New Idea Scheme (NIS)

New Idea Scheme

Supports Singapore innovators through MTI New Idea Scheme pathways for ideas requiring tailored regulatory engagement.

The New Idea Scheme (NIS) is a regulatory sandbox programme administered by Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) through the Pro-Enterprise Panel. It enables businesses to trial novel concepts in a controlled environment when two concurrent conditions are met: existing regulatory frameworks do not clearly address the concept, and no current government agency sandbox programme accommodates the idea. The scheme accepts applications on a rolling, continuous basis and carries no cash award — the benefit is co-development of a customised regulatory sandbox framework and facilitated introductions to relevant regulatory agencies.

To be eligible, applicants must be registered business entities in Singapore; individuals cannot apply directly. The application requires four elements: clearly defined trial boundaries specifying duration, target user groups, or testing locations; a monitoring and evaluation plan to assess concept performance and impact; user protection safeguards covering risk mitigation during the trial period; and an exit strategy or secondary plan to conclude or scale the activity after the sandbox concludes. MTI works with the applicant and the relevant regulatory agencies to refine the trial scope and provide real-time feedback during the testing phase. The page was last updated 28 April 2026.

The NIS is intended as a scheme of last resort within Singapore's regulatory sandbox ecosystem — companies whose ideas fit within an existing agency sandbox (for example, the Energy Market Authority sandbox or the NEA Regulatory Sandbox) should apply directly to that programme rather than through NIS. Applicants submit proposals via a dedicated form at form.gov.sg. The scheme is open to companies across all technology and industry sectors provided the dual eligibility conditions are satisfied.