$30 million grants program to support local manufacturing

Wide Bay manufacturers with bright ideas that are ready to be turned into world-beating realities can now apply for a slice of a new $30 million fund from the Morrison Government.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien said the Commercialisation Fund will provide matched funding of between $100,000 and $1 million to help manufacturers with projects bringing industry and researchers together to commercialise new products.

“Wide Bay is home to some incredible innovation in manufacturing and the sector is critical to our region’s future growth and local jobs,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our Government is backing manufacturers with these grants to build on their skills and innovation, creating local jobs for the future, right here in Wide Bay.”

“The Commercialisation Fund is designed to help our small and medium-sized manufacturers to access research and knowledge that can help them grow their businesses and become more competitive on both a domestic and global stage.”

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said making science and technology work for industry is one of the central pillars of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy.

“We are positioning Australia’s manufacturing industry at the cutting edge of innovation and this fund will help bring together the best of research and manufacturing capability to generate commercial outcomes,” Minister Andrews said.

“We know that by making our manufacturers more competitive and helping them to take on the world, we will create jobs for Australians – both for the COVID-19 recovery and for generations to come.”

Consistent with all programs under the Modern Manufacturing Strategy, this fund will support projects within the Government’s six National Manufacturing Priorities.

These priorities are: Medical Products, Food and Beverage, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence, and Space.

Commercialisation Fund grants will be between $100,000 and $1 million and must be matched by industry. These smaller-sized grants will complement the larger projects that will be supported through the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

Projects must include collaboration with a research partner and a minimum of one industry partner.

The fund will run over an 18-month period. The first round of funding, which is open now, will provide $20 million while a subsequent round will deliver the remaining $10 million.

For more information and to apply for a grant go to https://www.amgc.org.au/projects/