Final Reminder for Application Deadline
May 3rd 2022

R&D Tax Incentive – applications to register R&D activities must be lodged by Tuesday 3rd May

It is important to note that the 3rd May lodgement deadline to register your 20/21 financial year R&D activities is looming fast for companies with a standard 30th June reporting year-end. This newsletter serves as your May 2022 R&D lodgement final reminder of application deadline. Other entities with a substituted accounting period have 10 months from the completion of their financial year to register.

Index

1. Rates | Record Keeping Tips | Deadline Information
2. Export Market Development Grant Receives Regional-Only Funding
3. NSW Export Assistance Grant

 

The new R&D Tax Incentive rates of return are:

FY 2020-21

• Annual revenue <$20m – Company Tax Rate: 26% – Refundable Tax Benefit: 43.5% (if matched by tax losses) or 17.5% (when trading in profit)
• Annual revenue $20m-$50m – Company Tax Rate: 26% – Non-Refundable Tax Offset: 12.5%
• Annual revenue >$50m – Company Tax Rate: 30% – Non-Refundable Tax Offset: 8.5%

 

FY 2021-22

• Annual revenue <$20m – Company Tax Rate: 25% – Refundable Tax Benefit: 43.5% (if matched by tax losses) or 18.5% (when trading in profit)
• Annual revenue $20m-$50m – Company Tax Rate: 25% – Refundable Tax Benefit/2 tier benefit: 8.5% on eligible R&D expenditure which accounts for up to 2% of total company expenses and an additional 16.5% on eligible R&D expenditure exceeding the 2% baseline.
• Annual revenue >$50m – Company Tax Rate: 30% – Refundable Tax Benefit/2 tier benefit: 8.5% on eligible R&D expenditure up to 2% of total company expenses and an additional 16.5% on eligible R&D expenditure exceeding the 2% baseline.

 

End of Financial year R&D Tax housekeeping tips:

• Pay your associated party R&D fees by 30th June each year – if an entity or contractor is associated in any way with the R&D entity ( i.e. shareholder, director, staff, or associated entity) their fees for R&D services must be paid for by the 30th June in the year of the R&D activity otherwise the ATO will not allow the claimant to drawdown the tax benefit when the tax return is lodged, instead, the unpaid associated party expense must be carried forward in the tax return and only realised when the expense is paid.
• Pay your R&D staff superannuation payments by the 30th June each year – to be eligible to claim the superannuation costs relating to R&D staff requires the superannuation to be paid on or before the end of the financial year. Similarly, late compulsory superannuation payments cannot be claimed in the financial year they apply but can be claimed in the following year when paid.

 

R&D Tax record-keeping tips:

It is also important to note that the R&D Tax Incentive is a self-assessment program requiring claimants to maintain contemporaneous records that track the progress of their R&D activities and quantify the costs associated with the activities being claimed. If suitable records are not maintained claimants run the risk of having their prior year/s claims rejected if audited and forced to pay back the benefits received plus interest and penalties. Listed below are the types of records that would be appropriate to meet compliance requirements:

• populating an annual R&D project plan which identifies your eligible core and supporting activities
• writing monthly technical reports which report on the conduct of your R&D activities
• completing weekly time-sheets for your R&D staff against eligible activities to calculate the claimable apportionment of time
• taking photos evidencing stages of prototype work and;
• recording technical meetings
• tracking the material costs associated with each trial

 

Export Market Development Grant (EMDG)

Receives additional funding in May budget but only for regional companies

Under the new EMDG program, eligible SMEs are able to apply for forward grant funding over multiple years to cover eligible marketing and promotional activities.

The oversubscribed and underfunded Export Market Development Grants scheme has been given a $100 million funding boost over the next two years, but this extra cash will only be accessible for regional companies.

The Federal budget, unveiled by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday night, included $100 million over two years for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) through the Regional Accelerator Program.

This funding will only be for regional-based companies looking to access the scheme, which provides reimbursements of up to 50 per cent for eligible export promotion expenses.

The funding will come from the Department of Regional Development rather than the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which administers the scheme.

DFAT’s funding for the EMDGs will remain steady at $157 million per year over the forward estimates, but the regional boost effectively ups this to $207 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24, before it drops back down to the ongoing amount.

Round 2 applications are expected to open soon which will cover eligible export marketing activities from the 1st July 2022.

Grant agreements for Tier 2 and 3 applicants who applied for the first Round (commencing 1st July 2021) will be issued shortly.

 

NSW Export Assistance Grant

If you are an exporting business, or if you were exporting goods or services before the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought, you may be eligible for an export assistance grant of up to $10,000.
 

Eligible Activities

This grant helps eligible export businesses in NSW access global markets. Funds can be used for:

• marketing materials
• website internationalisation
• pivoting to online delivery (for example, converting face-to-face training content to online content for international audiences)
• e-commerce development
• market research
• international tradeshow and trade missions
• inbound business support
• costs to support compliance/localisation of products for export
• costs to protect business in international markets.

 

Available Funding

This grant will be provided as reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible business, for expenses already paid since 1 January 2020.

 

How to Apply

You can submit either one application up to the maximum of $10,000 or multiple applications of a minimum of $2,000 per each application, totaling a maximum of $10,000.

Applications close at 11:59pm on 30 June 2022 or when the allocated funding is exhausted.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for this grant, you must:

• be based in NSW
• be currently exporting, or were exporting prior to the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought
• employ a minimum of 3 full-time equivalent workers at the time of application
• own the goods/services to be exported, or be able to provide documented evidence that you are the agreed export supplier
• produce the goods/services to be exported in Australia, or be able to provide documented evidence that the business provides substantial value to NSW
• be an exporting business with an annual turnover of:
  • up to $100 million, or
  • greater than $100 million that can demonstrate export turnover has declined by more than 30% in the 2019–20 financial year and have an intention to re-establish your export business in your established markets and/or diversify into new markets.

Click here to find out more

– Final Reminder – application deadline looming fast –

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Screen Australia drops a $150k Games Expansion Pack Grant for small and medium game developers

 

A Screen Australia initiative to help Australian game studios increase the ambition and quality of their digital games, and to transition into businesses of scale that can better compete in the global market. Screen Australia will provide production funding to successful applicants in the form of a grant towards the financing of their game. This games expansion pack grant is aimed at games with development budgets below $500,000.

The initiative will run for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years.

Higher budget games are likely to be able to receive Australian Government support through the announced Digital Games Tax Offset, intended to be operational from 1 July 2022.

CONTENTS

1. What?
2. Who?
3. How?
4. Assessment Criteria
5. Terms of Funding

 

What?

Applicants can apply for funding for a digital game with a budget below $500,000. Applicants can also apply for funding for a slate of two or more games at that budget level provided all proposed games are at a stage where they can meet the proof-of-concept requirements set out below.

Screen Australia’s total support will not exceed $150,000 per application in respect of a game or games. Applications are limited to one per company for this current round.

Games can be for any video game platform including PC, mobile and console. The primary intention of the Games Expansion Pack Grant is to fund the creation of new titles. However, applications for live ops development of existing games are eligible. Games with co-financing from commercial partners or state agencies (including state based rebates) are eligible to apply.

The following games are ineligible for support through the initiative:

• games not intended for supply to the general public (eg. a game to be used by a company for training purposes or by an institution, or a game limited to one or a small number of locations);
• games which are substantially advertising or promotions;
• gambling or gambling simulations; and
• games that in the reasonable opinion of Screen Australia may have difficulties receiving an Australian classification.

The initiative will preference original game ideas, rather than licensed intellectual property.
Applications for XR projects which are not a ‘game’ should not apply to Games: Expansion Pack. Such projects may be eligible for funding under Screen Australia’s Online Production fund.

 

Who?

The Games: Expansion Pack funding for 2021-22 is targeted at emerging or small to medium independent game developers.

Companies should fit within the following criteria:

• private company (not listed on the ASX) and it is not majority owned or controlled by an overseas company
• Student teams are not eligible to apply and should seek funding and other support offered by their educational providers.
• Applicants need to be a company
• the game must predominantly be developed in Australia, under the key creative control of Australians or Australian residents, to be considered sufficiently Australian to be eligible for funding

 

How?

Applications for the 2021-22 round close 5pm Thursday 28th April 2022 and can be made through the Screen Australia application portal. Applications consist of the materials requested in the application form and a proof-of-concept in the form of:

• ideally, a playable prototype of the game(s); or
• an animated gameplay trailer for the game(s).
• a video pitch of no more than 3 minutes outlining the vision for the game(s) and the impact of a successful release on the applicant’s business;
• a development plan, including schedule and milestones;
• a financing plan and budget to completion and release (in the prescribed format);
• details of existing financing deals (such as grant agreements or deal memos); and
• a marketing and release plan no fewer than 3 pages long.

Applicants can also provide examples of past games or credits that they consider will help the assessment of the application. If an applicant and/or team has access requirements that make it difficult to submit their application, please email Games and we will make arrangements to assist.

 

Assessment Criteria

Each application will be assessed on the below criteria:

• the level of creativity and entertainment value of the game(s);
• the viability of the budget and development and financing plans to enable the game(s) to be developed to release;
• the viability of the marketing and release plan(s); and
• the potential for the game(s) to contribute to the scale and sustainability of the applicant.

Applications will be assessed by Screen Australia’s Online Department. Screen Australia may engage external assessors to assist it with some applications. If external assessors are used, Screen Australia will provide an opportunity to advise of any conflicts of interest.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission by mid-June 2022.

 

Terms of Funding

Screen Australia’s funding will be provided as a grant. It is not repayable to Screen Australia from the receipts of the game(s). The funding agreement will set out milestones appropriate to the game’s development plan. Payments will be made on satisfactory achievement of each milestone.

At least 90% of the grant must be spent on development expenditure of the game(s) in Australia. Successful applicants can elect to allocate up to 10% of the grant amount to marketing activities for the game, including attending conferences and festivals to promote the game. Applicants will need to provide a satisfactory acquittal of the grant against the development expenditure.

Screen Australia acknowledges and appreciates the efforts that go into applications, but given the anticipated volume of applications, it will not be able to provide detailed individual feedback on each application.
For any enquiries, please contact the Screen Australia Program Operations team on 1800 507 901 or email Games.

 
 

Get your applications to the Games Expansion Pack Grant in now, time is limited.

 
 

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

The 2022 NSW Physical Sciences Fund is now open for applications

 

The NSW Physical Sciences Fund (PSF) is a competitive development and commercialisation program for technological innovations in NSW.

NSW has great strengths in research across a wide range of scientific fields. The PSF aims to build on these strengths by supporting the translation of research into devices and systems ready for commercialisation.

The PSF is a $5 million fund that aims to deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits to NSW by providing financial support for the development of new and innovative devices and systems within NSW, across the branches of the physical sciences and engineering, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and the earth sciences.

 

CONTENTS

1. Purpose
2. Timeline
3. Funding
4. Principles
5. Eligibility

 

PURPOSE

The purpose is to obtain significant economic, environmental and social benefits to NSW by providing financial support to develop new and innovative devices and systems within NSW across the branches of physical science and engineering, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and the earth sciences

Click here for more details

 

TIMELINE

Date	Description
March 4 2022	Preliminary Applications Open
May 2 2022	Preliminary Applications Closed
July 2022	Shortlisted applicants present to the Expert Panel
August / September 2022	Full Applications Requested
October 2022	Shortlisted applicants present to the Expert Panel
December 2022	Successful applicants announced.

 
Please note that the dates are subject to change.
 

FUNDING

The funding awarded to each successful applicant will be merit-based and will depend on the overall quality and quantity of applications received.

• Funding will be in the range of $200,000 to $5 million over a period of one to three years. The funding will be distributed in a single payment to each successful applicant.
• Funding from the RAAP will take the form of a cash contribution following the execution of a funding deed between the applicant and Investment NSW (the Agency).

 

PRINCIPLES

• Project must demonstrate:
  • how the device/system will solve a problem,
  • it’s impact/benefits to NSW,
  • an existing proof of concept,
  • a clear path to commercialisation
• Funding can be used for commercialisation, manufacturing and protection of IP
• Funding will be tailored towards a companies current needs
• Not suitable for very early stage ventures

 

ELIGIBILITY

The NSW Physical Sciences fund is open to the companies meeting the following criteria:

• a financially viable company or commercial enterprise based in NSW (e.g. location of manufacturing jobs, headquarters based in NSW, NSW investment); have an Australian Business Number (ABN); and is a legal entity; or

The project must:

• seek to progress a device or system along the commercialisation pathway
• be innovative (i.e. new to market)
• be headquartered in NSW and demonstrate that most of the project activities will take place in NSW
• deliver economic, social and/or environmental benefit to NSW.

Applicants must hold the Intellectual Property or the rights to commercialise the device/system.

Applicants eligible for and/or who have received funding from the Medical Devices Fund are not eligible for the Physical Sciences Fund.

 
 

Get your NSW Physical Science Fund applications in now, time is limited.

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

R&D Tax Incentive

Applications to register R&D activities for 20/21 FY must be lodged by the 3rd May Deadline

 

It is important to note that the 3rd May lodgement deadline for the 20/21 financial year R&D activities is looming fast for companies with a standard 30th June reporting year-end. This newsletter serves as your R&D lodgement reminder for May 2022’s deadline. Other entities with a substituted accounting period have 10 months from the completion of their financial year to register. Don’t miss out on your refund, get your 20/21 application in before the May lodgement deadline, contact us for assistance with your claim.

 
 

Index

1. Rates | Record Keeping Tips | May Lodgement Deadline (20/21) Information
2. Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) 22-23
3. NSW Export Assistance Grant
4. Our Services

 

The new rates of return are:

FY 2020-21

• Annual revenue <$20m – Company Tax Rate: 26% – Refundable Tax Benefit: 43.5% (if matched by tax losses) or 17.5% (when trading in profit)
• Annual revenue $20m-$50m – Company Tax Rate: 26% – Non-Refundable Tax Offset: 12.5%
• Annual revenue >$50m – Company Tax Rate: 30% – Non-Refundable Tax Offset: 8.5%

 

FY 2021-22

• Annual revenue <$20m – Company Tax Rate: 25% – Refundable Tax Benefit: 43.5% (if matched by tax losses) or 18.5% (when trading in profit)
• Annual revenue $20m-$50m – Company Tax Rate: 25% – Refundable Tax Benefit/2 tier benefit: 8.5% on eligible R&D expenditure which accounts for up to 2% of total company expenses and an additional 16.5% on eligible R&D expenditure exceeding the 2% baseline.
• Annual revenue >$50m – Company Tax Rate: 30% – Refundable Tax Benefit/2 tier benefit: 8.5% on eligible R&D expenditure up to 2% of total company expenses and an additional 16.5% on eligible R&D expenditure exceeding the 2% baseline.

 

End of Financial year R&D Tax housekeeping tips:

• Pay your associated party R&D fees by 30th June each year – if an entity or contractor is associated in any way with the R&D entity ( i.e. shareholder, director, staff, or associated entity) their fees for R&D services must be paid for by the 30th June in the year of the R&D activity otherwise the ATO will not allow the claimant to drawdown the tax benefit when the tax return is lodged, instead, the unpaid associated party expense must be carried forward in the tax return and only realised when the expense is paid.
• Pay your R&D staff superannuation payments by the 30th June each year – to be eligible to claim the superannuation costs relating to R&D staff requires the superannuation to be paid on or before the end of the financial year. Similarly, late compulsory superannuation payments cannot be claimed in the financial year they apply but can be claimed in the following year when paid.

 

R&D Tax record-keeping tips:

It is also important to note that the R&D Tax Incentive is a self-assessment program requiring claimants to maintain contemporaneous records that track the progress of their R&D activities and quantify the costs associated with the activities being claimed. If suitable records are not maintained claimants run the risk of having their prior year/s claims rejected if audited and forced to pay back the benefits received plus interest and penalties. Listed below are the types of records that would be appropriate to meet compliance requirements:

• populating an annual R&D project plan which identifies your eligible core and supporting activities
• writing monthly technical reports which report on the conduct of your R&D activities
• completing weekly time-sheets for your R&D staff against eligible activities to calculate the claimable apportionment of time
• taking photos evidencing stages of prototype work and;
• recording technical meetings
• tracking the material costs associated with each trial

 

Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) 22/23

Under the new EMDG program, eligible SMEs are able to apply for forward grant funding over multiple years to cover eligible marketing and promotional activities.

Grants will target eligible export-ready SMEs with an annual turnover of less than $20 million at three stages of their export journey:

• Tier 1: Eligible SMEs who are new to export – grants up to $80,000 over two years
• Tier 2: Eligible exporters who plan to expand their presence in export markets – grants up to $240,000 over three years
• Tier 3: Eligible exporters who continue to expand into new markets and make a strategic shift in their exporting business – grants up to $450,000 over three years

Applications are due to open in March/ April 2022, with grant agreements issued to applicants by June 30th for marketing activities covering the period 1st July 2022 to 30th June 2025 ( depending on the eligible tier).

The nominal benefit of the new pre-approval EMDG is to provide certainty of finance to exporters as well as faster access to EMDG funds. The intention is for applicants to submit marketing plans for up to three years to enable them to formalise Funding Agreements with Austrade, identifying which of their proposed export marketing expenses will be supported, with payments to be made by Austrade on a milestone basis. The EMDG program is an entitlement program.

 

NSW Export Assistance Grant

If you are an exporting business, or if you were exporting goods or services before the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought, you may be eligible for an export assistance grant of up to $10,000.
 

Eligible Activities

This grant helps eligible export businesses in NSW access global markets. Funds can be used for:

• marketing materials
• website internationalisation
• pivoting to online delivery (for example, converting face-to-face training content to online content for international audiences)
• e-commerce development
• market research
• international tradeshow and trade missions
• inbound business support
• costs to support compliance/localisation of products for export
• costs to protect business in international markets.

 

Available Funding

This grant will be provided as reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible business, for expenses already paid since 1 January 2020.

 

How to Apply

You can submit either one application up to the maximum of $10,000 or multiple applications of a minimum of $2,000 per each application, totalling a maximum of $10,000.

Applications close at 11:59pm on 30 June 2022 or when the allocated funding is exhausted.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for this grant, you must:

• be based in NSW
• be currently exporting, or were exporting prior to the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought
• employ a minimum of 3 full-time equivalent workers at the time of application
• own the goods/services to be exported, or be able to provide documented evidence that you are the agreed export supplier
• produce the goods/services to be exported in Australia, or be able to provide documented evidence that the business provides substantial value to NSW
• be an exporting business with an annual turnover of:
  • up to $100 million, or
  • greater than $100 million that can demonstrate export turnover has declined by more than 30% in the 2019–20 financial year and have an intention to re-establish your export business in your established markets and/or diversify into new markets.

Click here to find out more

– Don’t miss the May lodgement deadline for 20/21 FY –

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Australia’s $2b investment into the new Digital Economy

 

PM Morrison recently announced the new Digital Economy Strategy 2030 whereby it will be investing $2billion in settings, infrastructure and incentives to grow Australia’s digital economy. A complete version of the Digital Economy Strategy 2030 can be found here.

Listed below are the 8 areas in which the funds will be allocated, as further information comes to light we will provide further updates.

8 Focus Areas

1. Digital Skills
2. Artificial Intelligence
3. Enhancing Government Service Delivery
4. Investment Incentives
5. SME Digitalisation
6. Emerging Aviation Technologies
7. Data and the Digital Economy
8. Cyber Security, Safety and Trust

 

DIGITAL SKILLS

Building on the 2020 Job-ready Graduates Packages, the Australian Government is committing:

• $10.7 million for the Digital Skills Cadetship Trial to deliver work-based learning opportunities for in-demand digital jobs
• $43.8 million for the expansion of the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund to fund additional innovative projects to quickly improve the quality and quantity of cyber security professionals in Australia
• $24.7 million over six years for the Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduates Program to attract and train home-grown, job-ready AI specialists through competitive national scholarships
• $22.6 million over six years for Next Generation Emerging Technology Graduates Program that will provide more than 200 competitive national scholarships in emerging technologies.

Click here for more details
 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The Australian Government is supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Australia by:

• investing $53.8 million over four years to create the National Artificial Intelligence Centre that will drive business adoption of AI technologies by coordinating Australia’s AI expertise and capabilities
• providing $33.7 million over four years to support Australian businesses to partner with government to pilot projects for AI‑based solutions to national challenges
• investing $24.7 million over six years in the skills of the future by establishing the Next Generation AI Graduates Program to attract and train home-grown, job-ready AI specialists
• providing $12 million over five years to catalyse the AI opportunity in our regions by co-funding up to 36 competitive grants to develop AI solutions that address local or regional problems.

Click here for more details
 

ENHANCING GOVERNMENT SERVICE DELIVERY

The Government is investing in its own digital service delivery to enhance the services it provides to Australians and to save them time and hassle, committing:

• $200.1 million to enhance myGov to deliver a simpler and more tailored experience for Australians based on their preferences and interactions
• $301.8 million to enhance the My Health Record system, adding support for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, connecting Residential Aged Care Facilities and connecting specialists in private practice and delivering improved telehealth, emerging virtual healthcare initiatives and digitised support across all stages of healthcare.

Click here for more details
 

INVESTMENT INCENTIVES

The Australian Government is empowering businesses to grow investment in digital technologies.

The Australian Government is delivering tax incentives for businesses to stimulate investment in digital technologies to enhance their productivity and grow and create jobs by:

• providing a digital games tax offset for qualifying Australian games expenditure to eligible businesses
• allowing taxpayers to self-assess the effective life of certain depreciating intangible assets
• undertaking assessment review of the venture capital tax concessions to ensure they are achieving their intended objectives.

Click here for more details
 

SME DIGITALISATION

The Digital Economy Strategy is supporting Australian businesses by:

• $12.7 million to provide independent advice to Australian small businesses to help them build their digital capabilities through the Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services program
• $15.3 million to enhance the value of electronic invoicing to help businesses reduce costs and increase productivity.

These investments build on the Government’s almost $800 million investment in the Digital Business Plan, which is helping businesses to use digital technologies to grow and create jobs as part of Australia’s economic recovery.

It also complements the Digital Business-to-Business (B2B) Partnerships Initiative that will leverage the trusted relationships that Australia’s corporate sector has with SMEs to promote the adoption of, use of and access to digital products and services.

Click here for more details
 

EMERGING AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES

The emerging aviation sector is evolving to support new delivery methods and logistics services in support of regional and urban Australians. The Australian Government is partnering with other levels of government and stakeholders in this rapidly-emerging sector, delivering:

• the National Emerging Aviation Technology Policy Statement to set the framework for managing these new technologies
• $32.6 million over two years for an Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program to support the use of emerging aviation technologies to address priority community, mobility and cargo needs in regional Australia
• the framework for a Drone Rule Management System
• scope for the development of the National Drone Detection Network.

Click here for more details
 

DATA AND THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

Australian Government data initiatives supporting the digital economy include:

• an Australian Data Strategy to create a data-driven economy through better data use
• $111.3 million to support the acceleration of the Consumer Data Right rollout
• $40.2 million to deliver the Digital Atlas of Australia
• $16.5 million for a pilot program to make the Australian Government’s data assets discoverable and support whole-of-economy reuse.

Click here for more details
 

CYBER SECURITY, SAFETY AND TRUST

New investments under the Digital Economy Strategy in Australia’s cyber security, safety and trust include:

• $31.7 million to secure our future connectivity using 5G and 6G mobile networks
• improving standards for trusted identities that underpin the digital environment
• strengthening Australia’s data security settings through the development of a National Data Security Action Plan
• piloting Cyber Hubs to improve resilience and cyber security maturity of government agencies
• $16.4 million over three years for the Peri-Urban Mobile Program to improve mobile phone connectivity in the bushfire-prone areas of the peri-urban fringe of Australia’s major cities.

Click here for more details

 
 

What do you think about Australia’s 2030 Digital Economy Strategy?

 
 

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Australian Government Regional Grants, Part. 2

Since our newsletter last week listing new Australian government regional grants, both Federal and State levels have announced further support via new programs OR the provision of additional funding for existing grant programs which have now reopened for applications as listed below.

It’s important to keep in mind that these programs are not intended to last forever so don’t miss out.

CONTENTS

1. National Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program
2. Remanufacture NSW
3. NSW Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two
4. VIC Regional Job and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF)

1/ National Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program

The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships (EATP) will provide $30.6m in funding over 2 Rounds to develop emerging aviation technologies to address priority community, mobility and cargo needs in regional Australia.

Round 1 of this grant opportunity has 5 focus areas, with the option to establish trial projects and/ or conduct research and development to support future trial projects as follows:

1. Digital farming – establish a trial using innovative digital aviation farming technology that is not already in use in the market
2. Boosting regional supply chains – establish a trial with regular supply chain link using drones with the capability to travel medium to long distances to deliver critical and/ or high turnover supplies from and between regional hubs
3. Connecting regional communities – conduct research to identify what is required from a regulatory perspective to enable operational flight testing using multi-passenger VTOL aircraft or other emerging aviation technology to connect a network of regional towns
4. Improving health outcomes for remote Indigenous communities with the use of emerging aviation technologies
5. Growing manufacturing in emerging aviation technology – through the development of a prototype of an electric aviation propulsion engine system (or other fuel source) or any component of an emerging aviation technology airframe or conduct research to inform the development of a concept for an emerging aviation technology prototype.

Applications for Round 1 will close on the 31st March 2022 with a 2nd Round expected to open later this year. $15.3 million has been allocated for this Round One grant opportunity.

Projects funded under Round 1 will be required to be completed by June 2023.

Multiple applications may be submitted for different project proposals.

Eligible activities may include:

• conducting trials that undertake rigorous, commercial, and replicable testing of emerging aviation technologies;
• conducting research and development to support your proposal;
• communication and information sharing activities;
• demonstrating the technical viability of your proposal;
• technological development;
• demonstrating the uniqueness of your proposal compared to existing offerings in the market;
• demonstrating the commercial/scalability potential of your proposal in domestic and/or international markets; and
• assisting the government and other partners as outlined in the informal agreement, to address policy, regulatory or other issues related to your proposal.

Eligible expenditure items may include:

• the purchase and installation of equipment directly used in the project;
• employee costs specifically related to implementation of the project;
• set-up and administration costs associated with the project;
• travel and accommodation costs associated with the project;
• technical consumables associated with the project;
• specialist technical advice associated with the project;
• crew and technician costs associated with the project; and
• Commonwealth regulatory approvals and service provider charges associated with the project.

For further details on this program click here

2/ Remanufacture NSW

The program will:

Remanufacture NSW Round 2 supports organisations to respond to the regulation of the export of plastic, tyres and paper and cardboard under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020.

Remanufacture NSW aims to maximise recycling and reuse activities for regulated materials, contributing to meeting the Australian and NSW Government’s resource recovery targets, while keeping resources within the circular economy.

Remanufacture NSW is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund and the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative. The grant program is delivered by the NSW Environmental Trust in partnership with the NSW EPA.

Round Two is currently open and will close at 5pm, Friday 11 March 2022.

Available funding:

Grants of between $50,000 and $1 million are available to fund eligible Remanufacture NSW Stream 2 – Trial projects.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

To provide opportunities for new innovative technologies and methodologies to be tested, support the trial of greater collaboration throughout the supply chain, and promote trials of a more holistic approach to the reuse and recycling of waste export ban materials using circular economy principles.

Successful trial projects will:

• test technologies and methodologies for sorting, processing, recycling and remanufacturing waste plastics, paper/cardboard or tyres
• apply circular economy approaches to the processing and use of these materials
• reduce the amount of these materials going to landfill in New South Wales through collaboration across the supply chain
• demonstrate high-value processing and material recovery of these materials which preserves or creates the most value out of the materials being processed in the most economically efficient manner
• test new markets for these materials and reduce barriers to the growth of new markets, including showcasing and providing proof of performance for innovative reuse of materials (including in the manufacture of products or in construction projects)
• model job creation and economic value, so that successful projects may be rolled out/scaled up across other regions
• support products that incorporate these materials to meet, or demonstrate that they meet, existing standards and specifications, or to help industry develop new specifications and standards for products that incorporate these materials.
• deliver a project plan and budget for the roll-out or scaling-up of the trial. It is anticipated that the trial will provide practical experience both for the business conducting the trial and for any other potential proponents.
• Trial projects will address waste plastics, paper/cardboard or tyres

To be eligible your project must:

• trials that support reuse of waste plastic, paper/cardboard or tyres
• trials that aim to increase the capacity of manufacturers to use recycled waste plastics, paper/cardboard or tyres in their products and to provide secure markets for these recycled materials. Examples include new/modified equipment to increase the use of recycled materials, such as post-consumer plastic, in the manufacture of goods or products
• trials that test new infrastructure/equipment to sort, wash, dry, shred, flake, granulate or pelletise materials
• projects that test equipment upgrades or process improvements to existing MRFs to increase the quality of output materials, reduce contamination and/or increase capacity
• trials that test upgrading plastic sorting, processing and manufacture technology to produce cleaner streams of plastic and have the potential to use larger amounts of recycled plastics
• trials that test new methods of paper beneficiation so that local paper mills can accept higher volumes of paper and cardboard
• trials that test new methodologies or technologies to process Liquid Paper Board
• trials that test plastic processing, remanufacturing and new applications for recycled plastics
• trials that test mobile processing equipment
• trials that use new technologies or methods to reuse or recycle end-of-life tyres.
• trials that test innovative supply chain models to increase the recycling and reuse of waste plastics, paper/cardboard, and tyres.

For further details on this program click here

3/ NSW Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two

The program will:

The Regional Job Creation Fund aims to support economic recovery and resilience in regional l NSW by activating, bringing forward, or attracting investment through co-funded business projects that create at least five sustainable new jobs.

The $40 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two (RJCF) will help businesses in key industries to withstand the impact of events such as COVID-19 by co-funding projects that initiate or accelerate investment, create jobs and support economic recovery and resilience in regional NSW.

Available Funding:

• The minimum grant amount per application is $100,000.
• The maximum grant amount per application is $5,000,000.
• Co-contributions to the project must be at least 50 percent of the total project cost (unless there are extenuating circumstances).
• Projects should request no more than $20,000 per direct ongoing job to be created through the project.
• Applications for Round Two of the Regional Job Creation Fund open Wednesday 2 February 2022 and close 9am Monday 14 March 2022.

Please note an Expression of Interest must be submitted by 5pm Friday 18 February 2022 to proceed with the application process.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

Round One of the Regional Job Creation Fund, provided $100 million to help businesses expand, attract new investment and relocate to regional NSW. This funding also leveraged over $280 million in private investment, supporting more than 100 regional projects and creating almost 5,000 new jobs in a range of key engine industries. This investment has seen Regional NSW become more competitive and strengthen local economies.

Round Two of the Regional Job Creation Fund will see an additional $40 million in funding available. This Round aims to entice new investment from Australian and international businesses and create 2,000 new jobs. This continued support from the NSW Government will enable economic recovery across our thriving agriculture, manufacturing, energy, tourism and resource industries.

To be eligible your project must:

• be based in regional NSW. Projects based in Greater Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong Local Government Areas are not eligible
• create employment outcomes that generate at least five new direct full-FTE jobs in regional NSW that are sustainable without additional NSW Government investment beyond the agreed grant (jobs must be directly employed by the applicant or joint applicants and not through labor-hire firms). One FTE position is equal to a ‘standard working week’ of 35 hours
• demonstrate the project would not occur in regional NSW at all or in the same timeframe without government investment
• be able to complete capital works by May 2023. It is recommended applicants have a COVID plan in place to mitigate any potential delays due to COVID-19.
• have all committed FTE positions in place for at least six continuous months within three years of signing a funding deed.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• replacement, upgrade or adaptation of existing plant and equipment including technology or energy efficiency upgrades
• establishment of an additional production line for an existing regional NSW business
• onshoring in a regional NSW location of activity currently done overseas
• development of new regionally significant and/or iconic tourism experiences and visitor attractions
• creating new inter-state or international demand in the region (without impacting other NSW tourism businesses)
• relocating a business operation from out-of-state or internationally to regional NSW.

For further details on this program click here

4/ VIC Regional Job and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF)

The $156 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF) is one of the Victorian Government’s key regional development packages and will be crucial in driving recovery in rural and regional Victoria. It will create and retain jobs, leverage private sector investment, grow and diversify our significant regional economy, enable regional population growth, improve the liveability of our cities, centres and towns, and improve economic and social outcomes for over 1.5 million regional Victorians to make regional Victoria an even better place to live, work and invest.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

The fund will focus on priority projects to meaningfully support regional communities in their immediate response and recovery efforts, address complex local challenges and lay the groundwork for future growth.

The RJIF has five strategic objectives:

• drive long-term regional growth through support of key economic development projects and the delivery of community-led responses to social and economic challenges.
• support regions and industries to recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19), pandemic, economic transition and natural disasters by leveraging opportunities to create jobs of the future and diversify the regional employment base.
• catalyse and increase private sector project investment in regional Victoria and respond to market failures that prevent high quality and transformative economic projects in the regions from reaching the shovel-ready investment stage.
• improve productivity and enhance the long-term competitiveness of regional Victoria through innovation and transition to new growth opportunities.
• Improve the livability of our cities, centres and towns to attract and retain families and young people to live and work.

Regional Development Victoria (RDV) administers the programs within the RJIF. Current programs include the Regional Job Fund and the Regional Infrastructure Fund:

REGIONAL JOB FUND:

The RJF is a competitive fund with applications received throughout the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years, or unless the funds are exhausted prior. Grant amounts will vary depending on scope.

The Regional Jobs Fund (RJF) looks to support projects which create employment opportunities across industry sectors where regional competitive advantage exists. This includes, but is not limited to :

• food and fibre
• advanced manufacturing
• professional services
• new energy technology
• medical technology, life sciences and healthcare
• transport, defence and construction technology.

The RJF provides Victorian Government financial assistance primarily to businesses seeking to develop and expand operations in regional Victoria.

The aim of the RJF is to attract new investment, create new jobs, and in some cases retain existing jobs in regional Victoria and to support businesses to improve their productivity and competitiveness.

Examples of previously funded projects can be found here:

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/funded-projects

For further details on this program here

REGIONAL INFASTRUCTURE FUND (RIF):

The Regional Infrastructure Fund Round Two has closed and the fund is not currently accepting applications.

– Australian Government Regional Grants –

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Australian Government announces new federal and regional grants

As an outcome of COVID, both the Federal and State Governments have become very proactive in providing various new forms of tax incentives and grant programs as well as enhancing existing programs to stimulate and re-focus the economy. As a result, severly Australian Federal & Regional Grants have been opened.

These initiatives are generally driven by the strategic need to:

• prioritise industry sectors whereby Australia has a distinct global competitive advantage
• identify and re-birth sectors in which we require a sovereign capability
• address environmental issues dealing with the effects of climate change including renewable energy
• address supply chain issues
• bring forward investment in technology adoption

It’s important to keep in mind that most of these programs are not intended to last forever with many having a 3-year project period horizon so don’t miss out.

Listed below is a summary of Federal & Regional grants available here in Australia which recently opened for applications and close later in February and March. Further rounds for both programs will likely be announced later.

CONTENTS

1. National Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program
2. Catalysing the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity in Our Regions Round One
3. Securing Raw Materials Round Two
4. NSW Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two
5. VIC Regional Job and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF)

FEDERAL GRANTS

1/ National Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program

The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships (EATP) competitive grant opportunity will close 31 March 2022, (11:30pm) AEDT and will provide strategic partnerships with industry to use emerging aviation technologies to address priority community, mobility and cargo needs in regional Australia. These technologies include electric engines, drones and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Government collaboration with industry to support the introduction of new aviation technology will fast-track Australia’s ability to unlock the projected economic benefits, jobs and efficiencies the use of this technology promises. Proposed technology partnerships will address

• growing manufacturing jobs in electric aviation
• connecting regional communities
• digital farming
• boosting regional supply chains
• improving health outcomes for remote Indigenous communities.

Available Funding:

• Total program funding available to support projects under the program is approximately $30.6 million. $15.3 million has notionally been allocated for this Round One grant opportunity.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• expedited growth in the Australian emerging aviation technology market;
• advancement towards regulations that support the safe and efficient use of emerging aviation technology;
• increased awareness and understanding of the benefits and potential opportunities of emerging aviation technology within
• the industry, across the Australian Government and the wider community; and
• improved services and increased health and societal benefits for communities in regional and remote Australia.

Applicants should demonstrate how their project:

• contributes to the program objectives and outcomes;
• demonstrates economic, productivity, environmental or other benefits derived from the application of emerging aviation technologies;
• how your proposal will improve efficiency, effectiveness and/or competitive advantage for industry and outcomes for regional communities;
• the uniqueness of your proposed solution relative to what is already in the market;
• the innovative way you propose to use emerging aviation technology;
• the technical viability of your project proposal;
• the benefits of your proposal for regional communities/Indigenous health outcomes/regional supply chains;
• areas that would benefit from government assistance and/or a Commonwealth-led procurement (for example policy and regulatory development,
• development of infrastructure) and your commitment to working with the Commonwealth on these matters.

Eligible activities may include:

• conducting trials that undertake rigorous, commercial, and replicable testing of emerging aviation technologies;
• conducting research and development to support your proposal;
• communication and information sharing activities;
• demonstrating the technical viability of your proposal;
• technological development;
• demonstrating the uniqueness of your proposal compared to existing offerings in the market;
• demonstrating the commercial/scalability potential of your proposal in domestic and/or international markets; and
• assisting the government and other partners as outlined in the informal agreement, to address policy, regulatory or other issues related to your proposal.

2/ Catalysing the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity in Our Regions Round One

Round One of this new program closes for applications on the 21st February and is designed to:

• support the development, implementation and demonstration of real-world applications of artificial intelligence technologies that address challenges in a regional area(s) in Australia
• increase the awareness and understanding of real-world artificial intelligence applications, opportunities, benefits and risks in a regional area(s)
• develop new partnerships between regional industries, businesses and communities with the Australian technology sector.

Available funding:

• Minimum grant $250,000, maximum up to $500,000
• Total funding allocation of $3 million over three years
• The grant will pay up to 50% of eligible project costs

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• increased adoption, development and use of artificial intelligence technologies in a regional area(s) to lift the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of industry and business
• greater trust, inclusion and awareness of artificial intelligence technologies and their applications in a regional area(s)
• to bring forward the potential economic, productivity, social and environmental benefits of artificial intelligence

Joint applications are required for this program & each application must include:

• a lead applicant, who is the main driver of the project
• at least one other project partner, and
• at least one of the lead applicant or project partner(s) must be considered a regional participant

Applicants should demonstrate how their project:

• supports the development, implementation and demonstration of real-world applications of artificial intelligence technologies that address challenges in a regional area(s) in Australia
• increases the awareness and understanding of real-world artificial intelligence applications, opportunities, benefits and risks in a regional area(s)
• develops new partnerships between regional industries, businesses and communities with the Australian technology sector.

Eligible activities may include:

• developing, implementing and demonstrating novel or innovative solutions and/or applications of artificial intelligence that address a regional challenge or opportunity
• providing opportunities for regional businesses, communities and individuals to test and
• experiment with tangible artificial intelligence technologies and applications
• pilot or trial projects that make use of artificial intelligence technologies that increase the
• competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of regional industries and/or businesses
• increasing the awareness, understanding, trust and inclusion of artificial intelligence within a region
• facilitating new and lasting partnerships between regional industries, businesses and
• communities with artificial intelligence developers and researchers.

3/ Securing Raw Materials Round Two

Round Two of the “Securing Raw Materials” program closes for applications on the 24th February and is designed to help businesses move or expand into regional areas, and partner with regional universities or organisations to research and develop innovative and locally sourced raw material supplies

Available funding:

• Minimum grant $250,000, maximum up to $5m
• Total funding allocation of $29 million over four years
• The grant will pay up to 50% of eligible project costs

The program will:

• support research into and/or development of innovative and locally sourced raw material supplies and capitalise on a region’s comparative advantages
• increase economic activity, diversity, and jobs in regional areas, including by establishing new industry sectors, businesses and suppliers
• support and strengthen partnerships between industry and regional universities and research organisations located in regional areas.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• industry growth and economic resilience in regional Australia
• stronger supply of, and access to, innovative and improved raw materials for industry
• increased research, investment, and economic capacity in Australia’s regions.

To be eligible your project must:

• partner with a research university or research organisation located in a regional area to
• undertake research into, and/or development of, innovative or improved locally sourced raw material supplies (including value-add or use of existing known supplies for new purposes)
• include your business relocating or expanding from a capital city to a regional area or
• expanding from a regional area to a different regional area. The expansion involves establishing a new operation, branch or outpost.
• Provide employment for at least 10 full-equivalent employees at a new site.

Eligible activities may include:

1. conducting research into, and/or development of:
   • new or improved raw materials
   • methods of processing raw materials
   • technologies to produce raw materials
   • methods of growing raw materials or
   • new uses for existing raw materials
2. commercialising the outcomes of research
3. establishing a new facility in a regional area to process, use or otherwise add value to raw materials
4. relocating or expanding to a regional area or establishing a new operation, branch or outpost in a different regional area

REGIONAL GRANTS

4/ NSW Regional Job Creation Fund

Available funding:

• The minimum grant amount per application is $100,000.
• The maximum grant amount per application is $5,000,000.
• Co-contributions to the project must be at least 50 percent of the total project cost (unless there are extenuating circumstances).
• Projects should request no more than $20,000 per direct ongoing job to be created through the project.

The program will:

The Regional Job Creation Fund aims to support economic recovery and resilience in regional l NSW by activating, bringing forward, or attracting investment through co-funded business projects
that create at least five sustainable new jobs.

The $40 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two (RJCF) will help businesses in key industries to withstand the impact of events such as COVID-19 by co-funding projects that initiate or accelerate investment, create jobs and support economic recovery and resilience in regional NSW.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

Round One of the Regional Job Creation Fund, provided $100 million to help businesses expand, attract new investment and relocate to regional NSW. This funding also leveraged over $280 million in private investment, supporting more than 100 regional projects and creating almost 5,000 new jobs in a range of key engine industries. This investment has seen Regional NSW become more competitive and strengthen local economies.

Round Two of the Regional Job Creation Fund will see an additional $40 million in funding available. This Round aims to entice new investment from Australian and international businesses and create 2,000 new jobs. This continued support from the NSW Government will enable economic recovery across our thriving agriculture, manufacturing, energy, tourism and resource industries.

To be eligible your project must:

• be based in regional NSW. Projects based in Greater Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong Local Government Areas are not eligible
• create employment outcomes that generate at least five new direct full-FTE jobs in regional NSW that are sustainable without additional NSW Government investment beyond the agreed grant (jobs must be directly employed by the applicant or joint applicants and not through labor-hire firms). One FTE position is equal to a ‘standard working week’ of 35 hours
• demonstrate the project would not occur in regional NSW at all or in the same timeframe without government investment
• be able to complete capital works by May 2023. It is recommended applicants have a COVID plan in place to mitigate any potential delays due to COVID-19.
• have all committed FTE positions in place for at least six continuous months within three years of signing a funding deed.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• replacement, upgrade or adaptation of existing plant and equipment including technology or energy efficiency upgrades
• establishment of an additional production line for an existing regional NSW business
• onshoring in a regional NSW location of activity currently done overseas
• development of new regionally significant and/or iconic tourism experiences and visitor attractions
• creating new inter-state or international demand in the region (without impacting other NSW tourism businesses)
• relocating a business operation from out-of-state or internationally to regional NSW.

5/ VIC Regional Job and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF)

Available funding:

• Funding amounts vary

The program will:

The $156 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF) is one of the Victorian Government’s key regional development packages and will be crucial in driving recovery in rural and regional Victoria. It will create and retain jobs, leverage private sector investment, grow and diversify our significant regional economy, enable regional population growth, improve the liveability of our cities, centres and towns, and improve economic and social outcomes for over 1.5 million regional Victorians to make regional Victoria an even better place to live, work and invest.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

The fund will focus on priority projects to meaningfully support regional communities in their immediate response and recovery efforts, address complex local challenges and lay the groundwork for future growth.

The RJIF has five strategic objectives:

• drive long-term regional growth through support of key economic development projects and the delivery of community-led responses to social and economic challenges.
• support regions and industries to recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19), pandemic, economic transition and natural disasters by leveraging opportunities to create jobs of the future and diversify the regional employment base.
• catalyse and increase private sector project investment in regional Victoria and respond to market failures that prevent high quality and transformative economic projects in the regions from reaching the shovel-ready investment stage.
• improve productivity and enhance the long-term competitiveness of regional Victoria through innovation and transition to new growth opportunities.
• Improve the livability of our cities, centres and towns to attract and retain families and young people to live and work.

Regional Development Victoria (RDV) administers the programs within the RJIF. Current programs include the Regional Job Fund and the Regional Infrastructure Fund:

Regional Job Fund (RJF):

The Regional Jobs Fund (RJF) looks to support projects which create employment opportunities across industry sectors where regional competitive advantage exists. This includes, but is not limited to :

• food and fibre
• advanced manufacturing
• professional services
• new energy technology
• medical technology, life sciences and healthcare
• transport, defence and construction technology.

The RJF provides Victorian Government financial assistance primarily to businesses seeking to develop and expand operations in regional Victoria.

The aim of the RJF is to attract new investment, create new jobs, and in some cases retain existing jobs in regional Victoria and to support businesses to improve their productivity and competitiveness.

The RJF program will consider the following types of projects resulting in the retention and creation of new jobs, development of business innovation and productivity, as well as the provision of utilities and infrastructure:

• investment projects where regional Victoria is in competition with interstate or international locations (i.e. footloose investments)
• projects attracting footloose capital into new and/or existing facilities
• investment to develop new facilities, expand existing facilities and repurposed facilities.
• projects that underpin the sustainability of businesses and the retention of jobs in regional Victoria
• projects introducing new technologies, plant and equipment and systems to improve productivity, competitiveness and business growth
• projects enhancing the skills of the workforce to raise productivity
• the introduction of innovations, technologies, equipment and processes to develop and increase exports
• projects improving supply chain efficiencies through collaborative projects
• projects boosting the capacity of new and existing regionally significant employment precincts such as CBDs, health, education, innovation, industrial and special purpose precincts
• projects that involve utility and service connections and/or upgrades to activate business investment and create jobs (i.e. typically, consideration will be given to projects that require upgrades to electricity supply, gas supply, water supply and wastewater treatment services).
• projects that focus on water and energy savings that improve the operational sustainability of a business in a regional location such as solar and water recycling projects.

Examples of previously funded projects can be found here:

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/funded-projects

Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF)

The Regional Infrastructure Fund Round Two has closed and the fund is not currently accepting applications.

Australian Government Federal & Regional Grants

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Austrade announcement on grant amounts for Tier 1, 2, & 3 applicants

In response to over 5000 applications received under the new Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program, Austrade has announced the annual grant amounts that will be offered to Tier 1,2, and 3 applicants. Needless to say, the exporting community is totally underwhelmed by this latest announcement.

How much will you receive?

The final grant amounts will be determined after Austrade assesses all grant applications. Based on detailed modeling of the final number of applications, applicants should expect to receive up to these grant amounts for each of the years of their grant.

Tier 1 – $15,000 per financial year

Tier 2 – $23,000 per financial year

Tier 3 – $35,000 per financial year

The new EMDG was designed to bring “certainty of funding” to applicants by introducing the lodgement of an export plan and budgeted expenses ahead of the year the marketing activities were going to take place. Whilst the certainty of funding remains, the funding itself has been significantly reduced.

Austrade’s “detailed modeling” unfortunately does not take into consideration the following:

• many applicants over-budgeted and applied for the maximum grant to ensure they didn’t limit their potential grant entitlement under their grant agreement;
• the reduced grant funding offered will reduce the timing and quantum of any ambitious export marketing plans/ budgets due to being underfunded;
• some applicants who have been heavily affected by the uncertainty of COVID won’t have the capacity to execute their marketing activities, thus not spending the majority of their intended budget.

Given the above scenarios, the detailed modeling basis is potentially fraught with disaster, and worse still, if the allocated program funding of $150m is under prescribed, the leftover balance will go back into the Government’s consolidated revenue as opposed to being equally distributed to all applicants. This is unlike the prior EMDG program of the last 40 odd years and this we believe is a monumental error in program design.

The Export consultants are lobbying to have this changed but it may take a year or two. Right now, the new policymakers in Canberra aren’t listening.

Once the real numbers are realised perhaps the policymakers will have no choice but to backpedal.

Applications for Round 2 are expected to be lodged prior to the 1st of May 2022. If you are spending money in the 2022/23 financial year on marketing activities to promote your product/service in foreign countries, give us a call; We can help.

The full EMDG announcement can be found here

– Export Market Development Grants EMDG | JAN 2022 –

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements Australia

To assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19, the Australian Government is providing support to all employers who engage a new Australian Apprentice.

The Australian Government has announced the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy to support employers and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees.

The subsidy covers up to 50% of the gross wages paid to Australian Apprentices who are signed into a Training Contract between October 5th, 2020, and March 31st, 2022. It applies to wages paid to an Australian Apprentice up to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter for a maximum period of 12 months from commencement or recommencement

To determine eligibility and learn how to apply, follow this link

Eligible Entity

• The BAC is available to employers of any size, industry, or geographic location.

Is my business eligible?

Your business or Group Training Organisation may be eligible if:

• you engage an Australian Apprentice between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022, and
• your Australian Apprentice or trainee is undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a training contract that is formally approved by the state training authority.

How much is the subsidy?

• Eligible employers and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) will receive a wage subsidy of up to 50 percent of the Australian Apprentice’s gross wage paid.
• The subsidy is available for Australian Apprentices commencing or recommencing between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022.
• The wage subsidy is available for a maximum of $7,000 per quarter, per eligible Australian Apprentice, for wages paid in the 12-month period from the date of commencement or recommencement.

Can existing workers attract the BAC subsidy?

An existing worker is eligible to attract the BAC subsidy if one of the following factors apply:

• They commence a trade based Australian Apprenticeship
• Transfer from casual employment to a full-time Australian Apprenticeship
• Transfer from part-time employment to a full-time Australian Apprenticeship

If using a Group Training Organisation (GTO), an employer or Host Employer may be eligible for the BAC subsidy for up to 30 existing workers if:

• An existing worker transfers from a casual employment arrangement to a part-time or full-time Australian Apprenticeship, or;
• An existing worker transfers from a part-time employment arrangement to a full-time Australian Apprenticeship.

Additional Information

• The subsidy is not available for any apprentice receiving any other form of Australian Government wage subsidy e.g. Supporting Apprentices and Trainees or JobKeeper
• Final claims for payment must be lodged by 30 June 2023.
• The 100,000 cap limit has been removed to provide additional support to employers and GTOs
• The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network will deliver additional Gateway Service places and enhanced In-Training Support for women interested in or starting, an apprenticeship in a non-traditional trade occupation.

NOTE: From April 2022, the way employers lodge their Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) will change.

To prepare for this transition, employers need to have a myGovID Digital Identity. More information is available at myGovID.gov.au, including how to set up your myGovID and where you can get support.

– Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements Australia –

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Energy Efficient Communities Program

Business Grants of up to $25,000 are available for food and beverage manufacturers to cut energy costs. Here’s what SMEs need to know

The Federal Government has announced a new $19.9 million Energy Efficient Communities Program that aims to boost the uptake of energy-efficient technology and lower energy consumption among food and beverage manufacturing businesses.

As such, small and medium food and beverage manufacturers who employ staff of up to 199 people can apply for a cash grant of up to $25,000 between January 12th and February 18th to help improve energy efficiency.

Grants will be split between states and territories based on the proportion of food and beverage manufacturing businesses in each jurisdiction to ensure equitable distribution across Australia.

Eligible Entity:

• 1 to 199 employees
• an entity incorporated in Australia
• a private company
• a public company
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• a co-operative
• an incorporated, not-for-profit organisation
• an indigenous corporation
• a sole trader
• a partnership.

You can’t apply if you

• an organisation or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme- external site
• an employer of 100 or more employees that have not complied- external site with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• income tax exempt
• an individual
• unincorporated association
• trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).

Eligible Projects:

To be eligible your project must:

• be aimed at reducing the energy consumption of your business
• have at least $10,000 in eligible expenditure

You may:

• select one or more activities from any of the focus areas listed
• select activities up to the maximum grant value of $25,000.

The focus areas are:

• energy audits and energy management
• energy monitoring
• heating ventilation and air conditioning at the manufacturing facility
• lighting
• other motors, conveyors, blowers, fans, pumps, and fluid distribution systems
• power supply
• process automation and controls
• process cooling
• process heating or drying
• air compressors and compressed air systems
• waste management.

Eligible Expenditure:

To be eligible, expenditure must:

• be a direct cost of the project

Eligible expenditure items are:

• an energy audit of your site or part of your site
• purchase or hire of equipment to measure, monitor, and record energy use or to monitor a process, where this facilitates optimisation or energy management
• purchase of equipment to replace existing equipment, where the new equipment is higher efficiency
• costs to decommission, remove and dispose of the old equipment
• purchase of equipment or components to help an existing system run more efficiently
• design, and reasonable installation costs of eligible equipment
• commissioning or tuning of equipment installed or modified as part of the project, and any related equipment that is affected by the project
• building permits or approval costs to install equipment, where required

How the grant is administered and paid

1. AusIndustry will send you a written agreement approving your project
2. AusIndustry will pay 100% of the grant money once you sign and return the grant agreement.
3. You must report on how you spent the money at the end of the project.
4. AusIndustry will pay you by direct credit into the bank account you nominate in your application.

Additional Information

• Funding can be used on a leased facility with the consent of the facility owner or their representative.
• You can only commence your project once you have executed a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.
• You must incur the project expenditure between the project start and end date for it to be eligible unless stated otherwise. You cannot apply for a grant for a project you have already started.
• The maximum project period is 12 months.
• AusIndustry will only accept applications from small and medium food and beverage manufacturing businesses whose main activity is classified under the list of Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) codes at 4.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines- external site.

– Energy Efficient Communities Program-

Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:

• Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
• Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
• Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
• Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
• Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
• Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives

Don’t hesitate to give us a call.