The Entrepreneurs’ Programme is the Australian Government’s flagship initiative for business competitiveness and productivity.

The programme offers support to businesses through four elements:

The new Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Program offers support to businesses through four elements:

1/ Business Evaluations – a free assessment conducted at the customers business’ premises for up to 6 days over a 2 month period, resulting in a detailed report and recommendations for the business to make improvements.  Must be in one of the five growth* sectors and have a turnover of at least $1.5M to $100M in one of the last two financial years.

2/ Business Growth Grants – small, co funded grants of up to $20,000 to engage external expertise to assist businesses with implementing improvements recommended by their Business Evaluation.  Must be in one of the five growth sectors* and have a turnover of at least $1.5M to $100M in one of the last two financial years.

3/ Innovation Connections – a facilitation service providing expert advice and solutions for business to knowledge related issues and a brokering service to link businesses with appropriate knowledge providers and research organisations. This may include a matched funding grant of up to $50,000 payable in arrears that assists direct access to research capability.  Must be in one of the five growth sectors* and have a turnover or operating expenditure in the current or one of the two previous financial years:

– between $1.5M and $100M or
– between $750K & $100M for applicants from remote Australia or Northern Australia.

* Advanced Manufacturing; Food and Agribusiness; Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals; Mining Equipment, Technology and Services; and Oil, Gas and Energy Resources.

4/ Accelerating Commercialisation – offers matching grants of up to $1m of eligible project expenditure to assist in the commercialisation of novel products, processes and services for a maximum project period of two years.  Must have a combined turnover of less than $20M for each of the three financial years prior to lodgement of an application.