Update on Research Initiatives Grant under Grant for Equity Market Singapore and Notable Initiatives Developed
Prime Minister's OfficeSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the status of the Research Initiatives Grant under the Grant for Equity Market Singapore (GEMS) since its announcement in 2019. MP Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the total funding awarded and examples of notable initiatives developed to propel the local equity research ecosystem. Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam replied that MAS has approved one project for funding and is currently reviewing five other applications out of thirty preliminary enquiries. The approved project employs digital tools to help smaller listed companies improve investor engagement and has facilitated nearly twenty outreach events since mid-2021. MAS continues to welcome proposals that address market gaps in research or trading to support the growth of Singapore’s public equity market.
Transcript
2 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Prime Minister (a) how much of the Research Initiatives Grant under the Grant for Equity Market Singapore (GEMS) announced in 2019 to crowd-source initiatives to propel the development of Singapore’s equity research ecosystem has been awarded; and (b) what are some of the notable initiatives that have been developed through the GEMS Research Initiatives Grant.
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (for the Prime Minister): The Research Initiatives Grant under MAS' Grant for Equity Market Singapore (GEMS) scheme provides support for initiatives that seek to enhance Singapore's equity research ecosystem and improve the research coverage of companies listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Since the launch of the Research Initiatives Grant in January 2019, MAS and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) have received 30 enquiries and pilot concepts, many of which were exploratory. Fifteen of them were followed through with draft applications. MAS works with applicants to determine if their proposals address existing market gaps in equity research or trading and whether the proposals have clear implementation plans. It has, to date, approved grant funding for one project and is, currently, reviewing five other grant applications.
The project that was granted funding employs digital tools to help smaller SGX-listed companies improve their investor engagement. The project went live in mid-2021 and has facilitated close to 20 investor outreach events to-date.
MAS continues to welcome proposals that can help enhance equity research and contribute to the growth of our public equity market.