New ‘Future Made in Australia’ grants launched

The Industry Growth Program and Cooperative Research Centres Projects fall under the Future Made in Australia agenda, which emphasises the need to invest in Australia’s local manufacturing and skills capabilities.

Industry Growth Program

The Industry Growth Program (IGP) unlocks funding of up to $5 million to help innovative startups and high-growth small and medium businesses (SMEs) commercialise their ideas.

These grants will provide targeted support across the National Reconstruction Fund’s (NRF’s) seven priority areas to overcome the challenges associated with growing and scaling up through two grant streams:

• Early-Stage Commercialisation grants from $50,000 to $250,000 to help establish the commercial viability of an innovative product, process, or service.
• Commercialisation and Growth grants from $100,000 to $5 million to help push ideas from prototyping through to market readiness stages. Grants will help develop strategies for entry to market and scaling up into national and international markets.

Grant funding through these programs is matched with the IGP’s specialised advice and mentoring program.

After receiving advisory services and a commercialisation and growth report under the IGP, eligible businesses can choose to apply for these grant opportunities. Grants will be assessed by an independent assessment committee.

More information about the IGP, including eligibility for the advisory service and the grant opportunities, is available via the program page.

Cooperative Research Centres Projects

Applications are now also open for the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program.

The CRC-P will provide funding of between $100,000 and $3 million for Australian businesses to collaborate with researchers on projects that aim to solve community and economic problems.

To be eligible, industry-led research collaborations must develop a product, service or process that will solve problems for industry and deliver real outcomes; benefit small to medium enterprises (SMEs); and include education and training activities.

Now in its ninth year, the CRC-P initiative has committed $553 million to establish 253 projects, most recently including:

• Ground-breaking recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries and solar panels
• Life-saving medical products to prevent still-birth and control epileptic seizures
• Unmanned aerial fire-fighting drones to protect property and lives.

Applications are open until Wednesday June 5, and further information is available at www.business.gov.au/crc-p.

Grant Finder

Unlock the value of government grants and programs to drive your business, save on costs or make your operations more efficient. Although an essential enabler to support business growth, the Victorian Chamber knows finding grants can be complex and time consuming. Our Grant Finder tool for members is your new single source of truth for business grants in Victoria. We can help you identify which local, state or federal government grants best suit your business needs.

Use Grant Finder today