$186m for industry-led research | |  Seven Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) will receive a total of $186 million to drive industry-led research in fields such as manufacturing, data security, healthcare and agriculture.
Minister for Industry, Ian Macfarlane, announced the outcomes of the 16th selection round with three new CRCs to be created, and four existing CRCs to be extended. These CRCs will bring together more than 130 organisations across Australia and internationally, including more than 60 industry partners and organisations in Asia, Europe and the United States.
The three new CRCs are: § The Rail Manufacturing CRC ($31 million) § The Data to Decisions CRC ($25 million) § The Space Environment Management CRC ($19.8 million) The four extended CRCs are: § The Hearing CRC ($28 million) § The Cancer Therapeutics CRC ($34 million) § The Capital Markets CRC ($32.4 million) § The CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation ($15.5 million) Applications for the 17th selection round will open on 3 March 2014 and close on 3 July 2014. AusIndustry – which delivers the CRC program – will hold information sessions around Australia for potential applicants. For more information visit the CRC program website. 
| | | | 
| $80 million to help innovative startup companies The Carnegie Innovation Fund is the latest venture capital fund to be awarded a licence under the Australian Government's Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program. The Carnegie Innovation Fund No.2 has $40 million from the Australian Government and $40 million raised from private sector investors. The new IIF fund is a partnership between the Government and M. H. Carnegie & Co. that will provide capital and expertise to promising companies in the internet technologies, clean technologies, biotechnologies, and life sciences sectors. The Innovation Investment Fund program aims to increase the commercialisation of Australian ideas by improving access to growth capital and management expertise for early stage companies. The fund helps support new, internationally competitive Australian companies, and is a way for industry and Government to work together to support the startup companies that will build the industries of the future. | | | | 
| Share your views on skilling our workforce Employers, industry groups, and service providers are invited to attend one of a series of workshops being held in March 2014 by the Australian Government's new Vocational Education and Training (VET) Reform Taskforce. The VET Reform Taskforce was established by the Hon Ian Macfarlane, Minister for Industry, to consult with a range of stakeholders around the nation to hear their views on the strengths and weaknesses of the national VET system, and their ideas for reform. The upcoming workshops are part of a broader consultation process that began in January 2014 when Mr Macfarlane convened an industry skills roundtable with peak industry and VET sector representatives. A representative from the Minister's office will attend the workshops. Register for the workshops at www.vetreform.industry.gov.au, or email vettaskforce@industry.gov.au to make a submission.
| | | | 
| Awarding business transformation Have you transformed your business to make it more competitive, productive and innovative? If so, you are invited to enter the Business Transformation Award, a new category of the Manufacturers' Monthly Endeavour Awards. The Business Transformation Award is supported by Enterprise Connect, which provides a range of business improvement services to small and medium businesses on behalf of the Australian Government. Nominations for the Business Transformation Award are open to all small and medium businesses, and close 27 February. Winners will be announced in Sydney on 14 May during National Manufacturing Week.
| | | | 
| $1.5 million to engage with Asia Expressions of interest are open for Asian Business Engagement Plan grants of up to $300,000. The merit-based competitive grants are delivered by Austrade. They are open to member-based business organisations to help them undertake new and innovative projects that develop new relationships, enhance business links with Asia, and build awareness and greater understanding. A total of $1.5 million is available in 2014, with grants ranging from $20,000 to $300,000. Expressions of interest close 3 March, with the formal grant round opening on March 10. Applicants are encouraged to complete the expression of interest form.
| | | | 
| Join the conversation One of Australia's leading small business advocates, the Australian Small Business Commissioner Mark Brennan, has joined the blogging community with timely expert advice and information for small businesses. Mr Brennan's new blog covers a range of topics, including why a business plan is vital, what to ask before getting finance, how to survive your family business and building a strong network. Visit the Australian Small Business Commissioner's website to read the latest blog posts and join in the conversation. | | | | 
| Find out about support for R&D AusIndustry holds regular R&D Tax Incentive information sessions in capital cities and regional centres around Australia. The R&D Tax Incentive provides generous, easy-to-access support to help businesses innovate. A key element of the R&D Tax incentive is access to a 45 per cent refundable tax offset. Register for a workshop on the AusIndustry website. | | | Hatchtech develops new generation of head lice treatment 
Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company, Hatchtech Pty Ltd, which is developing the next generation head lice treatment DeOvo™, recently announced the successful completion of a $12.6 million capital raising. The round was led by OneVentures Innovation Fund, licensed under the Government's Innovation Investment Fund. OneVentures has supported Hatchtech since 2010 with $7.1 million in investment and has led the last three rounds of financing, bringing approximately $25 million into Hatchtech in the last two years.
| New technologies help search for minerals 
A new collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC, will use innovative technologies in the field for the first time to search for difficult-to-find mineral deposits. With Australia's easy-to-find surface mineral deposits largely discovered, new technologies are required to explore the 80 per cent of the Australian continent where mineral deposits are hidden beneath barren cover.
| GPSports adds Seattle Seahawks to its list of champions 
The Seattle Seahawks are yet another top international sporting team to use global positioning satellite (GPS)-based sports technology developed by Canberra's GPSports to give them the winning edge. The US Super Bowl champions have been using GPSports' technology for the past year to collect the performance data of team members. The small business was formed in 2001, and other clients include the Wallabies, Spanish soccer champions Barcelona, National Rugby League club Manly and the Australian Football League's Geelong.
|
| 
|