MTC Bioeconomy Funding Initiative: Unlocking New Carbon Sources from Sidestreams
Limited submission
MTC Bioeconomy Funding Initiative: Unlocking New Carbon Sources from Sidestreams supports Singapore public-sector researchers turning industrial sidestreams into cheaper carbon sources for bio-based manufacturing.
Funder: Agency for Science Technology and Research
Due Dates: January 4, 2027, 12pm SGT (Submission) | Seven working days before submission deadline (Eligibility waivers)
Funding Amounts: Up to SGD 6 million per project, inclusive of 30% overheads, for up to 3 years
Summary: Supports translational research converting industrial sidestreams into lower-cost carbon sources for bio-based manufacturing.
Key Information: Funding is restricted to Singapore public-sector research performers, with institutional proposal quotas.
Description
A*STAR’s MTC Bioeconomy Funding Initiative supports mission-driven, translational research that strengthens Singapore’s global bioeconomy presence and advances commercial capabilities in the Energy & Chemicals sector. This call focuses on unlocking industrial sidestreams as cheaper, more sustainable alternatives to refined feedstocks such as corn-derived dextrose, which are costly and compete with food supply.
Managed by the Bioeconomy Innovation Office, the call targets industry-defined problems with a 3- to 10-year horizon for commercial impact. Biological, physicochemical and hybrid technologies are within scope, including approaches to preprocessing, impurity management, conversion and product recovery. Projects must demonstrate a pathway toward economically competitive bio-based manufacturing at scale, rather than purely exploratory research, and target Technology Readiness Level 5 or above at completion.
