About

The Cleantech Partnering Program is a $2.15 million grant program to be delivered over three years from 2010-11. It helps small and medium enterprises take new cleantech products, processes and services from conception and early stage development through to market.

The following Cleantech Partnering Program grants are available:

• CleverGreen Innovation Grant – up to $50,000 for proof-of-concept and commercial viability testing.
• CleverGreen Commercialisation Grant – up to $100,000 on a matched funding basis for commercialisation activities.

Cleantech Partnering Program applicants will be linked to one of the following program partners with expertise in the field: Adelaide Research & Innovation, Flinders Partners, ITEK, Cleantech Ventures, Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund.

Timeline

• 16 January 2012 – Round 6 Applications open
• 15 April 2012 – Round 6 Applications close
• May 2012 – Round 6 Assessments
• June 2012 – Round 6 Announcements

Relevant documents

• CleverGreen Innovation Grant Guidelines (105 KB)
• CIG Expression of Interest (133 KB)
• CleverGreen Commercialisation Grant Guidelines (130 KB)

The Medical Device Commercialisation Program (MDCP) is a $500,000 per annum, competitive commercialisation program funded by the South Australian Government, through the Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED).

Objectives

The objective of the MDCP is to:

• support technically viable products with a compelling value proposition through the early stages of commercialisation;
• promote innovation in the medical and assistive devices sector; and
• stimulate economic development in South Australia.

Definition

Consistent with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the MDCP defines medical devices as any technology, including devices, software or diagnostic, intended to be used by human beings for the prevention, monitoring or treatment of disease, injury or physiological process, excluding devices that act biologically or on biological agents. The commercialisation program will also include assistive devices, or devices intended to support aged care.

Delivery Model

Applicants will have the choice of applying for a Medical Device Research Grant (MDRG) or a Medical Device Commercialisation Grant (MDCG) through two delivery streams depending on the level of assistance required. Applicants will note that they are responsible for all negotiations involving their intellectual property.

Stream 1

Stream 1 is for applicants who wish to apply for a MDCP grant with the assistance and support of the Medical Device Partnering Program* (MDPP) co-ordinated by Flinders University, which will:

• undertake a preliminary technical assessment of the applicant’s project;
• identify the appropriate research team to add value to the project;
• include a preliminary commercial assessment by Flinders Partners;
• provide applicants with a project scoping document and market assessment document that can be used to support a MDCP grant application; where the grant is successful, the MDPP, through Flinders University, will receive the funding and co-ordinate expenditure on behalf of the applicant.

Stream 2

Stream 2 is for applicants that wish to apply directly for a MDCP grant without participating in the MDPP.

Medical Device Research Grant

The MDRG awards recipients up to $15,000 (Ex GST) on a 3:1 funding basis (ie a recipient co-contribution of $5,000 (Ex GST) is required to receive the maximum grant), for recipients to engage a research organisation to validate their product’s technical viability. In addition to the grant, recipients will be eligible to receive commercial evaluation assistance from Flinders Partners, Flinders University’s commercialisation company.

Medical Device Commercialisation Grant

The MDCG awards recipients up to $40,000 (Ex GST) on a 1:1 funding basis (ie a recipient co-contribution of $40,000 (Ex GST) is required to receive the maximum grant), to:

• support recipients develop a proof of concept and commercialisation strategy;
• demonstrate that technical and commercial risks have been identified and mitigated; and
• enable applicants to attract Australian Government and / or private sector funding to bring new products to market.

Applicants will note that:

1. There is a finite pool of grant funding available each financial year.
2. Time restrictions may apply to the funding, such that it must be expended within a specified time.

The Minister reserves the right not to award any grants.

Eligibility

Applicants

An applicant must be:

• a financially viable company or commercial enterprise with a current or proposed connectionin SA; have an Australian Business Number (ABN); with an annual turnover of less than $25 million; and is a legal entity; or an individual who agrees to form such an entity i.e. with whom the South Australian Government can enter into legally binding funding agreements.
• a South Australian public research organisation applying through their appropriate technology transfer office, or the CEO or equivalent of the research organisation.
• An applicant must also own the right to use any intellectual property necessary to commercialise the project, be able to demonstrate that they can provide their required MDRG or MDCG co-funding contribution and willing to enter into a Funding Agreement.

Projects

A project needs to meet the following criteria:

• the project must satisfy the definition of a medical or assistive device;
• the project must seek to commercialise a medical or assistive device that clearly exhibits commercial potential in response to a defined market opportunity; and
• the project must exhibit the potential to provide favourable economic outcomes for South Australia.

Expenditure

• The grant funding supports expenditure incurred directly on the agreed project, within theagreed project period, details of which must be clearly provided in the application and will be detailed in the Funding Agreement.
• For the MDRG (Stream 1), eligible expenditure includes the cost of engaging the MDPP to evaluate a product’s technical viability.
• For the MDRG (Stream 2) eligible expenditure includes the cost of engaging a research organisation to evaluate a product’s technical viability.
• For the MDCG, eligible expenditure includes:
  • Engaging research organisations or additional internal expertise to assist with technical research to develop a proof of concept or prototype, including clinical evaluation;
  • engaging specialist technical, regulatory or commercial advice to develop a commercialisation strategy;
  • approved expenses associated with the project;
  • leveraging of third party funding in support of the above activities.
  • The applicant will need to provide a statutory declaration detailing expenditure incurred to
  • support all expenditure claims made on the project.

Further Information

• Round 2 closes 29 July 2011
• Round 3 closes 28 October 2011
• To apply, please visit: Flinders University website

About

The State Government has established the Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Development Program (SMEIDP) to assist local manufacturers to improve their competiveness.
Administered by Innovate SA on behalf of the Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED), the SMEIDP is a competitive, merit-based government grant that supports the generation and/or acceleration of new capital investment in South Australia to assist innovation, diversification and competitiveness of growth enterprises.

Objectives

The objective of the SMEIDP government grant is to support small to medium sized manufacturing businesses to introduce new technology, new products/services and/or enter new markets. The SMEIDP will directly contribute to the following South
Australia Strategic Plan targets:

• T1.5 Business Investment
• T1.6 Labour Productivity
• T1.10 Jobs
• T1.14 Total Exports

The SMEIDP is available to businesses with a turnover of less than $10 million per annum.

Level of Grant Support

A minimum government grant of $100,000 and up to a maximum of $200,000 (plus GST) is available for claims against eligible expenditure items, on a 1:2 basis, and in accordance with agreed milestones outlined in the SMEIDP Funding Agreement.

Application Process

SMEIDP Applications will be invited through funding rounds which will be advertised by Innovate SA and DTED. Innovate SA may provide advice during the application period to assist those intending to apply for a grant under the program. It is recommended that this assistance is utilised to ensure that there is clarity with regard to the eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria.
SMEIDP Applicants must complete the application form which is available online at www.innovatesa.com.au and submit to Innovate SA.

Eligibility

SMEIDP Projects must involve capital expenditure of a minimum of $300,000. SMEIDP Projects with a bias towards innovation and the introduction of new technology will be given priority.
The applicant must:

• be a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) with a turnover of less than $10 million per annum;
• be directly engaged in manufacturing;
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN);
• be a legal entity with whom the South Australian Government can enter into a legally binding Funding Agreement;
• have a demonstrated ability to fund the remaining share of the project costs; and
• be willing to formalise the arrangement in a Funding Agreement with nominated milestones.

Ineligible Business Criteria:

• SME with turnover exceeding $10 million;
• local, state or commonwealth government entities;
• businesses not directly engaged in manufacturing a product for sale;
• insolvent;
• has received or is receiving Commonwealth or State Government funding for the same project.

Eligible Expenditure

SMEIDP Program funding supports direct costs relating to:

• purchase of capital items directly related to the production of a new product; and/or
• purchase of capital items directly related toimproving the efficiency and/or capacity of production; and/or
• the cost of training directly related to the new capital item; and/or
• professional services critical to the capital item (eg. engineering, technical, design and development).

Ineligible Expenditure

SMEIDP Program funding will not be provided for:

• operational expenditure, including but not limited to; leasing (operating or finance), marketing, wages, travel, etc
• expenditure incurred by a related entity; and
• costs associated with the preparation of the application.

Selection Criteria

The SMEIDP selection criteria are:

• Management Capability – The management team has the prerequisite skills, experience and commitment to successfully implement the project and maximise the commercial potential.
• Commercial Potential – Applicants need to have a business plan for the expansion. For a product/service diversification project, the market opportunity for the new product or service has been outlined or the actions to perform required market research are clearly understood.
• Financial Viability – A feasibility assessment has been performed to demonstrate the financial viability of the project.
• Innovation and Technology -  The extent to which the project demonstrates the introduction of new innovations or technology, including whether the new innovations or technology is new to the company, new to South Australia or new to Australia.
• Funding & Economic Impact – Applicants need to demonstrate they can fund their portion of the project costs (eg. through cash flow or external borrowings).
• Demonstrate the need for SMEIDP funding.
• Outline the economic benefits of the project to South Australia (eg. new job creation, new sales including exports, supply chain impact, environmental/social benefits, etc.).

Project Evaluation

Successful SMEIDP applicants will be required to regularly report on progress and outcomes of the project against a
number of key criteria in accordance with the Funding Agreement, including, but not limited to:

• new employment or jobs retained;
• new investment; and
• export activity (interstate or overseas).

Failure to comply with the terms of the Funding Agreement may result in the applicant being required to refund some of or the entire grant.

More information

Complete the SMEIDP Application Form available from the Innovate SA website.

Closing date for SMEIDP is 15 April 2011

The Gateway Business Program is a South Australian Government program which assists small to medium-sized firms prepare for export. The Gateway Business Program can meet eligible expenses incurred in developing international markets.

Successful government grant applicants may receive up to $20,000 over two years for eligible projects. Individual project caps range between $2,000 and $10,000.

Eligible Activities

The Gateway Business Program may contribute up to 50 per cent of the total cost of one or more of the eligible projects
listed below, with a maximum $20,000 in government grants available to any one entity.

• Marketing materials – Costs of producing brochures, DVDs, business cards and presentations to market goods/services overseas for use in overseas markets. (Maximum grant $5,000)
• Third-party market research- Costs of working with a third party (such as Austrade or a market research company that specialises in export markets) to conduct market research into opportunities and barriers in targeted overseas markets. (Travel or accommodation expenses for the third party travelling from Australia to the market are not eligible) (Maximum grant $10,000)
• Website audit- Expenses for an independent contractor to audit your firm’s website and identify changes necessary to make it suitable for international marketing purposes. Programs subsidised by the State or Australian Government are not eligible for reimbursement. (Maximum grant $500)
• Website modifications- Changes outlined in the website audit to prepare for internationalisation of your website, such as language translations, product and expertise details, etc. (Maximum grant $5,000)
• Mentoring/coaching- Costs of export-focused mentoring and coaching. Programs subsidised by the State or Australian Government are not eligible for reimbursement. (Maximum grant $5,000)• International Trade Shows and Trade Missions- Costs of hiring exhibition space at an international tradeshow, project management fees, freight of free samples,and costs associated with participating in trade missions.(excluding travel and accommodation) (Maximum grant $10,000)
• Inbound buyers- Costs of hosting incoming buyers, such as domestic travel and accommodation (for buyers only) and hiring local facilities. (Maximum grant $2,000)

Applicant Eligibility

The Gateway Business Program will assist established local companies which can show they are ready to take the next step and begin exporting. To be eligible, an applicant must:

• Be an Australian-registered business based in South Australia and be registered for GST. (South Australian based companies not owned in South Australia are required to provide a case for support)
• Turn over at least $150,000 a year, and have been in business for at least two years.
• Own the product or service being promoted. Have tradeable goods or services and be export-capable for the intended market.
• Intend to trade goods or services made in South Australia, or be able to demonstrate that the sale of your goods or services overseas will benefit South Australia’s economy.
• Have attended a relevant South Australian export workshop or demonstrate prior export capability.

The applicant must not:

• Have received an Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) over the past two years.
• Have exhausted the EMDG program.
• Be applying at the same time for other funding for the same project, or through a related entity.
• Have received five (5) or more grants under the Market Access Program (MAP) or South Australian Promotion Program (SAPP) grants.

About the Gateway Business Program:

• Program guidelines
• Eligibility checklist
• Who can apply
• About Made in SA
• How applications are assessed
• View sample application form

The Gateway Business Program is a competitive assistance program offered by the Government of South Australia. Read how one local exporter benefited from DTED’s export assistance.

To be successful, a government grant application must rate highly against the program’s criteria, and against competing applications from other companies. Companies can receive Gateway Business Program funding only once.

Applications for the Gateway Business Program may be made at any time. However,  government grant applications are assessed and funding approved in four rounds each year, the next two rounds will close at 5pm, 28 February 2011 and 29th April 2011.