New panel to review appeals by SMEs for Spring S'pore grant

Singapore

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) that were turned down in their application for Spring Singapore's capability development grant will now be able to turn to a panel for help. The pilot panel starts from Nov 1 for one year.

Chaired by Sim Giok Lak, who is also chairman of Zicom Group Ltd, the panel comprises 17 members from the private sector in fields including manufacturing, accountancy, and science and technology.

Known as the grant appeal advisory panel, it will review appeal cases for the capability development grant. The grant is a financial assistance programme that helps SMEs defray up to 70 per cent of qualifying project costs in 10 areas including product…