In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
ECI suits companies with at least 10 Singapore staff, a tech team of two or more and prior custom AI work. It funds 70% of AI consulting (up to S$105,000) plus cloud credits. Most micro firms will get more from the EDGE Grant, free IMDA consultancy or a small, focused AI project.
What the Enterprise Compute Initiative is
The ECI was announced at Budget 2025, with the Ministry of Finance setting aside up to S$150 million. It is run by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG). The official ECI programme page (last updated 17 July 2026) describes it as a short-term programme to support Singapore-based companies with their AI transformation projects.
Each participating company gets two kinds of support:
- Cloud credits, tools and training from a cloud service provider (CSP), to build the AI system.
- Consulting services from a pre-qualified partner, to develop a minimum viable product (MVP: the first working version) and plan the change management around it.
The programme runs for one year from each cloud provider's launch date, in cohorts. Companies are expected to commit people and technical resources for up to six months and deliver the MVP. ECI also sits alongside the newer Champions of AI Programme from Enterprise Singapore and DISG, which is aimed at leading companies doing enterprise-wide AI transformation and which EnterpriseSG and DISG invite shortlisted companies into.
How much ECI funding you can get
The consulting subsidy is fixed by DISG. The cloud credits differ by provider. Figures below are from the ECI programme page and the cloud service providers page, as of October 2026.
| Support | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Consulting subsidy | 70% of actual consulting costs, capped at S$105,000 per company |
| Supportable consulting cost | Capped at S$150,000; the company pays the remaining 30% |
| Google Cloud (AI Cloud Takeoff) | Up to S$200,000 of on-demand training licences plus other incentives and workshops |
| AWS (AI Springboard) | Up to S$350,000 in cloud credits and training; up to S$600,000 more through other AWS programmes for qualifying companies |
| Microsoft (Agentic AI Accelerator) | Up to S$250,000 of Azure credits, training and tools; up to S$700,000 in services for selected businesses, subject to approval |
| Oracle ECI Program | Up to S$250,000 in Oracle Cloud credits, training and workshops; more for private cloud needs |
Two points are easy to miss. Consulting must be done by a partner on the ECI list; the FAQ says you cannot bring your own consultant. And the consulting must go beyond strategy into technical implementation, so a slide deck on AI ideas does not qualify.
Who is eligible for ECI
DISG lists baseline criteria that every applicant must meet, then assesses the use case. Tick these honestly before spending time on an application.
ECI baseline criteria
The use case must aim at process improvement, a new product, research and development, or contribution to the wider ecosystem. DISG says it must show impact and lead to the establishment of AI teams within the company. Complex, scalable use cases are prioritised. All sectors can apply except gambling and betting, and a parent company cannot enter several subsidiaries.
Is ECI relevant to a small business?
For most businesses with fewer than 10 staff, no. The criteria describe a company that already writes its own software, has tried building AI before, and wants to grow an AI team. A shop, clinic or agency that wants an AI assistant to answer enquiries does not fit that picture, and the 30% share of a large consulting project is real money.
ECI may suit you if
- You have 10+ Singapore staff and in-house developers
- You have already built an AI proof of concept
- You have a specific use case with your own data
- Leadership can commit people for up to six months
Look elsewhere if
- You have no in-house tech team
- You want an off-the-shelf tool such as a chatbot or AI email assistant
- Your budget cannot cover 30% of a consulting project
- Your company does not have audited accounts
ECI vs EDGE and other options for micro firms
ECI is not the only government support for AI and IT, and for small firms it is rarely the right one.
| Option | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Compute Initiative | 70% of AI consulting (cap S$105,000) plus cloud credits | Companies with a tech team building a custom AI product |
| EDGE Grant | Up to 50% for SMEs on digital solutions, as a reimbursement | SMEs adopting pre-approved software and IT projects |
| IMDA CTO-as-a-Service | Free first advisory session and project management support for eligible SMEs | Firms unsure which tool or vendor to pick |
| Vendor trials announced by IMDA | Free trials and workshops (for example Slack AI Launchpad) | Testing an AI tool before paying |
EDGE replaced the Productivity Solutions Grant on 30 September 2026. Our EDGE Grant guide explains the 50% IT support level, the S$30,000 yearly limit for single-function digital solutions and the rule against paying a deposit before you apply. The free IMDA consultancy and the October 2026 AI trial programmes are covered in our article on IMDA's AI support for SMEs.
How to apply for ECI, if you qualify
Write down one use case and its business impact
Pick your main use case. The FAQ says to submit one application with the main use case; partners can discuss others after approval.
Check your data and team
Confirm you have usable data for the use case and name the in-house engineers or data scientists who will work on it.
Choose a preferred cloud provider
You can pick a provider you do not use today. Compare the credit packages on DISG's provider page.
Apply with Corppass and audited accounts
Submit through the DISG apply page. Applicants hear back within 4 weeks, per the FAQ.
Onboard with the provider and assigned partner
If accepted, the provider contacts you and assigns a pre-qualified consulting partner, who sets out the timeline.
Unsuccessful applicants can apply again, but DISG asks for meaningful changes to the proposal. Questions go to the programme team at the email address on the ECI page.
Do it yourself or get help?
If you meet the ECI criteria, the application is yours to make, and the programme assigns a pre-qualified partner. IT Sorted is not an ECI consulting partner and cannot deliver ECI-funded consulting. Before you hire anyone for AI work, our guide on what to expect from an AI consultant lists the questions to ask.
If you are a smaller firm with a specific job for AI, start small and keep it on accounts you own. Our AI Website Assistant (S$790) answers customer questions from your own content, and a Custom Tool or Dashboard (from S$1,990, quoted) suits document processing or internal tools. Both are fixed-price, paid upfront, with no grant paperwork involved.
Frequently asked questions
It is a Singapore government programme, announced at Budget 2025 with up to S$150 million set aside, that gives companies cloud credits and tools from a cloud provider and subsidises consulting to build an AI minimum viable product. It is run by Digital Industry Singapore with Google Cloud, AWS, Microsoft and Oracle as participating providers.
DISG supports 70% of actual consulting costs, capped at S$105,000 per company, on a maximum supportable consulting cost of S$150,000. The company pays the remaining 30%. Cloud credits and training come separately from the chosen provider, with maximums of S$200,000 to S$350,000 depending on the provider, as of October 2026.
Not under the baseline criteria published by DISG. Applicants need at least 10 staff based in Singapore, a tech team of two or more people, prior experience building a custom AI solution, accessible data and the financial ability to finish the project. Smaller firms should look at the EDGE Grant and IMDA's free digital consultancy instead.
No. The ECI FAQ says you must work with a pre-qualified consulting partner on the ECI list, chosen for familiarity with the cloud providers' tools. After approval, your assigned cloud provider contacts you with onboarding details, including the partner assigned to your project.
No. ECI funds AI consulting and cloud credits for companies building custom AI products, run by Digital Industry Singapore. EDGE is Enterprise Singapore's grant for business projects including digital solutions, paying up to 50% for SMEs on IT as a reimbursement. You can be eligible for ECI even if you received other AI grants, provided the project is different.