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SUCCESS CASE
How a Cybersecurity Company Secured S$200K Co-Innovation Funding for Singapore-Japan LLM Security R&D
RIC helped a Singapore cybersecurity company convert an existing Japan partnership into a fundable joint R&D project for LLM application security.
CATEGORY
R&D and Innovation
CLIENT TYPE
Cybersecurity / AI security
GRANT TYPE
EDG Co-Innovation Programme support
FUNDING SECURED
Over S$174,000
About the Client and Project
Client Profile
The client is a Singapore cybersecurity company specialising in software security, software composition analysis, static application security testing, and AI / LLM security. It has research roots from Nanyang Technological University, more than S$10 million in investments and convertible notes, and Techblazer Award recognition. The company had a credible technical foundation and an existing Japan relationship that could be shaped into a cross-border R&D collaboration.
Project Nature
The project developed cybersecurity tools for Large Language Model AI applications through a Singapore-Japan R&D collaboration. The technical scope covered AI application software composition analysis, model software composition analysis, malicious code detection, prompt filtering, anomaly detection, and output filtering. Rather than a standard product localisation or overseas sales project, this was a joint R&D effort focused on strengthening the security layer around LLM-enabled applications and creating commercially relevant capabilities for a fast-growing area of AI adoption.
Funding Objective and Challenge
Funding Objective
The funding objective was to support a Singapore-side co-innovation project under the Enterprise Development Grant, Co-Innovation Programme, and Eureka Globalstars-Japan Call. Enterprise Singapore was involved on the Singapore side, while NEDO was involved on the Japan side. The approved Singapore-side grant quantum was over S$174,000, supporting qualifying R&D and collaboration activities linked to the development of LLM cybersecurity capabilities with a Japanese technology partner.
The Challenge
The client already had the Japan partner relationship, so RIC’s value was not in making a simple overseas introduction. The real challenge was converting that existing relationship into a fundable joint R&D project. This required a clear workplan, aligned partner contributions, a credible innovation and commercialisation narrative, qualifying cost review, and coordination across both BGP and Eureka portal requirements. The project also needed proper handling of IP-sharing and partnership MOU documents, while ensuring the Singapore-side scope was technically meaningful, commercially relevant, and aligned with the co-innovation funding framework.
How RIC Supported the Client
RIC supported the client across the full co-innovation grant journey, from R&D scoping to post-award claims.
RIC’s support included:
• Refining the Singapore-Japan R&D workplan into a fundable project structure.
• Aligning the Singapore and Japan partner contributions.
• Developing the innovation and commercialisation narrative.
• Reviewing qualifying project costs and grant support logic.
• Supporting finalisation of IP-sharing and partnership MOU arrangements.
• Coordinating BGP and Eureka portal submission requirements.
• Supporting application evaluation facilitation and offer-stage follow-through.
• Preparing and submitting post-award claims documentation.
RIC’s role was to turn an existing commercial and technical relationship into a structured cross-border R&D project that could be evaluated, approved, executed, and claimed properly.
Outcome
FUNDING SECURED
Over S$174,000
The client secured over S$174,000 in Singapore-side grant support for a completed Singapore-Japan LLM cybersecurity R&D collaboration. The project ran from July 2024 to June 2025 and supported the development of AI security capabilities covering LLM application analysis, model analysis, prompt and output filtering, malicious code detection, and anomaly detection. RIC also supported the post-award claims process.
What This Means for Similar Companies
For cybersecurity and AI companies, this case shows that overseas partnerships do not automatically become fundable innovation projects. Agencies need to see a properly structured R&D workplan, clear partner contributions, credible commercialisation logic, and defensible qualifying costs. This is especially important for cross-border innovation grants, where both local and foreign-side requirements may need to be coordinated. Companies with proprietary technology and serious overseas partners should treat grant support as a strategic structuring exercise, not just an application form.
