Grants of up to $200,000 designed to specifically target innovation-driven small enterprises and startups in Western Australia, to assist them in becoming sustainable, scalable businesses.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Commercialisation Bridge Grant?
The Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) is a competitive Western Australian government grant, funded through the New Industries Fund, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI).
Launching for the first time in 2023-24, the CBG has been designed to specifically target innovation-driven small enterprises and startups in WA, to assist them in becoming sustainable, scalable businesses.
A typical applicant is based in WA, has already developed a commercial innovation, has some early customer revenues, has not yet achieved ‘break through growth’, but has the potential to do so.
Many innovative companies fail at this stage, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Valley of Death’.
Please note that the CBG will likely be highly competitive, so you should consider carefully your eligibility and competitiveness, and the time taken in making an application, and awaiting the outcome.
Applicants from regional WA, female founders and indigenous founders, are particularly encouraged to apply. Part of the funding is set aside for founders in at least one of these three categories.
Commercialisation Bridge Grant level of support
Grants
- Minimum grant amount – $50,000
- Maximum grant amount – $200,000
Co-contribution
- Recipients are required to provide a net cash co-contribution of at least 50:50 applicant to WA government funding
If your project requires less than $50,000, then you might consider the ‘Innovation Booster Grant’ (maximum grant $40,000, with 20% co-contribution).
For eligible, chosen recipients, funds will be made available for up to 12 months after the initial awarding of the grant – unless an extension is confirmed with JTSI – with 50% of the funding made available upfront.
The remaining (50%) funds can be claimed at two further stages of the project: a mid-term milestone (further 25%), and then at the conclusion of the project and a final acquittal report has been provided to JTSI (final 25%).
Commercialisation Bridge Grant important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Commercialisation Bridge Grant objectives and outcomes
The CBG is designed to assist founders/teams in:
- Western Australia, who have been developing their innovation-drive business for at least a few years, have customers and the potential to build a scalable, multi-million dollar business;
- Contributing to, matching and completing a new funding round, without further diluting the investors;
- Strengthening their commercialised product or service, such that it can become a sustainable, profitable and scalable business;
- Building a globally-focussed, innovative business that is based in WA; and
- Creating jobs, developing new industries and assisting in the diversification of the WA economy.
If your project is not yet commercialised, and needs early development work, testing or commercialisation services, then another grant, such as the ‘Innovation Booster Grant’ (maximum $40,000) might be more suitable.
Projects eligible for Commercialisation Bridge Grant support
Funding may be used for projects or items that develop:
- product readiness (product testing and validation, laboratory verification, machining and tooling etc)
- team readiness (hiring experienced C-suite personnel, developing an advisory board etc)
- IP readiness (legal and other professional advice, protection of intellectual property etc)
- commercialisation readiness (innovation management and consulting services export readiness etc).
See the guidelines for full details of projects eligible for CBG support.
Expenditure eligible for Commercialisation Bridge Grant support
The items which you are requesting funding for fall into one or more of the following four categories:
1. Product Readiness
- laboratory verification
- necessary certification
- software development and tech work
- machining and tooling
- product testing and validation
2. Team Readiness
- hiring experienced C-suite person/personnel
- adding to team, to fill gaps in skills and experience
- developing an advisory/board
3. IP Readiness
- protection of intellectual property through patents, and other protections, in various countries
- legal and other professional advice
- licensing
4. Commercialisation Readiness
- innovation management and consulting services
- commercialization, growth and marketing work
- preparing to enter new markets
- export readiness
Your funding request in your application equals no more than 50% of the Project Plan cost and no more than $200,000.
Confirm that you will pay, have raised and can cover:
- your 50% cash co-contribution to the project cost;
- any GST; and
- any additional funds required.
Work on the project will commence on or after the execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement.
At the end of the project, in order to release the final 25% grant payment, you will need to provide evidence that you have paid consultant/ supplier(s) as per the project plan spreadsheet.
Please note: All proposed expenditure must be shown on your Project Plan (spreadsheet), and uploaded with the application.
Please also note that the following are NOT eligible expenditure:
- training courses;
- hardware and software purchases (for standard business purposes);
- business and strategic planning;
- design and production of marketing or promotional materials or events (unless it can be demonstrated that this expenditure is focused on the commercialisation pathway);
- ‘business as usual’ website development;
- maintenance and upkeep of facilities; and
- any other general business / operational / business planning activities that are usual requirements of a business.
See the guidelines for full details of expenditure eligible for CBG support.
Other Commercialisation Bridge Grant important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for CBG support
Eligible organisations:
- Your business is registered in Western Australia and possesses a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and/or Australian Company Number (ACN).
- Your business has a trading history of three years or more.
- You are developing a scalable, innovative project in Western Australia.
- Your business will continue to be based in Western Australia in the next three years.
- You are a WA-based startup or small business that employs between one and 50 people.
- Your business is solvent.
- Your business is willing, and has the financial capacity, to contribute at least 50% of the requested project funding costs.
- Your business confirms that the CBG will NOT be spent on ‘business as usual’ operational expenses
- Your business confirms that the requested eligible expenditure is for services to be provided in the future
- You have NOT previously received or likely to receive Western Australian government funding for the same project/initiative.
- You have NOT previously received a CBG before.
- You have not, and will not, claim the same project expenses for this CBG application as for other government grants and refunds (such as the R&D tax incentive).
- Submit your application on the Good Grants platform
See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for CBG support.
CBG assessment criteria
For a competitive application, please address these criteria as clearly as possible and use concrete evidence wherever possible to back up your points, taking notice of the scores per question.
1.NEED FOR FUNDING (Maximum 10)
- how the grant will bridge the funding gap, and help you cross the ‘Valley of Death’;
- why this project deserves WA government funding;
- why you cannot fund this project yourself (difficulties and gaps in funding); and
- how you have tried to raise all the funding, but can only manage to raise half the funds required (explaining where from).
UPLOAD evidence showing you have access to at least 50% of the project funding cost, and can therefore match the CBG (grant funding).
2.INNOVATION (Maximum 10)
- the unique innovation(s) embedded in your project, and why it is ‘novel’ (new and different);
- what ‘customer problem’ your innovation is designed to solve, and how it does this;
- How you have protected (or are going to protect) the intellectual property within your project; and
- What is now needed to prepare your innovation for wider, national and global markets.
UPLOAD evidence of innovation, such as patent protection, trademarks or other IP protection, as appropriate.
3.COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE (Maximum 10)
- How your innovative project already has a competitive advantage in a sizeable market, due to its cost benefits, product features, delivery model and other unique features;
- The current size of your market, your share of it; and
- The total addressable market you are going after, and how you are going to capture it.
Provide evidence (such as sales figures, industry data) to back up your arguments.
4.PEOPLE (Maximum 10)
- Demonstrate that you, your team, and any chosen supplier(s), have the relevant skills, experience and capacity to advance your innovation; and
- Demonstrate how other human resources (e.g mentors, advisors, board members, consultants, researchers and others) will contribute towards the project and its success.
If you use a consultant/ supplier(s), explain why you have chosen them, and how you intend to work together.
The CBG (grant) particularly encourages applications from regional WA, female and indigenous founders and companies.
Tick up to 3 relevant diversity categories below, as appropriate, or leave blank if not applicable:
- Regional WA (business not headquartered in Perth or Peel regions)
- Female founder (at least one female owner)
- Indigenous founder (at least one Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owner)
5.SCALABILITY (Maximum 10)
- has performed in the market to date;
- has the potential to scale; and
- how the proposed project will significantly increase the likelihood that your entire business will scale sustainably and effectively in the future
Provide evidence to back up your argument.
6.PLAN (Maximum 10)
- endeavour to follow the proposed project plan, and what methodologies and controls will be in place to ensure the plan will be effectively enacted;
- keep the project on track if and when unexpected event(s) occur (such as a chosen supplier is unavailable or a key person leaves the project).
7.IMPACT (Maximum 10)
- deliver tangible benefits for WA, industry and customers, such as revenue growth, new markets, technological transfer, collaboration, future capital raising, export income and any other measurable benefits;
- generates job creation in one or more of the ‘Diversify WA’ industry categories; tick up to 2 relevant industry categories below, as appropriate, or leave blank if not applicable:
- Energy
- Tourism, events and creative industries
- International education
- Defence
- Mining and METS
- Space
- Health and Medical Life Sciences
- Primary Industries
- support WA to deliver upon one or more of the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals.
The maximum score for applications is 70.
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
How do I get the CBG?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
In addition to the evaluation criteria, applications are assessed based on their alignment with:
- The objectives of the New Industries Fund;
- Current WA government and JTSI priorities, policies and initiatives for innovation;
- The WA government’s Innovation Strategy (Western Australia: the place to innovate), published in December 2022;
- Diversity and inclusion goals, including support for regional, female and indigenous innovation;
- The level of funding sought by the applicant compared to how the application meets these criteria.
Information to prepare for the CBG application
Refer to the required documentations and attachments indicated per criterion in the assessment criteria or see the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the CBG
Applying for a CBG is a one-stage competitive process involving a written online application, and Project Plan, that needs to be submitted via the online grant platform (https://cbg.grantplatform.com/), together with other relevant attachments.
Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Commercialisation Bridge Grant resources
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