ClosedBusiness

Innovation Connections

Australian Government · Australia

Innovation Connections provided advice and matched funding to help businesses start research projects with commercial potential. It connected eligible businesses with facilitators and supported researcher placements with publicly funded research organisations. The program is now closed.

Funding

$30K – $50K

Closed

9 May 2023

Location

Australia

Who Can Apply

• Must have an eligible business structure • Must operate in, or support, one of Australia's growth sectors • Must have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) • Must be registered for goods and services tax (GST) • Must be a company incorporated in Australia, or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust • Must intend and have the opportunity to engage in, contribute to or increase trade in Australian and/or international markets • Must have operated in Australia and filed business activity statements showing ongoing trading for at least 3 consecutive years • Must have annual turnover or operating expenditure in one of the last 3 financial years between 1500000 and 100000000, or between 750000 and 100000000 if located in remote or northern Australia • Not eligible if operating as an individual • Not eligible if operating as a partnership • Not eligible if operating as a trust, unless an incorporated trustee applies on behalf of the trust • Not eligible if a Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government body • Eligible growth sectors include advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, mining equipment, technology and services, and oil, gas and energy resources • Certain support service businesses may be eligible where they directly support growth sectors
Applicants could apply for facilitation if their business had an eligible business structure and operated in, or supported, one of Australia's growth sectors. The business had to have an Australian Business Number, be registered for GST, and be a company incorporated in Australia or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust. It also had to intend and have the opportunity to engage in, contribute to or increase trade in Australian and/or international markets, have operated in Australia and filed business activity statements showing ongoing trading for at least 3 consecutive years, and have annual turnover or operating expenditure in one of the last 3 financial years between $1.5 million and $100 million, or between $750,000 and $100 million if located in remote or northern Australia. Individuals, partnerships, trusts without an incorporated trustee, and government bodies were not eligible. Eligible sectors included advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, mining equipment, technology and services, and oil, gas and energy resources, as well as certain support services directly related to those sectors.

What's Funded

Researcher placements in a business or a Publicly Funded Research Organisation, development and implementation of new ideas with commercial potential, and collaboration projects arising from an Innovation Connections Roadmap.

Expected Outcomes

A completed Innovation Connections Roadmap, research collaboration with a research institution, researcher placements, and progress toward developing commercially viable products, processes or services.

Key Information

Applicant Types

companytrust

Stage

establishedgrowth

Funding Purposes

researchinnovationcommercialisation

Keywords

innovationresearch collaborationresearcher placementcommercial potentialgrowth sectorsCSIROEntrepreneurs' Programmeadvanced manufacturing

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the Innovation Connections?

The Innovation Connections is a business grant offered by Australian Government in Australia, providing $30K – $50K in funding. Innovation Connections provided advice and matched funding to help businesses start research projects with commercial potential. It connected eligible businesses with facilitators and supported researcher placements with publicly funded research organisations. The program is now closed.
2

How much funding does the Innovation Connections provide?

The Innovation Connections provides $30K – $50K in funding.
3

Who is eligible for the Innovation Connections?

  • Must have an eligible business structure
  • Must operate in, or support, one of Australia's growth sectors
  • Must have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Must be registered for goods and services tax (GST)
  • Must be a company incorporated in Australia, or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust
  • Must intend and have the opportunity to engage in, contribute to or increase trade in Australian and/or international markets
  • Must have operated in Australia and filed business activity statements showing ongoing trading for at least 3 consecutive years
  • Must have annual turnover or operating expenditure in one of the last 3 financial years between 1500000 and 100000000, or between 750000 and 100000000 if located in remote or northern Australia
  • Not eligible if operating as an individual
  • Not eligible if operating as a partnership
  • Not eligible if operating as a trust, unless an incorporated trustee applies on behalf of the trust
  • Not eligible if a Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government body
  • Eligible growth sectors include advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, mining equipment, technology and services, and oil, gas and energy resources
  • Certain support service businesses may be eligible where they directly support growth sectors
4

When does the Innovation Connections close?

Applications closed on 9 May 2023.
5

What activities are funded?

Researcher placements in a business or a Publicly Funded Research Organisation, development and implementation of new ideas with commercial potential, and collaboration projects arising from an Innovation Connections Roadmap.
6

How do I apply for the Innovation Connections?

Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.

Need help applying?

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