Programmes

Explore BCA’s key initiatives below:

BETA Catalyst Funding Programme

Launched in 2020, this industry-led programme supports projects that bring new ideas to market. This is done through the co-development of solutions with academic institutions and industry stakeholders. Eligible projects can receive up to 50% funding, encouraging strong R&D partnerships and lasting growth.

Find out how to apply for the BETA Catalyst Funding Programme.

Built Environment Accelerate to Market Programme (BEAMP) 

BEAMP “fast-tracks” the development of viable solutions that address real-world challenges faced by firms in the BE sector. By supporting innovators and firms with funding opportunities, expansive industry networks, and test-bedding avenues, BEAMP sparks promising ideas toward swifter real-world development and deployment .

Find out more about the Built Environment Accelerate to Market Programme today.

Cities of Tomorrow (CoT) R&D Programme

Launched in 2017, the Cities of Tomorrow (CoT) R&D Programme is a multi-agency effort led by the Ministry of National Development (MND) that seeks to sustain Singapore’s success in the decades ahead by leveraging Research and Innovation (R&I). It is supported under the National Research Foundation (NRF)'s Research, Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) efforts, with MND and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) co-leading the Urban Solutions and Sustainability (USS) domain.

Under RIE2030, the CoT R&D Programme aims to establish Singapore as a highly liveable, sustainable, and resilient city of the future, and as a vibrant urban solutions hub, through research and innovation addressing national priorities across six strategic thrusts:

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is the implementing agency for research funding under the Advanced Construction and Sustainable Built Environment strategic thrusts. The desired outcomes and key research focus areas for these two thrusts are outlined below:

(1) Advanced Construction 

Desired Outcome:

• To improve construction productivity without compromising existing BCA construction quality and safety standards

Key Research Focus Areas:

• Productive design and management of offsite construction solutions, including precast components and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) technologies

• Advanced on-site construction processes for enhanced productivity and quality  

• Productive and safe demolition and adaptive reuse techniques while minimising disamenities

• Enhanced structural performance with advanced materials

(2) Sustainable Built Environment 

Desired Outcomes:

• To improve building energy efficiency from 2005 levels; and

• To reduce embodied carbon via low carbon solutions at solution/project level

Key Research Themes:

• Energy Efficient Green Buildings:

  • Advanced cooling and ventilation solutions, including high-performance building envelopes

  • Intelligent building and district-level solutions

  • Integration of next-gen renewable, green energy solutions and microgrids

• Low Carbon Solutions:

  • Low carbon materials and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) for the Built Environment

  • Ecosystem of low carbon construction solutions

  • Building design, operations and sustainability

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

(a) Impact and Potential Contribution to CoT Objectives

• Relevance of the proposed research to the objectives and targets stated in the CoT Grant Call Topic, and its quantifiable contribution towards addressing a critical challenge or problem.

(b) Scientific Merits with Potential for Breakthrough and Innovation

• Quality and significance of the proposed research, including its novelty and whether it challenges current research paradigms, and the potential for breakthroughs and innovation to advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields.

• Potential for international competitiveness in comparison with other similar and prominent work.

(c) Potential for Application and Deployment in Singapore and Commercialisation/Export

• Potential for the application of research outcomes in Singapore by public agencies and for solutions to be replicated in Singapore beyond a single site or project.

• Feasibility of commercialisation/export in areas where Singapore has a competitive advantage.

(d) Execution Strength and Technical Competency of Research Team

• Quality of the proposed plans for executing and delivering the research programme and achieving its objectives, including the appropriateness of the proposed milestones and deliverables (applicable to full proposal applications).

• Quality, significance, and relevance of the recent research record of the Lead PI and Co-PIs and the strength of the applicant group, including likely synergy in delivering research and potential for international leadership.

Funding Support

The CoT R&D Programme will support 100% of the approved qualifying direct costs of a project for Singapore-based Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and public Research Institutes (RIs).

Private sector entities may receive funding support of up to 70% of the approved qualifying direct costs of a project, depending on their entity type, as summarised below:

Support for indirect costs, in the form of overheads, will only be provided to Singapore-based IHLs and public RIs. Funding support equivalent to 30% of the total approved qualifying direct costs will be provided.

Grant Calls

Grant calls will be launched via the Research Grants Portal (RGP). Interested applicants may visit the Research Grants Portal (opens in new tab) for information on ongoing grant calls.

Contact Information

For enquiries, please email BCA_COT@bca.gov.sg