Singapore–Horizon Europe Complementary Fund

The Singapore–Horizon Europe (SG-HE) Complementary Fund is a unilateral Singapore funding arrangement administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF). It supports research and innovation activities conducted in Singapore by eligible Singapore entities participating in Horizon Europe Pillar II projects in priority areas for Singapore (NRF, accessed 19 August 2026). It is a complementary national funding route attached to international collaborative projects, not Singapore's replacement for Horizon Europe and not a general-purpose grant for any research proposal.

What the fund supports

Singapore entities may continue to participate in Horizon Europe calls and may optionally apply for SG-HE support. NRF can give in-principle approval when an application is considered supportable, but funding support is provided only once the Horizon Europe proposal has been evaluated and the consortium has received the relevant project award (Research Grants Portal, accessed 19 August 2026). The Singapore fund therefore does not guarantee that a proposal will be funded, and participation in Horizon Europe does not automatically require SG-HE support.

The fund targets Singapore-based research or innovation activity within eligible Horizon Europe Pillar II projects and priority areas. The public call page should be checked for the current scope, supported budget items, eligible-applicant rules, and detailed requirements; those conditions can be more specific than the scheme's broad description (NRF, accessed 19 August 2026).

Consortium and application requirements

A Singapore entity must satisfy the Horizon Europe consortium requirement by joining a consortium formed with entities from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The minimum consortium structure stated by the Research Grants Portal is at least three independent legal entities from three different countries, including at least one legal entity from an EU Member State; the other two may be from EU Member States or Associated Countries (Research Grants Portal, accessed 19 August 2026). Applicants submit through the Research Grants Portal using the SG-HE application form and provide a draft or copy of the Horizon Europe proposal.

Singapore entities may apply for SG-HE support before or after their consortium submits its Horizon Europe proposal. In either sequence, support remains conditional on meeting NRF's in-principle requirements and on the Horizon Europe proposal being awarded. The fund is consequently best understood as a coordinated two-stage pathway: assemble an eligible international consortium and proposal, then secure the underlying Horizon Europe award before Singapore-side support is disbursed.

2026–2027 call window

The SG-HE Complementary Fund 2026–2027 Call for Submission of Proposals opened on 30 April 2026 at 09:00 Singapore time and is scheduled to remain open until 31 December 2027 at 16:00 Singapore time. The call is rolling, and the page states that eligible Singapore entities may apply for support for open or upcoming Horizon Europe Pillar II calls launching in 2026–2027 within the fund's scope (Research Grants Portal, accessed 19 August 2026). Researchers should verify the live call documents and deadlines for the particular Horizon Europe topic rather than treat the rolling SG-HE window as a deadline extension for every EU call.

The fund fits Singapore's RIE2030 strategy of strengthening international research partnerships. It should be distinguished from domestic NRF instruments such as the Competitive Research Programme or Central Gap Fund: SG-HE is tied to an eligible Horizon Europe Pillar II consortium and award, whereas those domestic instruments have their own scope, review, and application rules.