1 February, 2022

Australian Government Federal & Regional Grants

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.

National Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program
Catalysing the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity in Our Regions Round One
Securing Raw Materials Round Two
NSW Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two
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:

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
commercialising the outcomes of research
establishing a new facility in a regional area to process, use or otherwise add value to raw materials
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.