$7.8 million to support Australian entrepreneurs

The Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme has announced $7.8 million in funding to support companies in the mining, information technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing industry sectors.

The investment will see 17 companies receive grant offers between $69,000 and $1 million in commercialisation assistance, helping them to develop their products and services. Assistant Minister for Innovation Wyatt Roy said the companies will co-invest in projects to turn their ideas into commercial realities.

Some of the supported projects include:

• a device to optimise carbon use and maximise gold recovery for the gold mining industry;
• a software and training platform for the agribusiness sector to help improve farm profitability, business management and sustainability;
• a real-time, cloud-based data management system for intelligent buildings and smart cities;
• laser-based 3D printing for lighter, more easily produced metal components for aerospace and defence applications;
• advanced manufacturing for reliable, cheaper and highly efficient silicon solar cells;
• a world-first clinical diagnostics device to help assess the health of the human gut.

“I’m pleased to see such groundbreaking ideas coming from Australian companies,” Roy said.

“This support will help the recipients commercialise their ideas to take advantage of global market opportunities and protect their intellectual property, ensuring Australia sees the benefits.”

To view the full list of recipients, visit http://business.gov.au/ac-grant-recipients.