This area of the site provides a listing of some of the key programs and services delivered by the Department – as well as links to more detailed information about each of them.
Please note, however, that it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our programs and services. If you are looking for a program or service that does not appear in this list, or for more detailed information, then please navigate to the relevant subject area within innovation.gov.au (from the red bar above). Alternatively, see the AusIndustry Fact Sheet or visit the AusIndustry program summary page.
A New Car Plan for a Greener Future
Under this plan, the Government is providing $6.2 billion to assist Australia’s automotive industry prepare for a low carbon future and to become indispensable to global markets and supply chains. It will help the industry adjust to a more open trade environment and to increasingly shift its focus to producing vehicles and components with lower fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme (ACIS)
The Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme is directed toward encouraging new investment and innovation in the Australian automotive industry.
Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program (AISAP)
The $116.3 million Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program (AISAP) will strengthen the automotive components sector by facilitating structural adjustment within the automotive supply chain and providing training and assistance to displaced workers.
Automotive Transformation Scheme (ATS)
The Automotive Transformation Scheme will replace ACIS Stage 3, which was scheduled to span the period from 2011 to 2015. The ATS places greater emphasis on investment in research and development to increase competitiveness and productivity - particularly in the supply chain. It is also focused on greening Australia’s automotive industry, with participants required to demonstrate progress towards achieving better environmental outcomes and a commitment to enhancing capabilities and skilling the workforce.
Business Enterprise Centres (BECs)
The Australian Government will provide $42 million over four years to fund the delivery of low cost small business advisory services through nominated Business Enterprise Centres (BECs) throughout Australia. Thirty-six BECs will be supported through this measure.
Climate Ready Program
Part of the Clean Business Australia initiative, the Climate Ready program encourages businesses to develop and commercialise products, processes and services that save energy and water, reduce pollution and use waste products in innovative ways.
Collaborative Research Networks (CRN)
The Australian Government has established the Collaborative Research Networks (CRN) program to assist less research-intensive universities adapt to a research system driven more strongly by performance outcomes by teaming up with other institutions to increase their research capabilities. The CRN program will provide $114 million over six years from 2011.
Commercialisation Australia
Commercialisation Australia represents a radical new approach to commercialising promising Australian research and ideas. Formerly known as the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute, it will provide multi-tiered assistance to talented researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovative firms take their ideas to market. It will give successful applicants access to specialist advice and services; funding of up to $250,000 for proof of concept activities; and funding up to $2 million for early stage commercialisation activities.
Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET)
The Commercialising Emerging Technologies program provides a range of assistance to companies or inpiduals in order to help them commercialise innovative products. From 31 December 2009 COMET was closed to new applications. COMET services and assistance are superseded by Commercialisation Australia from 4 January 2010.
Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program
The Cooperative Research Centres Program is aimed at transforming scientific innovations into successful new products, services and technologies. It incorporates a strong emphasis on the importance of collaboration between business and researchers to maximise the benefits of research.
Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership (ESVCLP)
This program is aimed at increasing the supply of funding to the early-stage venture capital sector in Australia through the introduction of an investment vehicle with flow-through taxation treatment and with no tax liability on the investment gains.
Enhanced Project By-Law Scheme (EPBS)
The Enhanced Project By-Law Scheme supports major investment projects in Australia, by providing relief from tariff duty for eligible goods for inclusion in projects where expenditure on capital goods is at least $10 million.
Enterprise Connect
Enterprise Connect is an Australian Government initiative that provides tailored support to Australian small and medium sized businesses to help them become more innovative, efficient and competitive. Enterprise Connect comprises of a national network of 12 centres, with a team of over 80 highly skilled Business Advisers has been established to deliver these services. The centres work with industries as perse as manufacturing, clean energy, mining and the creative sector and all services are available to businesses whether they are located in metropolitan areas, country centres or remote Australia.
Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
This initiative has replaced the Research Quality Framework, and is aimed at evaluating excellence in all areas of research across Australia’s higher education sector. It incorporates the use of a combination of indicators and expert committee reviews in order to measure and stimulate improvements in the quality of such research.
Geelong Investment and Innovation Fund (GIIF)
The Australian and Victorian Governments and Ford Australia have announced a $24 million package to assist industry development in Geelong. Known as the Geelong Investment and Innovation Fund, the package supports new investment to create sustainable job opportunities in the Geelong region.
Green Building Fund
The Green Building Fund aims to reduce the impact of Australia's built environment on green house gas emissions, by reducing the energy consumed in the operation of existing commercial office buildings. The program assists owners of existing commercial office buildings to reduce their energy consumption, by retro-fitting and retro-commissioning of these buildings. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 are available, for up to 50% of project costs.
Green Car Innovation Fund (GCIF)
In November 2008, the Australian Government announced the Green Car Innovation Fund (GCIF) as part of its A New Car Plan for a Greener Future. The $1.3 billion fund will provide assistance over ten years to design, develop and manufacture low-emission, fuel-efficient cars and components in Australia. Grants will be allocated through a competitive selection process that considers the innovative, technological, commercial and environmental merits of each proposal.
Industry Cooperative Innovation Program (ICIP)
The Industry Cooperative Innovation Program is a merit-based grants scheme that seeks to encourage business-to-business cooperation on innovation projects that meet strategic industry needs and enhance productivity, growth and the international competitiveness of Australian industries.
Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund
The Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund is a temporary program that provides support to companies relying on early-stage venture capital funding.
Innovation Investment Fund (IIF)
This initiative stimulates investment (through venture capital funds) in small technology based companies in the early stages of their development. It also assists these companies to commercialise the outcomes of Australia's strong research and development capability.
International Science Linkages Program (ISL)
This program assists Australian scientists to collaborate with international partners on leading edge science and technology. It is aimed at promoting Australian innovation, improving Australia's capacity to attract overseas R&D investment, and increasing the impact of Australian research.
Joint Research Engagement (JRE)
The Joint Research Engagement measure complements other government funding for the indirect costs of competitive grant-funded research by transforming the Institutional Grants Scheme into a funding stream more closely focused on collaboration between universities, industry and other end-users.
LPG Vehicle Scheme
The purpose of the LPG Vehicle Scheme is to encourage the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a transport fuel, and to provide an incentive for prospective buyers of private use vehicles to purchase new LPG vehicles or to convert an existing petrol or diesel vehicle to LPG.
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
Through NCRIS, a total of $542 million (between 2004-05 and 2010-11) has been allocated for the development and funding of national research infrastructure. NCRIS is based on a strategic and collaborative approach that not only provides for greater investment in world-class research facilities, networks and infrastructure but also improves access to these for researchers across Australia.
National Trade Measurement
The national system of trade measurement began on 1 July 2010 under the administration of the National Measurement Institute (NMI), a division of the Department. Enquiries may be directed to the national trade measurement hotline – 1300 NTM NMI (1300 686 664) and further information is available from the NMI website: www.measurement.gov.au.
Pre-Seed Fund
The aim of the competitive Pre-Seed Fund is to close the gap between promising scientific discoveries and their commercialisation (through venture capital funds), primarily by improving the management and entrepreneurial skills of public sector researchers and helping them to build links with the finance and business community.
R&D Tax Concession
The R&D Tax Concession is a broad-based, market driven tax concession which allows companies to deduct up to 125% of qualifying expenditure incurred on R&D activities when lodging their corporate tax return. A 175% Incremental (Premium) Tax Concession and R&D Tax Offset are also available in certain circumstances. As a transitional measure for 2009-10, the expenditure cap for the existing R&D Tax Offset will be lifted from $1 million to $2 million. The cap is the maximum amount a firm can spend on research and development to be eligible for the Tax Offset.
R&D Tax Credit
From 2010-11, the Government will replace the R&D Tax Concession with a simplified R&D Tax Credit which cuts red tape and provides greater incentive for business to invest in research and innovation. The new Tax Credit will provide a 45 per cent refundable credit for firms with an annual turnover of less than $20 million – equivalent to a Tax Concession of 150 per cent. This means that firms will receive a tax refund of 45 per cent of their R&D spending when they file their tax return.
Research Block Grants
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research manages seven programs to support research and research training in Australian Higher Education Providers (HEPs).
Re-Tooling for Climate Change
This program is aimed at helping manufacturers improve their production processes, reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions. Through the program, grants will be available for initiatives such as investment in energy efficient tools, small scale co-generation plants and water recycling.
Science Connections Program
The key objectives of the Science Connections Program are to increase awareness of the important roles that science, technology and innovation play in Australian society and to stimulate greater interest and engagement among Australians in each of these fields.
Small Business Online
The intention of the Small Business Online initiative is to equip small businesses with the skill and know-how to improve their web facilities and e-commerce capabilities. Support provided during the two-year life of the initiative will include training seminars on e-business, advice on establishing an online presence and the development of other e-business resources.
Small Business Support Line
As part of the 2009-10 Budget, the Government announced funding of $10 million over two years to establish a unique free support line and referral service dedicated to small business. The service commenced in September 2009, and offers initial advice to small business owners and takes a whole of Government approach to assist them improve their sustainability and foster better business management practices through the global recession.
Small Business Tax Break
For eligible assets acquired between 13 December 2008 and 31 December 2009, and installed by 31 December 2010, small businesses are able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50 per cent of their cost. This Small Business Tax Break represents an increase from the previous rate of 30 per cent and provides greater incentive for investment in new capital items, such as computer hardware and business vehicles, and capital improvements to existing machinery and equipment.
South Australia Innovation and Investment Fund (SAIIF)
This discretionary grant program has total funding of $30 million (less administration costs) contributed by the Australian and South Australian Governments. It is designed to fund innovative job creation projects to strengthen South Australia's manufacturing and technology base.
Super Science
Announced in May 2009, the Super Science initiative allocates $1.1 billion in funding for critical areas of scientific endeavour, including astronomy, climate change, marine and life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology. The infrastructure projects funded under the initiative were identified as priorities in the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure in 2008 – and all are aimed at stimulating economic activity and supporting new jobs, including by building the platform for high-skill, high-wage jobs in the future. The initiative has three central components:
Supplier Access to Major Projects (SAMP) Program
This program provides funds for networks and specialist consultants to help project developers identify supply opportunities for Australian companies. It is aimed at expanding the opportunities for businesses to participate in major projects and increasing their access to global supply markets.
Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities (SREU)
The Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities initiative is targeted at addressing the gap in funding for the indirect costs of research. It augments the existing Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG) Scheme, with the aim of raising the average support for the indirect costs of university research to 50 cents per dollar of direct competitive grant funding by 2014.
TCF Innovation Package
In May 2009, the Australian Government announced investment of $401 million in a retargeted textiles, clothing and footwear package from 2009-10 to 2015-16. The package redirects $55 million towards innovation, including $10 million in new funding – and is intended to make the TCF sector stronger and more sustainable by supporting the development of new products and processes, especially at the high-tech, high-value end of the market.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Post-2005 Strategic Investment Program Scheme (TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme)
This scheme aims to foster the development of sustainable, internationally competitive TCF manufacturing and design industries in Australia by providing incentives that promote investment and innovation. It is an entitlement program and provides incentives in the form of reimbursement grants.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Corporatewear Register
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Corporatewear Register allows employers to register non-compulsory occupational clothing, thereby avoiding liability for FBT and allowing employees to claim the cost of such clothing as a tax deduction.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Expanded Overseas Assembly Provisions (EOAP) Scheme
The TCF EOAP provides duty concessions to firms who assemble garments and footwear overseas from predominantly Australian fabric and/or leather and then import them back into Australia for local consumption.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Product Diversification Scheme (PDS)
This scheme assists clothing and finished textile manufacturers to internationalise their sourcing arrangements and complement their existing product range. It provides duty credit that can be used to offset duty payable on qualifying finished clothing or relevant finished textile articles.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program
This is a competitive grants program providing grants to small TCF businesses to improve their enterprise culture. It supports small businesses undertaking the design or production of TCF products as defined in the TCF Post-2005 (SIP) Scheme, but which do not qualify for a grant under that Scheme.
Tradex
The Tradex Scheme provides relief to persons or organisations through an up-front exemption from customs duty and GST on imported goods intended for export or to be used as inputs to exports. The Scheme removes the need to 'drawback' these charges after export.
Venture Capital Limited Partnerships Program (VCLP)
Registration in this program is available to new venture capital funds structured as a limited partnership and meeting certain requirements, including capital of at least $10 million for investment in Australian businesses with total assets not exceeding $250 million.