Made in Victoria – Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund

The program will support new R&D infrastructure projects aligned to Victoria’s priority industries as identified in the Made in Victoria: 2030 Manufacturing Statement:

• new energy technologies, including wind, hydrogen, solar and batteries
• health technologies, including medtech, biotech, pharma and consumer healthcare
• food manufacturing and agriculture
• defence, aerospace and space
• digital and advanced technologies, including advanced materials, robotics, AI (Artificial Intelligence), 3D-printing, and quantum technologies.

This program will:

• directly support industry investment in new or enhanced R&D infrastructure
• enable high quality collaboration and mutually valued research between industry, universities and/or research providers
• deliver broader spill-over benefits from the investments, particularly in manufacturing, strengthening supply chains and in up skilling the workforce, with a focus on priority industry sectors.
• support R&D infrastructure that will strengthen the capability of Victorian industry to respond to opportunities in emerging areas of innovation.

The Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund is open to:

• businesses that have identified key R&D equipment/infrastructure that will support their R&D activities and anchor their operation in Victoria
• businesses that provide R&D services.

To be eligible the organisation will need to:

1. be a legally structured business registered in Victoria with an Australian Business Number (ABN), with a minimum 3-year trading history
2. have an operating presence in Victoria
3. employ at least 20 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff or have an annual turnover greater than $1.5 million

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

• individuals
• Australian, state and local government agency or body established under the Public Administration Act 2004 (VIC) or equivalent legislation of another Australian jurisdiction
• company not incorporated in Australia
• unincorporated association, committee or collective
• community-based organisations
• academic institutions, public sector research providers or university[1] organisations currently involved in litigation against the State Government of Victoria or the Commonwealth of Australia.

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible organisations.

Eligible project expenditure includes the following:

• capital expenditure (e.g., testing or specialised machinery, equipment and technology)
• capital expenditure incurred to construct a building or part of a building
• building costs associated with an extension alteration or improvement to a building
• training of staff specific to the installation or operation of the new R&D infrastructure
• labour and contractor expenses related to installation and commissioning of equipment or facilities
• accreditation expenses associated with equipment and/or facilities being assessed and granted industry-relevant standards (e.g., ISO standards).

Eligible project expenditure must be:

• incurred by the grant recipient within 12 months of execution of the grant agreement
• a direct cost of the project, and
• exclusive of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The program is not intended to support projects which involve:

• project expenses that are already funded or partially funded by other government funding
• expenses incurred in acquiring, or in acquiring the right to use, technology wholly or partly for the purpose of one or more R&D activities
• expenses that are primarily focussed on routine maintenance of existing R&D infrastructure
• retrospective funding for activities that have already begun
• business as usual operational expenditure, including existing staff costs/salaries, communications, travel, entertainment, accommodation and office computing equipment
• land and lease costs
• printing, stationery, postage, and bank charges
• basic and routine professional services including legal and accounting fees
• any amount paid on account of GST
• costs related to preparing the grant application, preparing any project reports and preparing any project variation requests
• building routine websites, sales and promotional activities, marketing or communications campaigns
• regulatory and intellectual property fees and charges associated with registering domestic or international patents or other intellectual property enforcement expenses.

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible projects and expenditure.

Stage 1: EOI Assessment Criteria 

1. Eligibility

• Eligibility of entity type
• Size of organisation

2. Alignment to program objectives

• Makes a sufficiently compelling case that the project will deliver outcomes consistent with the program objective of developing Victoria’s R&D capability in priority industry sector/s and potential to lift business expenditure on R&D and be sustainable
• Level of alignment with the priority industries

3. Need for Funding

• Makes a sufficiently compelling case on why government funding is necessary to achieve the project outcomes or would lead to improved outcomes. Applications will need to justify the critical impact of grant funding to delivery of the project

4. Other conditions of funding

• Ability to meet co-contribution requirements

Stage 2: Project Assessment Criteria 

1. Alignment to program objectives to increase business expenditure of R&D (40%)

• Demonstrate how the project will deliver outcomes consistent with program objectives
• Demonstrate how the infrastructure will be managed and sustained beyond the grant period to support R&D projects

2. Contribute to sector capability (30%)

• Demonstrate how the activity will enhance firm-level innovation and contribute to the competitiveness of the sector, especially in the development of new products and services for new or emerging markets
• Demonstrate how the project will deliver new or enhanced R&D infrastructure capabilities to meet industry demands (especially development of new R&D capabilities not currently accessible within Victoria, AND/OR impact on the attraction of business expenditure on R&D in Victoria)

3. Capacity and capability to successfully implement the project (15%)

• Provide details of the lead applicant and partner’s ability to manage research infrastructure and R&D projects
• Outline the track record of the applicant in delivering grant projects (if applicable) and the resources to be allocated to the project
• Outline how the project will be implemented to meet the project deliverables and milestones

4. Other project benefits (15%)

• Provide details of any broader benefits to non-project participants or flow on impacts, such as strengthened supply chains, increased skills, and workforce capabilities
• Provide details of project partners and benefits from the project. Outline track record of collaborations with research providers

See the guidelines for full details of the selection process.

You should read and understand the guidelines.

You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• the critical impact of grant funding to delivery of the project
• a clear project plan on how it will deliver outcomes consistent with program objectives
• a sound and justifiable budget including all financial contributions
• the capacity and capability to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
• the capacity and capability to manage and sustain the infrastructure beyond the grant period
• risk management plans for delivery of the project, including risks associated with climate change

The following documents must be attached to your application:

• details of the applicant’s eligibility under the program
• outline of the proposed project and outcomes and demonstrate how the project meets the objectives of the program

Applicants progressing to Stage 2 of assessment will be required to provide the following additional supporting documentation:

• application form
• detailed project plan, including additional outcomes resulting from the project and quotations from supplier/s to support estimated costs (a project plan template will be provided)
• a detailed project budget, set at quarterly intervals across the planned grant period
• evidence of capital to support the cash co-contribution to the project (evidence includes cash in the bank, statutory declaration from the CFO/CEO of committed funds)
• audited Financial Reports for the past 3 years (including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and notes to the accounts). Note, If the applicant’s financial reports are not audited, unaudited financial reports can only be accepted if they have been prepared by an Accountant registered with the Tax Practitioner Board
• management or interim accounts for the current year, if the most recent Financial Report is more than 6 months old
• business plan incorporating financial projections (Profit & Loss and Cash Flow) and expected expenditure plans related to delivery of the project:

1. 1. the cash flow projections must include project expenditure, capital expenditure and project funding as separate items in cash outflow and inflow
   2. the financial projections should cover the life of the project and should reflect the financial benefits expected to be generated from the project. A template providing guidance on the Profit and Loss and Cash Flow projections will be available.

• risk management plans for delivery of the project, including risks associated with climate change, and
• letters of support where relevant, for example from potential clients, partners, local councils and relevant associations may be included.

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

The electronic EOI application form is available on the Business Victoria website at business.vic.gov.au/irdif.

EOI’s can only be made using the electronic form and must be submitted online. Printed, facsimile, posted or other methods of delivery of the EOI form will not be accepted.

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.