 | Also see technology transfer |
| Government assistance in Australia |
The Government has greatly expanded and enhanced the R&D Start program. Which provides direct support for business research and development. and is administered by the industry Research and Development Board through the Office of Auslndustry.
The Government will provide an extra $556 million over four years from 1 July. 1998. bringing the total program expenditure to $739 million.
Eligibility requirements have been revised to allow both small and large Australian companies to apply for assistance under R&D Start. This will allow more businesses to undertake high quality R&D and commercialisation activities.
Applications are assessed on a competitive basis. and the following merit criteria apply:
| · Management capability' of the applicant |
| · Commercial potential of the project |
| · Technical strength of the project |
| · National benefit of the project |
| · Need for R&D Start funding for the project. |
Core Start which provides grants on a competitive basis to support R&D projects conducted in Australia for up to three years. The maximum grant is $15 million. though grants typically range between $l00,000 and $5 million. Group turnover of the applicant should be less than $50 million. Projects must have clearly identified commercial potential and the company must demonstrate that it is able to fund its share of the project costs.
Start Plus is a new element of the program. It provides grants of up to 20 per cent of the project cost to companies with a group turnover of more than $50 million. Once again. the commercial potential of the projects. and the company's ability to contribute its share of the cost are important factors.
Start Premium, offers a higher rate of assistance, to a maximum of 56.25 per cent of eligible project costs. The additional funding is repayable and applicants are required to provide a repayment plan as part of the application. Start Premium will be available to applicants with projects which demonstrate exceptional merit against all five criteria of the program and include an acceptable repayment plan.
Under Core Start. Start Graduate grants to a maximum of $100,000 are also available to engage a graduate for two years on a specific R&D-related project that is undertaken in collaboration with a research institution. Up to 20 per cent of the funds can be paid to the institution for academic support and equipment.
Also under Core Start, Concessional loans are available to companies which employ fewer than 100 persons for projects aimed at the commercialisation of technological innovation of goods and services. Projects must be completed within three years and the loan repaid in the following three years. Loans will not exceed 50 per cent of eligible project costs. Interest is waived during the first three years and then charged at 40 per cent of the Commonwealth Bank Index Rate.
For more information, ring the Auslndustry Hotline on 13 28 46.
Cooperative Research Centres, (CRCs), bring together researchers from
universities, CSIRO and other government laboratories, and private industry.
CRCs cover long-term, collaborative research and development efforts.
The objective of the CRC Program is:
| To maximise the capture of
the benefits of research through the development of enhanced cooperative
linkages between researchers and research users in the public and private
sector. |
The Program emphasises the
importance of developing internationally competitive industry sectors. It
also addresses the health and well being of Australian society, the
understanding and management of the environment, and the interaction of all
these objectives to achieve ecologically sustainable development.
$150 million (one-half) for agriculture
|
Name of Cooperative Research Centre |
Total Funding over 7 years A$M |
Ag=Agricultural Health=Health IT=Info tech Res=Resource Man=Manufacturing NS=Not specific |
|
Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity |
22.000 |
Ag |
|
Smart Internet Technologies |
22.000 |
IT |
|
Australian Weed Management |
20.300 |
Ag |
|
Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration |
20.200 |
Ag |
|
Australian Sheep Industry |
19.800 |
Ag |
|
Tropical Savannas Management |
18.200 |
Ag |
|
Predictive Mineral Discovery |
18.000 |
Res |
|
Value Added Wheat |
17.180 |
Ag |
|
Innovative Dairy Products |
17.000 |
Ag |
|
Water Quality and Treatment |
16.750 |
NS |
|
Chronic Inflammatory Diseases |
16.548 |
Health |
|
Sustainable Aquaculture of Finfish |
16.500 |
Ag |
|
Diagnostics |
16.330 |
Health |
|
Innovative Wood Manufacturing |
16.315 |
Man |
|
Coal in Sustainable Development |
14.450 |
Res |
|
Technology Enabled Capital Markets |
14.200 |
IT |
|
Functional Communication Surfaces |
14.018 |
Man |
|
Construction Innovation |
14.000 |
Man |
|
Railway Engineering and Technologies |
11.200 |
Trans |
