Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Government officials will NEVER ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call.

Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam. For more information, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg (opens in new tab).

National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF)

Grant Management and Investigator-led Projects

5 October 2026

A concise summary of the main points regarding this article.

Date: For Parliament Sitting on 6 Oct 2026

MPs Speaking: Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat, Mr Gan Kim Yong


Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) how many requests to change the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE2025) grant's scope were approved and refused annually since 2021; (b) what proportion of its academic research funding was investigator-led, which the plan undertook to increase; and (c) whether RIE2030 will fund investigators and teams for a programme of research in a domain, free to change direction, rather than a fixed proposal.

Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): In RIE2025, investigator-led projects, which are research proposals initiated by individuals on an individual project basis, rather than as part of a larger research programme, accounted for approximately 14% of academic research funding.

Grant recipients may propose changes to their project scopes where these are warranted due to scientific developments or other operational reasons. Such requests are generally considered favourably when the proposed changes remain aligned with the grant objectives. We do not track the exact number of requests for variations as this is not meaningful.