Strategic Business Clusters are like-minded groups of co-operative businesses and supporting organisations with common business objectives that work collaboratively for economic growth.
Strategic Business Clusters can include businesses with complementary capability or businesses involved in the same supply/value chain with common suppliers and distributors, and can include related organisations that support these businesses such as industry associations and knowledge providers (universities and research institutions).
Objectives
The Strategic Business Clusters Program supports business networks and clusters to achieve competitive advantage in local or international markets. The Strategic Business Clusters Program also seeks to encourage businesses to strengthen their partnerships with education and research institutions to accelerate the uptake of new ideas.
Specific outcomes include:
- Increasing jobs and investment
- Improving business productivity and competitiveness
- Increasing innovation
Expressions of Interest for Funding Round One of the Strategic Business Clusters Program is now open. Three levels of financial support are available:
- Business Network Support of up to $5,000 in matched funding is available to business networks to create business opportunities for their members.
- Business Cluster Support of up to $10,000 in matched funding is available to business clusters to achieve competitive advantage.
- Business Cluster Project Support of up to $30,000 in matched funding to existing clusters for specific cluster activity that increases employment, improves productivity and competition, and promotes innovation.
1. Business Network Support
Support of up to $5,000 in matched funding1 is available to business networks to create business opportunities for their members. Support is available for initiatives such as:
- Researching information on markets and opportunities and other services that helpmembers gain and maintain competitive advantage.
- Promoting new business practices and technology through seminars and workshops
- Promoting member capability through the use of website and promotional material.
Download application form
2. Business Cluster Support
Assistance of up to $10,000 in matched funding1 is available to business clusters to achieve competitive advantage. Activity that might be supported include:
- Strategic planning and facilitation
- Joint business feasibility and strategic cluster marketing plans
- Collaborative marketing, tendering or showcasing to gain and maintain competitive advantage
- Sponsoring specific skills development
- Domestic and international trade activities, and
- Developing links with academia, research and development organizations.
Download application form
3. Business Cluster Project Support
Assistance of up to $30,000 in matched funding2 to existing clusters for specific cluster activity for a set time period. This support is aimed at addressing the gap between the current impact of cluster activities and their potential impact to increase employment, improve productivity and competition, and promote innovation.
Download application form
Project Type
Preference will be given to those clusters that have strong economic development goals and strategies and have partnerships with key stakeholders. Types of cluster projects that might be funded include:
- Collaborative projects that result in joint tendering, technology development and diffusion, new product developments and production processes
- Cooperative projects that gain specific qualifications or training to address eg certification to standards or a workforce skill need
- Positioning projects that strengthen the cluster’s brand and image within domestic and international markets
- Innovative projects that stimulate new ways of doing things
Expressions of Interest for Funding Round One of the Strategic Business Clusters Program is now open. If you are considering applying please read the Applicant Information for further detail including eligibility criteria.
Applications for Funding Round One of the Strategic Business Clusters must be received by Industry & Investment NSW by 5pm on 5 March 2010.
To discuss eligibility for Government grants or assistance with applications please contact us via the webform of call us at 03 9606 3324.
