Grants up to $250,000 for early-stage commercialisation projects and grants up to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects for businesses to grow their operations.
What is the Industry Growth Program?
The Industry Growth Program (IGP) has been established to support innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas. Participating businesses will have access to Advisory Services to help them overcome significant challenges that may be associated with their projects.
The program targets businesses beginning to, or with capacity to scale but does not include routine business growth.
Businesses receiving Advisory Services through the program may apply for matched grant funding to undertake commercialisation and/or growth projects. The program will complement the NRF’s mission to drive investment in projects that develop Australia’s industry capability, helping to transform Australia’s industry and economy.
The National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas are:
- value-add in resources
- value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors
- transport
- medical science
- renewables and low emission technologies
- defence capability
- enabling capabilities.
For a detailed description of each NRF priority area, please refer to the dropdown list below.
IGP level of support
Advisory Service
Industry Growth Program Advisers (the Advisers), engaged by the department, will provide innovative SMEs tailored advice to support their commercialisation and/or growth projects in NRF priority areas. The Advisory Service is available to all eligible businesses and will be a prerequisite for participation in the program’s grant opportunities. It will be expected that program participants have considered the advice received through this element of the program in their applications for grant funding.
The program’s Advisory Service is complemented by two grant opportunities:
- Grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
- Grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.
Grant opportunities
Once you have received the Advisory Service report from your Adviser, you may choose to apply for matched grant funding to support your commercialisation and/ or growth project. Not all businesses who engage with an Adviser will be eligible for a grant opportunity.
Grants are awarded based on merit, and are assessed by the independent Industry Growth Program Committee.
Industry Growth Program – Early-Stage Commercialisation grant opportunity
Early-Stage Commercialisation grants are for projects at the feasibility study, proof-of-concept and prototyping stages. A common reference to describe this journey is Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). As a guide, Early-Stage Commercialisation grant projects are intended broadly to include the journey through TRL3 to TRL6, for further information please refer to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
The grants can be used for projects and business activities that help your business establish the commercial viability of innovative products, processes or services.
You can apply for grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support Early-Stage Commercialisation projects.
Industry Growth Program – Commercialisation and Growth grant opportunity
Commercialisation and Growth grants are for innovative projects that are in prototyping through to market-readiness stages.
Activities include:
- developing strategies for entering the market
- accelerating growth
- scaling up into national and international markets.
As a guide, Commercialisation and Growth grant projects are intended broadly to include the journey through TRL4 to TRL9, for further information please refer to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
You can apply for grants of $100,000 to $5,000,000 to support Commercialisation and Growth projects.
IGP important dates
- Applications can be submitted at any time
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
IGP objectives and outcomes
The objectives of the program are to support innovative SMEs undertaking projects in NRF priority areas to:
- commercialise their ideas into new products, processes and services and grow their operations
- improve their ability to engage in, or increase, their national and/or international trading operations
- better position them to seek future investment and further scaling opportunities, including through the NRF where relevant.
The intended outcome of the program is to increase trade in national and/or markets in other countries by:
- improving commercialisation capability and performance of participating businesses
- improving growth capability and performance of participating businesses.
- scaling up participating businesses.
Projects eligible for IGP support
The government will only accept a grant application for a project where proponents satisfy the following:
An innovative product, process or service:
- Is new, unique or significantly different to any other previous product, process or service in the market or industry where the product is intended to be sold/traded; or
- Involves significant enhancements or developments of current products, processes or services that will enable the business to scale and transform. (Minor changes or improvements to existing products or services are not considered innovative)
Early-stage commercialisation projects
are intended to include the journey from feasibility studies and the development of proof-of-concept through to the production and testing of early prototypes in a simulated or theoretical environment. Testing should validate the commercial viability of the innovative product, process or service. Various scales are typically referenced to demonstrate technology readiness or market readiness, with one example commonly referenced being Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). As a guide, early-stage commercialisation grant projects are intended to broadly include the journey through TRL3 to TRL6.
Commercialisation and growth projects
are intended to include those that can already demonstrate completion of feasibility studies and proof-of-concept. Projects are intended to include the journey of product, process or service development from early prototyping through to actual application in its final form, and the capability to scale up to full rate production and grow into new markets. Various scales are typically referenced to demonstrate technology readiness or market readiness, with one example commonly referenced being Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). As a guide, commercialisation and growth grant projects are intended to broadly include the journey through TRL4 to TRL9.
See the guidelines for full details of projects eligible for IGP support.
Other IGP important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for IGP support
Advisory Service Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for participation in the program’s Advisory Service you must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be non-income-tax-exempt
- be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
and be one of the following entities:
- a company, incorporated in Australia
- a co-operative
- an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust.
Additional eligibility requirements:
- have a combined annual turnover of less than $20 million for each of the three financial years prior to the lodgement of the application
- have an innovative product, process or service that you are seeking to commercialise and/or grow in one or more of the following NRF priority areas:
- value-add in resources
- value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors
- transport
- medical science
- renewables and low emission technologies
- defence capability
- enabling capabilities.
Grant Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate that they:
- are participating in the Advisory Service element of the program and have received a report from their Adviser
- can meet the co-funding contribution for the grant opportunity.
Program participants may apply for one or both Industry Growth Program grant opportunities over the life of the program depending on their commercialisation and/or growth potential.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- an individual, partnership or trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, state or local government agency or body (including government business enterprises).
See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for IGP support.
IGP priority areas – detailed descriptions
Value-add in resources
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in:
- manufacturing products for use in or in connection with the mining industry; or
- manufacturing products for use in or in connection with processing minerals; or
- processing minerals.
For example:
- the manufacture of exploration or drilling technologies, mining safety solutions, or products to assist with transportation of minerals
- the refining and processing of spodumene to lithium hydroxide and then onto cathode active materials for use in battery manufacture as well as the manufacture of technologies and other products used in this processing.
Value-add in agriculture, forestry and fisheries
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in:
- manufacturing products for use in or in connection with a primary industry; or
- manufacturing products for use in or in connection with processing produce of a primary industry; or
- processing produce of a primary industry.
For example:
- the manufacture of fertilisers and farming equipment; technologies to manage crop, tree, and animal health; and improved storage solutions to extend product life.
- the manufacture of food, beverage, timber, and fibre products because this manufacturing involves the processing of produce of primary industries. It does not include developing new farms or plantations.
Transport
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in manufacturing any of the following products:
- aircraft, road vehicles, rail vehicles or ships;
- products for use in or in connection with aircraft, road vehicles, rail vehicles or ships.
For example, the manufacture of electric vehicles, or components or charging equipment connected with their use. It does not include common use infrastructure such as roads or railways, but may include products for use with or in such infrastructure such as road surfacing solutions, or components for rails.
Medical Science
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in manufacturing products for therapeutic use. For example, products such as medical devices, medicines, personal protective equipment, and vaccines. It does not include products for veterinary purposes and is not intended to include products with possible secondary health applications, for instance, cosmetics or health food.
Renewables and low emission technologies
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in manufacturing products for use in or in connection with:
- renewable energy generation, transmission, distribution or storage; or
- greenhouse gas emissions reduction; or
- energy efficiency; or
- recycling; or
- waste reduction; or
- resource recovery.
For example, manufacturing components of wind turbines, production of batteries and solar panels, hydrogen electrolysers and innovative packaging solutions for waste reduction.
It does not cover the installation of standalone renewable energy infrastructure for the generation of power for general use, such as solar or wind farms.
Defence capabilities
- The area of the Australian economy that is involved in manufacturing products that are wholly or primarily for use in or in connection with defence.
- It captures the parts of the economy involved in delivering the fundamental inputs to defence capability, such as those involved in the development, manufacturing, and sustainment of relevant products.
Enabling capabilities
The area of the Australian economy that is involved in manufacturing any of the following products:
- advanced manufacturing technologies or materials technologies;
- artificial intelligence technologies;
- advanced information or communication technologies;
- quantum technologies;
- autonomous systems;
- robotics technologies;
- positioning, timing and sensing technologies;
- biotechnologies;
- space objects or products for use in, or in connection with, space objects;
- other advanced technologies.
Advanced manufacturing or materials technologies refers to technologies such as additive manufacturing, advanced composite materials, high specification machining processes, and semiconductors and advanced integrated circuit manufacture.
“Other advanced technologies” is intended to capture emerging technologies, recognising that Australian industry is developing and adopting technology at a rapid rate, and that funding of manufacturing of such new and innovative advanced technologies aligns with the overall policy objective of the Government in establishing the Corporation to diversify and transform Australian industry.
IGP assessment process
Applications will be checked to ensure it meets the eligibility criteria.
The Program Delegate (who is a manager within the department with responsibility for administering the program) will decide if your application is eligible, based on the criteria listed in the guidelines.
Applicants that meet all the eligibility criteria will be approved by the Program Delegate.
Eligible applicants will be contacted with a response within 10 working days of submitting a complete application.
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment process for IGP support.
How do I get the IGP?
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.
- Provide complete information requirements.
- Have an eligible innovative product, process or service in one or more of the NRF priority areas.
Information to prepare for the IGP application
You should have the following details ready if they are applicable to you.
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
or
- Australian Company Number (ACN)
- Indigenous Corporation Number
- Australian Registered Body Number
- Australian Registered Scheme Number
- Incorporated Association Registration
- Co-operative Registration Number
- Charity status
- Not for profit status
Where applicable, international organisations will need to provide
- country of registration
- registration number
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the IGP
Applications are submitted online via the business.gov.au portal.
Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
IGP resources
IGP grant recipients
Successful grant recipients 10th August include:
- Cauldron Molecules $4.3 million to support world-first, fully automated hyper-fermentation technology to make food, animal feed, fibre and fuel.
- Li– S Energy $1.7 million to support its high-tolerance lithium foil battery manufacturing process to produce next generation, ultra-light batteries.
- Electrogenics Laboratories $1 million for its MOSkin patient radiation dose measurement system to reduce exposure risk during radiotherapy treatments.
- Brandsec $231,000 for its Unphish software tool which can remove malicious phishing content from the internet, including from compromised websites and fake social media accounts.
- Forager Automation $157,943 for the development of its robotic blueberry picking device that will tackle labour costs and increase yield efficiency for farmers.
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