Manufacturers, research institutions and organisations in Gippsland are being encouraged to work together on job-creating projects as part of the $800 million Collaboration stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI).
Local MP Darren Chester says the Collaboration stream will support business-to-business and business-to-research collaboration across the six National Manufacturing Priorities under the MMI, the centrepiece of the Government’s $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
“The launch of the Collaboration stream of the MMI follows the opening of the Translation and Integration streams of the MMI earlier this year,” Mr Chester said.
“We want to support transformative collaborations that will spur private sector investment, encouraging our manufacturers to work together, and work with our world class research sector to innovate and become more competitive.
“The Collaboration stream is the largest under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, designed to invigorate our manufacturing sector while opening up new export markets and creating new skilled jobs.”
Mr Chester said grants of between $20 million and $200 million would be available on a co-investment basis for large-scale collaboration projects.
“Collaboration is crucial if we are to build Australian manufacturing and create the jobs now and for generations to come,” Mr Chester said.
The six National Manufacturing Priorities are Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Food and Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence, and Space.
The design of the Collaboration stream will be a single stage process. This approach will get money into the hands of successful applicants sooner, providing the boost the manufacturing sector needs to make important new investments, particularly as we continue our path to recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Guidelines have been released at: www.business.gov.au/mmic
Businesses can now prepare their applications, which can then be lodged from August 11, 2021. The program closes on 9 September 2021.
Grants will cover up to 33 per cent of eligible project expenditure.