a detailed project write-up, the budget and use of funds, payment milestones and outcome indicators.
- Make sure it is complete, because incomplete applications may be rejected.
A practical tip: spell out why a Singapore adopter would use your solution, since the assessment asks about demand and distribution.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Proposals are assessed on three things. Desirability asks whether Singapore needs the solution and how big the impact is. Feasibility asks whether the proof of concept is shown, how mature the solution is, how it compares with competing technology, and how safety, ethics and regulation are handled. Viability asks whether it is commercially viable, whether there is a plan to commercialise, and whether there are distribution channels or adopters.
Successful applicants submit progress reports at the agreed milestones, and the foundation may ask for them more often. A final report is due within three months of the project finishing. The foundation may approve, reject or revoke approval at its discretion without giving reasons, and its decisions on funding are final. The source does not give a response time.
About Temasek Foundation
Temasek Foundation champions sustainability and innovative solutions to improve liveability, and funds ideas that address environmental, healthcare and other population-wide challenges. It is based in Singapore.
Things to check before you apply
- Singapore link. Be ready to show who in Singapore would use the solution and how it would be adapted.
- Maturity. Without a finished proof of concept, this is not the right call.
- Local costs. Professional services are funded when bought from local third parties.
- Other funding. You must declare other grants you have applied for.
- Rules change. The guidelines can be changed at any time.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Temasek Foundation is a philanthropic organisation based in Singapore. Its programmes are funded by philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, and they aim to strengthen social resilience at home, foster mutual exchange in the region and protect the planet. Its office is at…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Funding is set per project according to the work to be done and is released in phases as agreed milestones are met, for up to three years. Eligible costs include staff salaries and employer contributions (founders' salaries are not supported), professional services and prototyping by third-party local companies, new equipment and project software, IP licensing and technology acquisition, and, subject to approval, project travel, external training, patent costs, rental of specialised equipment and indirect costs. In-kind contributions, existing equipment and manpower, and building costs are excluded.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Proposals are assessed on desirability (does Singapore need it and how big is the impact), feasibility (proof of concept, maturity, safety, ethics and regulation) and viability (commercial strategy, distribution channels and adopters). The foundation may approve, reject or revoke approval without giving reasons, and its funding decisions are final.
Application Process
- 1
Intent to Apply
Submit the online Intent to Apply form.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Temasek Foundation Liveability Grant?
Teams with a finished proof of concept who have a more mature solution to a liveability or sustainability problem relevant to Singapore. Solutions should preferably be at Technology Readiness Level 6 or above. Early research is not funded.
Can Indian startups apply for the Temasek Foundation Liveability & Sustainability grant?
Yes, in principle. Solutions can originate outside Singapore, but they must benefit Singapore or be applicable or adaptable there, and the lead principal investigator should ideally be based in Singapore. Show clearly how your solution would work in Singapore.
How much funding does the Temasek Foundation call give?
No range is published. The amount depends on the extent of the work and is released in phases as milestones are completed, for projects of up to three years. Budgets must include prevailing GST.
How is the Temasek Foundation grant paid?
Funding is released in phases tied to the payment milestones in your proposal. Successful applicants send progress reports at each milestone and a final report within three months of finishing. The source does not give further payment detail.
Is there a deadline for the Temasek Foundation grant call?
No. The call is open and applications start with the online Intent to Apply form. The source gives no closing date, so check the page for any change, since guidelines can be updated at any time.
Is the Temasek Foundation Liveability grant equity or a grant?
It is a grant for project costs, and the source mentions no equity. Eligible costs include salaries, local professional services, equipment, software and IP licensing. In-kind contributions, existing equipment, existing manpower and building costs are not covered.
What do I need to submit to apply for the Temasek Foundation grant?
A complete proposal with company and principal investigator details, the Singapore problem and your solution, impact, commercial plans, budget, payment milestones, outcome indicators and a declaration of other funding. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
Do I have to travel to Singapore for the Temasek Foundation grant?
The source does not require travel to apply. It says directly related economy airfare can be an eligible expense, subject to approval. It also says the lead investigator should ideally be Singapore-based.
Does it cost anything to apply to the Temasek Foundation grant?
The source does not mention any application fee. You apply by completing the online Intent to Apply form and preparing a proposal.
How are Temasek Foundation grant applications judged and when are results announced?
Applications are assessed on desirability, feasibility and viability. The source does not say when decisions are made. The foundation may reject or revoke approval without giving reasons, and its decisions are final.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
