Key information
The NSW Government has committed $11 million over four years to selected Publicly Funded Research Organisations (PFROs) to develop activities that enable better translation of world-class research into business performance. A third of the program’s funding is reserved for the TechVouchers Scheme.
SMEs are encouraged to reach out directly to a participating Research Organisation to discuss the Program opportunities via the contacts below.
Email: [email protected]External Link
Website: ANSTO | Science. Ingenuity. SustainabilityExternal Link
Email: [email protected]
Anna Grocholsky
[email protected]
Website: Charles Sturt University Innovation Hub - Research (csu.edu.au)External Link
Katie Green
[email protected]
Leah Lucas
[email protected]
Website: Lindfield Collaboration Hub – Innovation – Connection – Translation (csiro.au)External Link
Melissa Ryan, Director Incubation and Entrepreneurship
[email protected]
Team Email: [email protected]
Website: Macquarie University Incubator (mq.edu.au)External Link
Join Us – Apply: Become a member | Macquarie University Incubator (mq.edu.au)External Link
Claudia Evans
Innovation Projects Manager
[email protected]
Website: Live Ideas - Southern Cross University (scu.edu.au)External Link
Email: [email protected]
Website: Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise (KEE) - The University of Newcastle, AustraliaExternal Link
Lou Conway
[email protected]
Website: TechVouchers — UNE SMART Region Incubator (unesri.com.au)External Link
Wicky West
[email protected]
Email: [email protected]External Link
Website: Deep Green Biotech Hub | University of Technology Sydney (uts.edu.au)External Link
Email: [email protected]External Link
Website: Home - iAccelerateExternal Link
Email: [email protected]
Program objective
The objective of the Program is to support productivity improvement and business growth through the translation of knowledge and inventions to new products and services.
The Program targets three main outcomes:
- Increase collaboration between researchers in PFROs and SMEs through funding support for activities that build connections.
- Develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills and capacity for knowledge translation for business-owners, SME employees, as well as researchers, university staff, and students.
- Support commercialisation processes for university research and innovative SMEs.
TechVoucher Scheme
$3.85 million in TechVoucher grant funding is available to fund collaborative research projects between SMEs and researchers, with approved projects awarded 50% of the total eligible project costs in match-funding, up to a maximum of $50,000.
How it works
Who can apply
To be eligible, your business must:
- have an ABN registered in NSW and be based in NSW
- employ fewer than 200 employees, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, at the time of application
- not be a subsidiary of a revenue generating business locally or overseas. If part of a group, the parent company or entity must apply on behalf of the consolidated entity and meet all eligibility requirements
- not be owned, employ, or have any financial ties of any kind with any of the proposed researchers for the project
- have the rights to commercialise their products or services and/or do not infringe on existing protected IP
- demonstrate adequate matched funding (no in-kind) has been secured for the project
- not be receiving any other grant or subsidy for the same project from a State Government or Commonwealth agency or department
- work in industry sectors or technologies identified in the NSW Industry Development Framework.
Types of projects funded
To be eligible for TechVouchers funding, projects must:
- start within three months of submission for validation and approval to DEIT and completed within twelve months from the start
- incur active collaboration between an eligible business and one of the PFROs delivering TechVouchers
- have a defined commercialisation outcome.
Support and contact
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact one of the participating Research Organisations, who will be able to advise you on their activities, the most relevant partner for your needs, and the suitability of your project with the program.