Govt Grants & Assistance

Here is a short-list of links to Australian federal government and NSW state government grants and assistance programs that are highly relevant to early stage tech ventures based in NSW:

  • For general small business help, contact the Small Business Support Line on 1800 77 7275.
  • R&D Tax Offset - for a 37.5% cash rebate of expenditure on eligible R&D activities. Alternatively, if you have taxable profits, make use of the 125%/175% R&D Tax Concession. These will be superseded by the new R&D Tax Credit.
  • Commercialisation Australia provides grants and mentors to assist innovative early-stage ventures with Skills and Knowledge (up to $250,000), Proof of Concept (up to $250,000) and Early Stage Commercialisation (up to $2,000,000). You should refer to the Commercialisation Australia website for details on support available and application criteria and process.
  • Innovation Pathways is a complementary program providing grants up to $35,000 and linking companies with other NSW Government programs, like Australian Technology Showcase (see below).
  • Programs to help SMEs pay for access to the scientific and technical expertise and intellectual property of Australian research institutions and universities, such as the NSW Government's TechVouchers program (up to $15,000) and CSIRO's Australian Growth Partnerships Fund (an investment fund, not a grant or subsidy).  
  • Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) may provide opportunities for early-stage ventures to further develop and demonstrate their clean energy technologies.
  • Biotechnology industry assistance - various programs from the NSW State Government, includes BioBusiness Proof of Concept Grant for 50% co-funding up to $100,000 for selected development projects. 
  • Australian Technology Showcase - high profile exposure to assist promotion and business development in national and overseas markets.
  • Export Market Development Grant - for 50% reimbursement by Austrade of export promotion expenses above $10,000.
  • Other export assistance - Austrade provides a range of information and services to assist planning, researching and entering overseas markets. The NSW State Government also has programs to assist NSW-based firms ready to export, including overseas market visits and trade missions. 
  • Enterprise Connect - a range of industry sector advice and assistance programs and centres for SMEs, including Manufacturing Centres, Creative Industry Innovation Centre, Clean Energy Innovation Centre and Defence Industry Centre. Eligibility criteria for assistance vary by Centre and business revenue generally needs to be above $1M. Services and grant assistance available through the Centres include:
    • Comprehensive business improvement diagnostic (free service).
    • 50% grant (max $20,000) towards the cost of “Tailored Advisory Services” to address issues and/or opportunities identified in the diagnostic. 
    • ­“Researchers in Business” grants to pay up to $50,000 towards the cost of seconding a researcher to a firm to conduct applied research. 
    • A range of information, advice, training and networking services and directories, including: Technology & Knowledge Connect and Technology Partnerships Equipment Register.
    • Authorative details on eligibility and support available should obtained direct from Enterprise Connect.

You may also be interested in venture capital. Venture Capital is a broad term. It is essential to understand the different types of investor; what they are looking for; what they can offer; and how they might fit with your business and personal aspirations. Please refer to our Capital Raising services if you are interested in raising capital for your business. If you want to follow what is happening in venture capital in Australia, we recommend reading the Australian Venture Capital Journal. Also have a look at the industry associations representing business angel investors and venture capital funds:

If any of the above links no longer work, please email us as we are not responsible for nor necessarily aware of changes made to the websites of other organisations.