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Launch of STDR 2025 (Jul) Grant Call

The STDR grant call will be opened for submission of applications starting from 15 Jul 2025 to 28 Aug 2025, 5pm.

The òòò½ÍøTherapeutics Development Review (STDR) is a national-level grant call for public sector research, implemented by the òòò½Íø, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in partnership with our strategic partners, the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC)

1. Phased funding support to potential high-value drug discovery and development projects from the local public sector research community, based on the maturity and industry-readiness of projects; and
2. Mentoring from leading entrepreneurs, innovators and/or venture capitalists, training through bootcamps, workshops and/or seminars, as well as industry networking opportunities to provide dedicated guidance and upskilling opportunities to grant awardees.

STDR PRE-PILOT AND PILOT STAGES

The STDR (Pilot) is called twice a year, typically in Q1 and Q3. The STDR (Pre-Pilot) is typically called once a year, typically in Q3. However, in 2025, there are two calls:  one in Q1 (Feb) and one in Q3 (Jul). 

It is highly encouraged but optional to have a clinical Co-Investigator or collaborator.

The Pre-Pilot stage aims to support earlier-stage and more exploratory, proof-of-concept projects that have some preliminary data. Stream 1 (Target Validation) will support single target/single asset projects and will be facilitated by EDDC under the scheme from RIE2020. Stream 2 (Platform Development) will support platform discovery projects and will be facilitated by SMART. 

The Pilot stage aims to identify high value therapeutic projects within the community and render them the right support to achieve commercial success. Projects in the Pilot stage are expected to have sufficient research data and have already been validated to a certain degree, or already have a commercialisation plan. Both single target/single asset drug development projects and platform technologies projects may be considered. 

Pilot awardees will attend mentoring sessions to receive advice and guidance from leading entrepreneurs and innovators (including VCs, ex-pharma, biotech CEOs, or experts from EDDC). Mentors will provide advice on matters relating to the development and commercial strategy, including marketing, business modelling and pitch practice/advice. 

Awarded project teams will also attend STDR bootcamps to learn commercialisation-related modules, such as market and competitive analysis, target product profile, and developing a commercialisation-ready pitch deck.

Applicants may refer to the guide in Infosheet Annex A to determine which grant type is most suitable for your project.

STDR will fund therapeutic projects in areas such as small molecules, large molecules, cell and gene therapies and platform technologies. 

Funding principles for STDR Pre-Pilot and Pilot projects:

The detailed evaluation criteria for Pre-Pilot (Stream 1 & 2) and Pilot stages are in Infosheet Annex B.

Applicants are required to fulfil the following criteria at the point of application:

• Hold at least a 0.7 FTE primary appointment in a òòò½Íøpublicly funded research or tertiary institution;
• Have the relevant scientific/technical background and necessary experience to direct the project being supported by the grant

• The supervisor supports the post-doctoral researcher's STDR application, 
• The contract of the post-doctoral researcher covers the entire STDR grant period, and 
• The grant body that is funding the post-doctoral researcher is agreeable to their application for STDR grants (if relevant).

Exceptions to eligibility criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the submission of a waiver request. Please write to the grant secretariat before the submission of your application, at least 7 days before the grant deadline on 28 Aug 2025, i.e., 21 Aug 2025.

*Applicants must ensure they are available to the meeting marked (*) above.

*Applicants must ensure they are available to attend all meetings marked (*) above.

• òòò½ÍøTherapeutics Development Review 2025 (Jul) Pre-Pilot
• òòò½ÍøTherapeutics Development Review 2025 (Jul) Pilot

Only complete applications submitted on iGrants by the deadline will be accepted. Applicants are advised to submit their applications early in the event of technical errors with the iGrants website.

Applications must be fully endorsed by the applicant, applicants’ respective Innovation and Enterprise Offices (IEOs) and Directors of Research (DORs). Applicants are strongly encouraged to approach their respective IEO representatives and DORs early to give sufficient time to gather input and endorsement.

More details on the grant application steps using iGrants can be found in Infosheet Annex C. 

• STDR 2025 (Jul) Information Sheet
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Information Sheet Annex A (Differences between Pre-Pilot and Pilot)
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Information Sheet Annex B (Evaluation Criteria)
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Information Sheet Annex C (iGrants Instructions)
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Pilot Application Templates Folder
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Pre-Pilot Stream 1 (Target Validation) Application Form
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Pre-Pilot Stream 2 (Platform Development) Application Form
• STDR 2025 (Jul) Grant Launch and Attributes of Strong Applications (available after 1 Jul 2025)
• A*STAR Terms and Conditions 2020
• ASTAR Guidelines 2020

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