EDG vs MRA vs CTC: Which Grant Fits Your Project (Practical Comparison)

At a glance

• EDG is for capability-building projects with defined scope, deliverables, and outcomes.
• MRA is for overseas market entry activities (specific cost categories).
• CTC is for workforce transformation and training linked to productivity outcomes.
• Choosing the wrong grant (or mixing scopes) is a common cause of rejection or delays.

Table of contents

1. Quick definitions
2. What each grant is designed for
3. Side-by-side comparison
4. How to choose the right grant (decision flow)
5. Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
6. Practical examples
7. References
8. Call us now

Quick definitions

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

Supports projects that build core capabilities, innovation & productivity, or market access through structured, outcome-driven initiatives.

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA)

Supports specific overseas market entry activities such as market promotion, business development, and overseas setup within defined cost caps and categories.

Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant

Supports workforce transformation and training initiatives tied to productivity, job redesign, and capability uplift, typically involving unions and training plans.

What each grant is designed for

EDG — Capability and transformation

Use EDG when your project:

• has a clear business problem to solve
• involves scoped work with tangible deliverables
• produces measurable outcomes (process, productivity, capability)
• requires third-party consultancy, systems, or structured implementation

MRA — Going overseas

Use MRA when your project:

• is about entering or expanding into a specific overseas market
• falls within defined activities (e.g., market promotion, business development, overseas setup)
• has clear overseas deliverables tied to a target market

CTC — People and skills transformation

Use CTC when your project:

• focuses on job redesign, skills upgrading, or training roadmaps
• links training to productivity or transformation outcomes
• involves workforce planning and capability development

Side-by-side comparison

Purpose

• EDG: Build business capabilities and productivity
• MRA: Support overseas market entry activities
• CTC: Transform workforce skills and jobs

Typical scope

• EDG: Process redesign, system implementation, strategy execution
• MRA: Overseas marketing, business development, market setup
• CTC: Training plans, job redesign, skills frameworks

Cost structure

• EDG: Scoped project costs tied to deliverables and milestones
• MRA: Prescribed overseas cost categories
• CTC: Training and workforce-related costs

Outcomes expected

• EDG: Capability uplift, efficiency gains, growth readiness
• MRA: Overseas market traction and readiness
• CTC: Workforce capability and productivity improvement

How to choose the right grant (decision flow)

Step 1 — What is the primary objective?

• Improve internal capabilities or systems → EDG
• Enter or expand overseas → MRA
• Upgrade workforce skills and jobs → CTC

Step 2 — What does the work mainly involve?

• Consultants, systems, process redesign → EDG
• Overseas marketing, partners, setup → MRA
• Training, job redesign, skills frameworks → CTC

Step 3 — What are the deliverables?

• Reports, systems, SOPs, implementations → EDG
• Overseas market outputs (events, leads, setup) → MRA
• Training plans, redesigned roles, skills outcomes → CTC

Rule of thumb: one project → one primary grant. Avoid force-fitting.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Mixing scopes across grants
   → Split projects cleanly or choose the dominant objective.
2. Using EDG for pure overseas promotion
   → Consider MRA if activities are market-entry focused.
3. Submitting training-heavy projects under EDG
   → Consider CTC if workforce transformation is the core.
4. Vague outcomes
   → State measurable outcomes that match the grant’s intent.

Practical examples

Example A — Process digitisation

• Scope: workflow redesign + system implementation
• Primary objective: productivity and capability
  → EDG

Example B — First overseas market entry

• Scope: overseas market promotion and business development
• Primary objective: market entry
  → MRA

Example C — Workforce transformation

• Scope: job redesign + training roadmap
• Primary objective: skills and productivity
  → CTC

References

Related Resources (Grant-Consulting.org)

• https://www.grant-consulting.org/resources/the-definitive-edg-2026-guide-for-smes
• https://www.grant-consulting.org/resources/edg-eligibility-explained
• https://www.grant-consulting.org/resources/how-to-apply-edg-singapore

Call us now

Book a 20-minute consult (no obligation):
https://www.grant-consulting.org/contact

We can help you:

• choose the right grant for your project
• structure scope and outcomes correctly
• avoid misalignment that leads to rejection or delays

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