Funding for businesses to translate research and ideas into commercial outcomes

The Manufacturing Translation Stream provides businesses with funding to support projects that translate high quality research into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale-up and be more competitive and resilient. It provides co-funding to support businesses to adopt new technologies and improve their manufacturing processes to boost productivity and competitiveness.

The Manufacturing Translation Stream will support projects that aid the translation of high quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale-up and become more competitive and resilient. It will support businesses to adopt new technologies and improve their manufacturing processes to boost productivity and competitiveness.

The objectives of the Manufacturing Translation Stream are to:

• support Australian manufacturing businesses and entrepreneurs to translate and commercialise good ideas into new and enhanced commercial outcomes including new high-quality products and services and solutions
• encourage manufacturers to adopt new technologies and develop new processes and innovative solutions to build scale and capability
• support Australian manufacturers to grow and build scale and overcome challenges facing their sector (as outlined in the relevant priority road map)
• create new jobs in the manufacturing sector
• support Australian manufacturers to pivot to high value-added activities
• attract investment, including venture capital investment to develop ideas and translate research into commercial solutions and outcomes
• increase manufacturing capability, expertise and specialisations, business acumen, knowledge diffusion and stimulate innovation in Australian manufacturing
• grow and support manufacturing networks and ecosystems and increase collaboration.

The intended outcomes of the Manufacturing Translation Stream are to:

• increase number of businesses and manufacturers translating their research and ideas into commercial products, services and solutions
• increase investment including from venture capitalists in commercialisation and translation activities, focused in the National Manufacturing Priority areas
• establish and expand new and existing modern manufacturing businesses in the National Manufacturing Priority areas with sustainable business growth
• increase manufacturing exports and value of the manufacturing sector to the economy
• grow high value skills and jobs in the National Manufacturing Priority areas
• develop a global and international reputation as a country with a growing modern manufacturing sector and capability.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be non-tax-exempt
• be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)

and be:

• an entity incorporated in Australia, including start-ups and a trading corporation, where your trading activities:
  • form a sufficiently significant proportion of the corporation’s overall activities as to merit it being described as a trading corporation; or
  • are a substantial and not merely peripheral activity of the corporation.

You must also:

• be able to demonstrate your project aligns with one of the National Manufacturing Priorities
• have a minimum of $2 million in eligible project expenditure
• be able to provide evidence that your project is supported by your board (or Chief Executive Officer or equivalent if there is no board)
• be able to provide evidence that you can meet the costs of the project not covered by the grant funding.

The Grant opportunity guidelines provide further detail on eligibility.

How do you apply?

The Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Translation Stream is closed to applications.

As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO works with industry to conduct research based on multi-disciplinary scientific and engineering capabilities and uses world-class infrastructure. By partnering with businesses, CSIRO helps to develop innovative products and processes that allow Australian manufacturers to be globally competitive and environmentally sustainable.

Learn more about how CSIRO’s research and development expertise aligns strongly with the National Manufacturing Priorities:

Australia's reputation as a reliable and high-value manufacturing nation positions us to achieve excellence in Australian space manufacturing. It will allow us to:

• build a competitive edge in key space activities
• create platforms for exports
• meet emerging critical national needs.

Learn more about the Space National Manufacturing road map.

Quality medical products are at the centre of a healthy society. They can also be the centrepiece of a dynamic economy. They do this by translating smart ideas into globally competitive manufactured products.

Medical products make a significant contribution to Australia’s economic prosperity. Some of Australia’s most innovative commercial successes are from this sector.

Australian medical products making a global impact include the:

• cochlear implant
• green whistle
• cervical cancer vaccine.

Learn more about the Medical Products National Manufacturing road map.

Australia has significant reserves of the critical minerals and metals which drive the modern global economy. These are used to manufacture advanced technologies such as:

• electric vehicles
• mobile phones
• renewable energy.

The majority of primary ores are shipped overseas for processing. This means Australia only gets a small share of the potential benefit. By manufacturing here in Australia, we can increase the benefits to our economy.

Learn more about the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing National Manufacturing road map.

Australia has an international reputation for producing premium, safe and high-quality food and beverage products. Close proximity to Asian markets and a reputation as a trusted supplier of premium goods has led to the food and beverage sector becoming a major manufacturing sector for the Australian economy. There are opportunities to bring food and beverage manufacturers together to:

• manage the development of new products for emerging markets
• translate research into commercial applications
• manufacture locally and export more high value products to overseas markets.

Learn more about the Food and Beverage Manufacturing road map.

Growing the defence industrial base is a key priority for the Australian Government. Australian manufacturers are in a prime position to take advantage of the increased domestic and global investments in Defence capabilities.

The opportunities that come from these investments will support manufacturers to:

• make up a greater share of the defence supply chain
• manufacture the components and capabilities required for Defence acquisition and sustainment projects
• diversify their customer base and enter new markets beyond the Australian Defence Force
• contribute to some of the world’s most advanced supply chains
• export to allies or likeminded countries.

Learn more about the Defence Manufacturing road map.

Materials and energy are at the heart of manufacturing. Modernising how we use them is central to building an advanced manufacturing economy.

Australian manufacturers are well positioned to use our unique natural, industrial and competitive advantages. We can take advantage of this opportunity by combining:

• innovation
• abundant clean energy
• material resources
• onshore industrial base.

Learn more about the Recycling and Clean Energy Manufacturing road map.