Good Design Research & Development

Accelerate design-led innovation by transforming ideas and insights into market-ready products, services, systems or experiences with the Good Design Research & Development (GDRD) programme. 

Overview

GDRD is an initiative by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) under the Design 2035 Masterplan. It supports non-design organisations in adopting design as a strategic capability for innovation and growth, while enabling design firms to develop new capabilities, services and products that strengthen Singapore’s design sector.

Through co-funding support, GDRD helps organisations apply design across the innovation journey – from understanding user needs and validating opportunities to developing, testing and launching market-ready solutions.

Why Apply for GDRD

At Dsg, we believe design enables organisations to innovate with greater confidence, grow, create value for users, and achieve stronger market outcomes.

  • Make better innovation decisions
    GDRD supports design research and development activities that help organisations better understand users, validate opportunities, and make evidence-based decisions before investing in development.
  • Reduce the uncertainty of innovation
    Design-led innovation often requires investment in research, prototyping, testing, and development. GDRD helps lower barriers for organisations undertaking such work.
  • Build lasting design capabilities
    GDRD helps organisations and design teams strengthen capabilities in areas such as user-centred innovation, prototyping, product and service development, and commercialisation.
  • Strengthen Singapore’s design ecosystem

    Projects are expected to involve Singapore-based designers and/or design firms, creating opportunities for local design capabilities to deliver higher-value innovation outcomes.

Who Can Apply

GDRD is open to organisations that:

  • Are incorporated in Singapore for at least three years at the point of application;
  • Have access to design capabilities, either in-house or through engagement of external design professionals; and
  • Demonstrate the capability and commitment to complete the proposed project.

Applicants may include:

  • Design firms developing new offerings, capabilities, products, or services
  • Non-design organisations seeking to apply design for innovation and growth, including social enterprises

For Design Development projects, applicants should also provide evidence of having completed a prior design research process, either independently or through a design project partner.

Types of Projects Supported

  • Design Research Projects: Supports organisations in understanding their users, identify opportunities, validate assumptions, and determine the right problem to solve before investing in development. This includes user and stakeholder research, opportunity identification, and concept testing – culminating in a validated Proof-of-Concept (POC) that demonstrates the solutions’ desirability, feasibility, and/or viability.
  • Design Development Projects: Supports organisations in transforming validated POCs into market-ready products, services, systems or experiences. This involves prototyping, pilot deployment, testing, small-scale production, market validation, and commercialisation – working towards a launch through evidence such as market deployment, customer adoption, commercial agreements, sales, distribution channels, or registered intellectual property.
  • Design Research + Development Projects: Supports organisations undertaking the full innovation journey within a single project, from opportunity identification and concept validation through to development, testing, and market launch. This combined pathway results in both a validated POC and a launched product or service.

Funding Support

GDRD provides co-funding support of up to 50% for qualifying project costs incurred during the approved qualifying period.

Examples of qualifying costs may include:

  • Material Costs
  • Third Party Costs
  • Specialised Equipment and Software Costs
  • Internal Manpower Costs (Salaries) *Subject to programme caps

Dsg reserves the right to determine if proposed activities and corresponding cost items are eligible for funding.

Project Type

Maximum Grant Support

Qualifying Period

Design Research

Up to S$50,000

Up to 12 months

Design Development

Up to S$450,000

Up to 24 months

Design Research + Development

Up to S$500,000

Up to 36 months

How Projects Are Assessed

Applications will be assessed based on the strength of the proposed project, including:

  • Value to users and stakeholders
  • Sustainability of the value proposition
  • Feasibility of implementation
  • Success measures and ambition
  • Contribution to Singapore’s design sector and ecosystem
  • Alignment with the Design 2035 Masterplan’s Areas of Impact and Key Growth Areas

Applying for GDRD

Applicants are required to complete the GDRD application form and submit supporting documents, including project timeline/details, portfolio of work and latest audited financial statements.

Apply Now

If you have questions about GDRD, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact us at [email protected].

Last updated: 20 June 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

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Eligibility

Yes. GDRD is open to both design and non-design organisations, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and are seeking to apply design-led innovation to develop new products, services, systems, or experiences.

Yes. Design firms may apply if they are undertaking design-led innovation projects to develop new capabilities, value propositions, products, services, or market opportunities.

Yes. Applicants must be incorporated in Singapore for at least three years at the point of application.

Applicants should either have in-house design capabilities or be prepared to engage design services for the project.

Publicly funded organisations may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to Dsg’s assessment and provided there is no duplication of funding for the same project scope.

Project Scope

Design Research focuses on uncovering insights, identifying the right problem, developing and validating Proof-of-Concepts (POC).

Design Development focuses on transforming validated POCs into market-ready products, services, systems or experiences through prototyping, testing and market launch.

Yes. Organisations may apply for support for an integrated Design Research + Development project if the project involves both stages within a coherent project scope.

A successful Design Research project should produce validated insights and a POC demonstrating the desirability, feasibility and/or viability of the proposed solution.

A successful Design Development project should result in market adoption, such as pilot deployment, customer adoption, commercial agreements, sales, licensing or distribution channels, where applicable.

Funding and Claims

No. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding. Applications will be evaluated based on the project’s merits, potential impact, alignment with GDRD objectives, the applicant’s ability to fulfil the project deliverables, and comply with the programme’s terms and conditions, and the availability of funds.

The grant will generally be disbursed in two milestones:

  • 30% upon acceptance of the grant and submission of required documents
  • Remaining amount upon successful project completion, subject to audited qualifying expenditure and Dsg’s acceptance of required deliverables/documents

Yes. All projects are required to submit an external audit report and supporting documents as part of the claims process.

Only costs incurred within the approved qualifying period and in accordance with Dsg’s requirements may be considered. Applicants should not assume that costs incurred before approval are supportable.

Terms and Obligations

Successful applicants will be required to complete the approved project scope, meet agreed milestones and deliverables, submit required reports, and provide supporting documents for claims. Depending on the project, this may include:

  • Midpoint and final presentations
  • Project report
  • External audit report
  • Validated proof-of-concept
  • Evidence of market launch or deployment
  • Evidence of capability development or designers upskilled

Dsg may invite successful applicants to share project outcomes or provide materials for publicity, showcases, stories, or related platforms.

Intellectual property arising from the project remains with the applicant, subject to the terms and conditions of the Letter of Award. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights and permissions relating to all project outputs and submitted materials.

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