Round 9 – Commercialisation Australia Grant Results

Posted by treadstone on February 16, 2012 None comments
commerc_aust

The latest round of funding for Commercialisation Australia has been published.

More than $10 million has been awarded in the latest round of funding by Commercialisation Australia to 28 innovative businesses which have the potential to save lives, improve Australian lifestyles, and increase national productivity.

Potentially life saving inventions to be funded under the program include a new test for uterine cancer – the fourth most common cancer in women; new imaging technology to allow earlier diagnosis of lung diseases; and a convenient blood test device for detecting cancer markers and infectious diseases.

In two years, the Commercialisation Australia program has assisted 205 innovators with funding of $82.1 million.

The latest funding allocation also includes support for 11 information and communications technology (ICT) projects.

These include a new software suite that enables rapid game development and a new smartphone platform allowing café customers to avoid queues by ordering and paying in advance.

  State Applicant Organisation

 Grant Amount

 Project Title Project Description
1 NSW CAP-XX (Australia) Pty Ltd

 $250,000

 Surface Mount Supercapacitor CAP-XX makes supercapacitors, very compact high-power energy storage devices used in portable devices. CAP-XX has developed a new thin form supercapacitor suitable for use in surface mount circuit board manufacture. This will greatly increase the opportunity for supercapacitors in mass market products such as mobile phones which are increasingly power hungry and are getting smaller and smaller. Supercapacitors are also used in cameras, notebooks, digital music players, medical devices and automotive applications. The Commercialisation Australia Proof of Concept grant will assist CAP-XX to produce a packaged device and get its new surface mount device (SMD) supercapacitor to market.
2 NSW Australian BioRefining Pty Ltd

 $860,031

 Commercialisation of acid/metal separation and regeneration/recovery process. Australian BioRefining’s core patented technology is for the recovery and regeneration of used acid, such as sulphuric acid, from mining and industrial waste applications, and the concurrent recovery of metals from the same process streams. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to complete targeted pilot trials. The company will use the information gained from the trials to tailor the technology to leverage its use in new industries. There are specific opportunities in coal seam methane water treatment, industrial recovery of hydrochloric acid from steel finishing industries and in environmental remediation of water contaminated by acid mine drainage.
3 NSW On-Market Bookbuilds Pty Ltd

 $1,846,466

 On-Market Bookbuilds On-Market Bookbuilds is a patented process to more efficiently price and allocate private placements and initial public offerings (IPOs), which in the past five financial years have been used by Australian listed companies to raise more than $125 billion and $60 billion, respectively. This innovation will allow all eligible investors to participate in placements and IPOs via a fair and transparent process. Australian companies would benefit from access to a larger pool of potential investors and a competitive pricing mechanism. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to hire an experienced business development team to enable development of an early-stage marketing and sales post-launch strategy and to allow the company to extend its patent protection to the world’s largest capital markets.
4 NSW Atomo Diagnostics Pty Ltd

 $249,992

 Integrated device for blood based lateral flow rapid testing Atomo Diagnostics has developed MicroRapid, a fully integrated rapid test device for blood based lateral flow immunoassay diagnostics. It is a platform technology for sampling, collecting and testing capillary blood using immunoassay diagnostics. This market includes the diagnosis of a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and cancer markers. MicroRapid replaces the need for test kits containing many separate devices and reduces handling and errors. The company intends to prepare 1,500 sterile fully functional production prototypes of the MicroRapid test device. Commercialisation Australia funding will enable a number of international customers to carry out commercial evaluation of the test device. In addition, Atomo Diagnostics will perform usability evaluations and performance assessments to support commercialisation and ultimately the launch of the product.
5 QLD Qlicksmart Pty Ltd

 $162,294

 Universal single handed scalpel blade remover Qlicksmart is a company that develops, manufactures and sells medical safety products for both staff safety and patient safety. The company has identified a market need for a new device to safely remove and dispose of all commonly used scalpel blades to prevent infection and injury to medical, nursing and laboratory staff. With funding from Commercialisation Australia, Qlicksmart will produce two new, single-handed scalpel blade removers based on the Universal Blade Remover (to be patented). Qlicksmart aims to deliver to its distributors and users this new innovation that will not only remove more blades from all tang based scalpel handles, it will do so at a significantly reduced cost, making scalpel safety affordable to more users.
6 QLD Hydrexia Pty Ltd

 $762,806

 Solid state hydrogen storage for industrial and refuelling applications Hydrexia is commercialising a safe, high capacity and low cost hydrogen storage system targeting the industrial gas and refuelling markets, based on proprietary magnesium alloy hydride technology. The project will provide customer validation of the product’s technical performance, operation and cost and its integration within the overall supply and delivery chain. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to support key early commercialisation validation for cost and performance of the hydrogen storage system.
7 QLD goACT Pty Ltd

 $300,000

 goACT Journal, telehealth platform for remote chronic disease management goACT is commercialising goACT Journal software, a telehealth platform for remote chronic disease management. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will be used to commence pilot projects with potential clients to finalise the product, develop a marketing strategy and prove the commercial viability of the developed software.
8 QLD Oz Probuild Pty Ltd

 $125,000

 Greendow Vertical Garden System The Greendow Vertical Garden system is a lightweight hydroponic vertical system which can be readily installed on the windows of residential, commercial and industrial buildings at various heights and levels. There is a great market opportunity due to increased global urbanisation and high rise developments which limits the scope for large gardens. Commercialisation Australia funding will assist Oz ProBuild to prove the functionality and durability of the unit. The system will be manufactured and installed on a number of buildings to demonstrate the concept to potential market participants and clients.
9 QLD Dev-Audio Pty Ltd

 $246,799

 Intelligent microphone array device Dev-Audio has developed unique microphone array hardware and software for meetings and web conferencing. The Microcone technology automatically produces a separated high-quality audio track for each person in a meeting, tracks their location, and annotates the conversation with speaker turn and voice identification information, automatically indexing discussions for subsequent search, retrieval and analysis. Leading international industry firms have recommended refinements to the technology to match customer needs. With Commercialisation Australia Proof of Concept funding the project aims to implement the recommended refinements and demonstrate them to customers as part of delivering a world class product that helps unlock the value of voice data as a personal and corporate asset.
10 SA Grazer Pty Ltd

 $250,000

 Grazer SaaS ‘C Suite’ Cloud Commercialisation Grazer has developed a system which provides electronic versions of all of the necessary building and construction information manuals that are typically created upon completion of a new building or refurbishment of a building. The product contains visualisation and drill down capability for ease of use. A cloud based asset management system has been designed to integrate with the proprietary software vendors in this space. The market opportunity in Australia is estimated to be more than $150 million. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to prove scalability of the technology and for product expansion through a new distribution channel that will introduce Grazer to international clients.
11 SA Run With Robots Pty Ltd

 $157,963

 Cross-platform system for mobile online social game development Run With Robots has developed Roar Engine – a game development software suite that enables rapid game development. The platform allows developers to concentrate on the design and logic of the game without having to figure out back-end technology issues as this is delivered via pre-built game building blocks. Roar Engine has the potential to be a cross-platform solution allowing developers to implement their games on the web and on mobile devices such as iPhones, Android smartphones and tablets. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used for a Proof of Concept trial with new channel and distribution partners.
12 VIC Sentient Vision Systems Pty Ltd

 $450,000

 Kestrel Automated Target Detection In Maritime Environments Sentient’s Kestrel Maritime is the first solution to automatically detect targets, such as small boats and people in the water, from real-time full motion video. Commercialisation Australia funding will support commercialisation through validating and optimising the solution in collaboration with key customers. Sentient have been successfully developing computer vision systems since 1999.
13 VIC A W Bell Pty Ltd

 $1,532,232

 Project A.B.E High strength light weight aluminium investment castings for aerospace and defence A W Bell has developed a casting process using rapid and controlled solidification that delivers cast complex aluminium parts with the same mechanical properties as machined parts. The process known as Aluminium Billet Equivalent (ABE) was developed in conjunction with CSIRO and virtually eliminates material wastage. The ABE castings are intended for the North American aerospace and defence sectors where lightweight, high-strength, complex precision parts are required. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to commercialise the ABE process opening up opportunities for exports to North American customers.
14 VIC Health-e Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd

 $545,800

 Predictive Modeller – An Innovative Workforce Knowledge System Health-e Workforce Solutions is an IT and consultancy company successfully marketing strategic human resource software to the healthcare industry. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to develop and commercialise its innovative ”Predictive Modeller” that generates cost simulations and greatly enhances strategic workforce management and planning. The immediate target markets are all Australian hospitals, international health care and other industry sectors.
15 VIC Spruik Group (Australia) Pty Ltd

 $217,276

 Progressclaim.com ProgressClaim.com will improve the efficiency of payment settlements for all parties to construction contracts. This simple, fast and fair mobile-enabled web solution has the potential to dramatically reduce a $7b annual cost to the Australian construction industry. Commercialisation Australia funding will enable completion of large-scale industry trials and delivery of a full commercial version of the ProgressClaim.com solution.
16 WA Magellan Powertronics Pty Ltd

 $248,340

 Supplementation of aging SWER distribution networks with revolutionary energy storage technologies Magellan Powertronics specialises in power electronics engineering and has developed a Grid Power Support (GPS) system to boost reliability and capacity for Single Wire Earth Support (SWER) electricity networks that were introduced to Australia in the 1940s. Getting lighter and smaller stand alone systems into grid-critical parts of the network is crucial. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will be used to develop the solar components of the GPS innovation and to develop a lighter, more compact model of the system for a major Australian energy company. These improvements are key requirements for commercialisation and broad adoption of the GPS system.
17 WA Stochastic Simulation Ltd

 $250,000

 Oil and Gas Reserves Assurance and Production and Distribution Optimisation Technologies Stochastic Simulation has developed a revolutionary computer modelling technology for the oil and gas industry. The SRE (Stochastic Reservoir Engineering) cloud technology provides unprecedented reserves assurance information that can significantly reduce the risk of over and under-investment and in turn increase the return on investment (ROI) for oil and gas projects by between 5% and 15%. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used for a Proof of Concept trial with a leading company to prove the commercial viability of this solution in the oil and gas industry.
18 WA Calico Global Pty Ltd

 $250,000

 Personalised online and smartphone health service Calico is an abbreviation of CALories In Calories Out. A free online fitness service that shows each participant the amount of activity and nutrition they need to maintain a healthy bodyweight and fitness level. The measurable activity is walking, and the company partners with local councils to install distance markers called Fitness Totems on popular walking tracks that help calibrate their activity levels. Calico will examine various methods to upload the calibrated activity data onto the online support during the Proof of Concept application, including smart phone applications, accelerometer technology and electronic tags. The Commercialisation Australia funding will facilitate a trial at 10 outdoor fitness locations in Western Australia, ahead of a planned national rollout.
19 WA Resource Mining Corporation Limited (RMC)

 $250,000

 Innovative Hydrometallurgical Process Using Bio Renewable Citric Acid RMC has been developing a new hydrometallurgical process to extract nickel from both limonite and saprolite ores, which is more cost effective and more environmentally friendly than existing processes. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to undertake Proof of Concept test work and a scoping study to establish the design of a commercial processing plant. These are key steps towards successful commercialisation of the new hydrometallurgical process.
20 WA iCetana Pty Ltd

 $890,000

 Intelligent video surveillance software that detects rare and unusual events iCetana has developed intelligent video surveillance software that detects rare and unusual events in real-time from monitored security cameras. The software can process highly complex movement behaviours such as those seen on train station platforms and crowded events by automatically learning the normal motion patterns of people, vehicles and objects in a scene. Video surveillance operators are then alerted to the one percent of “unusual” events that require attention. With funding from Commercialisation Australia, iCetana will establish a base of customer reference sites across Australia and internationally in key vertical markets such as education, local government, retail and public transport.
21 VIC CA TEC Pty Ltd

 $250,000

 Improving Disc Brakes with Caliper Alignment Technology Calliper Alignment Technology (CAT) significantly reduces premature wear on disc brake components using a stabilising system to maintain alignment of brake pads and rotors. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to employ an Experienced Executive to lead product readiness activities and establish the manufacturing and sales operations. Skills and Knowledge funding will be used to undertake targeted market research and provide documentation for corporate governance and capital raising activities.
22

QLD

 Hydrasyst Pty Ltd

 $50,000

 Commercialisation of a new waste water treatment process Hydrasyst has developed a new water treatment process to recycle domestic, commercial and industrial waste grey water. Utilising exclusive ceramic membrane technology, the Hydrasyst system typically saves users up to 30 per cent on energy and running costs and delivers high water quality output with a water recovery rate of more than 75 per cent. The modular waste water treatment system is available in several sizes and has a small footprint which allows it to be fitted in situ or retro fitted into existing systems. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to develop a detailed business plan, including financial forecasts, and create long-term implementation and marketing plans which are crucial to commercialisation of the product.
23

NSW

 Beat the Q

 $50,000

 Pilot launch of a proprietary mobile ordering and payment service Beat the Q has developed a novel technology and smartphone platform that allows café customers to order and pay in advance for coffee and food, whilst avoiding the queue. The technology is designed to work with computers, tablets or mobile phones and is optimised for touch smartphones. The platform is already operating in more than 25 cafes in Sydney with plans to offer it throughout Australia. The technology delivers greater efficiency for businesses with orders arriving electronically to an installed terminal. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will help Beat the Q engage expert advisers to assist in areas such as legal, capital raising and other advice to aid its commercial expansion.
24

VIC

 Atcomm Enterprises Pty Ltd

 $44,160

 Fatigue Detection and Management System Atcomm Enterprises develops innovative work safety systems based on human to computer interface technology known as Brain to Computer Interface (BCI). The company’s latest solution, NeuroSAFE, is focused on fatigue detection and management to boost safety. It has wide applications for operators and drivers in the mining, transportation, automotive and oil and gas industries. Using a special headset, the technology detects the onset of fatigue using brain wave analysis and eye nerve activity detection. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will be used for technology validation, architecture definition and development of investment and marketing strategies.
25

VIC

 Dr Andreas Fouras (applying via Monash University’s Commercialisation Office)

 $48,560

 CTXV imaging for disease diagnosis A team at Monash University has developed a new imaging technology that allows the measurement of the complex patterns of lung motion during breathing. Applications include earlier diagnosis of lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cancer, supporting the development of new drug treatments and drug delivery systems. Funding from Commercialisation Australia is critical in the translation of this technology from the laboratory to the market place by supporting the researchers with specific input of knowledge from the commercial sector.
26

VIC

 Paper Friendly Pty Ltd

 $50,000

 Hub Hello web portal HubHello! is a unique, single information sharing platform, for all involved in the care of a child. The platform is user friendly and relies on a web-based interactive interface to consolidate important care information and provide access to and sharing of secure, accurate, real-time information between children’s carers, care institutions and Government agencies. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to finalise market research, strategy development and structure, ahead of capital raising for commercialisation.
27

VIC

 Diagnotech Pty Ltd

 $50,000

 Uterine Cancer Diagnostic Test Diagnotech is developing a uterine cancer detection test that allows women to be tested in the doctor’s office without the need for expensive imaging or surgical procedures. Uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and is considered curable if detected at any early stage. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will be used to engage industry expertise in market analysis and product positioning required to complete the commercialisation of the Diagnotech product.
28

WA

 FirstPhysio Pty Ltd

 $50,000

 HALO “The Digital Goniometer” HALO is the first project from the company Firstphysio and is a new tool that significantly increases accuracy and reliability when measuring angles in the health sector, such as when measuring joint mobility. Traditionally angles have been measured by goniometers that are similar to old style classroom protractors. HALO is a handheld digital goniometer that measures angles digitally and in three planes of movement. The technology behind the tool was inspired by technology used in aeroplane navigation systems. HALO will assist physiotherapists, occupational therapists, elite sportspeople, vets and pharmaceutical professionals in delivering better outcome measures to patients. Commercialisation Australia funding will be used to attain external advice to develop strategies to take the tool to market.

 

 

 

Vic Coalition Govt awards $5 million to innovative wave energy project

Posted by treadstone on December 20, 2011 None comments
water_ripplessmall

From the Minister for Energy and Resources

The Victorian Coalition Government has provided further significant support for renewable energy with a $5 million investment in a wave energy project based on mimicking the movement of seaweed.

Minister for Energy and Resources Michael O’Brien said today that the $14 million BioPower demonstration project at Port Fairy involves a single wave energy unit which will be anchored to the sea floor and connected to the electricity grid.

“The Coalition Government is again demonstrating its commitment to provide practical support for renewable and low emissions energy technology through the $82 million Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS), double the funding provided by the former government,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The bioWAVE project at Port Fairy involves a single wave energy unit that has been designed so it copies the movement of seaweed and kelp through the water.”

This innovative project is an example of biomimicry, in which biological traits are utilised in engineered systems. The 250 kW unit will be anchored to the sea floor 30 metres underwater and about 800 metres from shore at a site four kilometres west of Port Fairy.

Project partners included AGL Energy, Bluescope Steel, Lend Lease, Swinburne University, the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney.

“This project will support local jobs and the local south-west economy,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Two of the major project partners – Southern Ocean Mariculture and Keppel Prince Engineering – are locally-based and the project will also utilise other local contractors for construction, labour, excavation, electrical equipment installation, diving, marine operations and hospitality.

“While the Coalition Government is a strong supporter of low-cost, reliable baseload power to keep costs down for families and businesses, it is also a proud supporter of innovative renewable energy projects to reduce emissions and power Victoria into the future.”

Round 8 Commercialisation Australia grant results $8m

Posted by treadstone on September 21, 2011 None comments
Commercialisation Australia Grants

Announcing almost $8 million in funding for 19 innovative Australian companies under the Government’s Commercialisation Australia program, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Government was working with innovators to turn research into reality and create a richer, greener and fairer country.

“This funding will help smart companies commercialise their products, delivering a wealth of benefits for Australians,” Senator Carr said.

“For example, Signostics Limited will use the funding to commercialise its new hand-held ultrasound device with the hope of getting it into medical centres around the country. This device could alleviate the need for patients to travel long distances to hospitals for this type of procedure.

“The funding will also help Metis Technologies commercialise its pollution control system for power generation and other industrial processes. This new technology will help industries transform to meet the needs of a clean energy future.”

Since it opened to applications in early 2010, Commercialisation Australia has awarded almost $58 million to 145 Australian companies, researchers and inventors. Funding offers range from $50,000 to $2 million.

Program participants can access a national network of 22 Case Managers, many of whom have built their own businesses and operated at senior levels in start-up and early stage companies across all industry sectors.

“The rich source of market intelligence, networks and business experience grant recipients can access under Commercialisation Australia gives them a better chance of commercial success.”

Applicant Grant Project Description
Endoluminal Sciences Proof of Concept Grant227,500 Breakthrough sealing technology for minimally invasive aortic valve replacementThe project involves demonstration of superior efficacy and positive user feedback (ease of use and procedural compatibility) of the Endoluminal Sciences’ sealing technology on commercially available minimally invasive aortic valves. This will be achieved by performing end-user studies on prototypes in the hands of experienced physicians (interventional cardiologists).
Applied Physiology Early Stage Commercialisation Grant1,695,967 Commercial integration of Navigator clinical decision support system software into global patient monitoring platformThe commercial integration of Navigator clinical decision support system software into global patient monitoring platforms. The projects key steps are: specification, design and adaptation of Navigator technology; completion of successful pilot site programs leading to global distribution agreement with Philips and other major platform providers; achieve regulatory approvals and clinical equivalency approvals; and development and delivery of educational, marketing and training materials.
Ecobuild Solutions Early Stage Commercialisation Grant448,198 Commercialisation of EasyFix wall cladding installation system and associated productsEcobuild Solutions’ owns a patented installation system (“EasyFix”) which, together with its associated wall cladding products, provides great benefits to both new and existing homes/buildings. In order to prove the commercial viability of their innovation, Ecobuild Solutions now need to consolidate their patents, build “full building” prototypes locally, train new installers and prospective distributors, develop a robust sales and marketing infrastructure, follow-up overseas leads and secure a supply chain
CIMTECH Experienced Executives Grant200,000 Commercialisation of a novel skincare product lineCIMTECH are aiming to commercialise a novel skincare product line based on the traditional medicine of the Cook Islands. Product development including formulation and marketing plans are required to successfully launch the product. CIMTECH requires an executive with experience in skincare and cosmetics to drive this product to market.
Metis Technologies Skills and Knowledge + Experienced Executives Grants250,000 High temperature fibre technology for custom engineered pollution control filtrationMetis Technologies is commercialising advanced fibre technology for pollution control filtration for cleaner power generation and other industrial processes such as aluminium production and cement.
KNOG Early Stage Commercialisation Grant994,966 Urban cycle accessories for a global marketKNOG is an Australian company designing and manufacturing unique bicycle accessories. They have developed a new range of innovative, cutting edge products spanning three categories. Release nationally and internationally is planned for 2012 and 2013. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will help ensure a smooth transition of these innovative products to market, and provides KNOG with the tools to continue to lead the market through 2012 and 2013.
gT-Energy Technologies Early Stage Commercialisation Grant600,000 Next generation turbo-alternator heat engine power generatorgT-Energy Technologies locally designs and manufactures heat engines for converting heat sources into electrical power using well proven closed loop thermodynamic cycles with zero emissions. Heat engines are required by a fast growing global market in waste heat recovery and renewable thermal energy that is serviced by few heat engine producers internationally. With funding from Commercialisation Australia, gT-Energy Technologies will develop heat engines employing fully integrated turbo-alternators that provide in excess of a 20% reduction in component pricing and significantly improved reliability when compared to existing products on the market.
New Media Innovation Proof of Concept Grant240,000 Multi-catalogue, a multi-channel (online and mobile) digital commerce ordering and cataloguing solutionMulti-Catalogue is a Digital catalogue that will have uses in a wide variety of industries where catalogues are used by wholesalers/manufacturers to sell their goods by a mobile sales force to an increasingly mobile customer base. Multi-Catalogue is an innovative multi-channel / multi-access / multi-deployable / multi-branded software technology that will allow a catalogue of stock items to be visualised and made available for ordering not only on Web, Mobile and Tablet browsers but also via a Tablet Based client application allowing offline viewing of catalogue information and seamless synchronisation to the backend database. With Funding from Commercialisation Australia New Media Innovation Pty Ltd will ready the Multi-Catalogue platform for Australian release in early 2012 followed by a global rollout in the following months.
Signostics Limited Early Stage Commercialisation Grant1,965,803 Application specific handheld ultrasound platformPatients requiring a procedure which involves ultrasound must currently attend radiology centres or well resourced hospitals able to afford this expensive equipment. This leads to delays with performing procedures, which can potentially cause medical complications. Signostics Ltd has developed a low-cost handheld ultrasound device, adaptable to several clinical uses, for use in any medical centre or facility. Commercialisation Australia funding will help Signostics Ltd complete early stage commercialisation of its product.
Real Time Data Skills and Knowledge + Proof of Concept Grants280,000 Intuitive fisheries data recording and reporting systemReal Time Data has developed Deckhand, an inexpensive, easy to use portable electronic logbook which enables commercial fishermen to record and report catch, effort and location data in real-time. Funding from CA will help with enhancing the existing software, including customising it for different fisheries. The system will be trialled in 3 fisheries to prove the concept to project partner, the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC). Funding will also assist with various aspects of commercialisation planning, in preparation for first sales of Deckhand.
Thereitis.com Proof of Concept Grant250,000 Thereitis.com business and consumer market readiness projectThereitis.com Pty Ltd has developed computer software which enables users of Internet applications such as social media and e-commerce, to find and sort data visually, faster than existing methods. Funding from Commercialisation Australia will be used to prove the technology to commercial partners and adapt the technology platform to capture a global consumer market.
Yackstar Experienced Executives + Proof of Concept Grants333,918 Yackstar – using internal social networks to improve employee engagement and business resultsSocial media has forever changed the way people communicate at home. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are now part of our daily routines. Enterprises now can use similar technology within their organization to communicate, collaborate and engage with their workforce. Yackstar is a secure, private enterprise social network that harnesses the social energy of employees. By encouraging people to share content, give recognition and feedback and form collaborative teams, Yackstar can improve productivity and employee engagement within a business. With assistance from Commercialisation Australia Yackstar will develop innovative case studies to show how social businesses are more productive and engaged with their workforces.
Shift Geophysics Proof of Concept Grant198,434 Development and commercialisation of an Unmanned Airborne Geophysical PlatformShift Geophysics proposes to commercialise a magnetometer and spectrometer system on an unmanned airborne platform. Shift Geophysics will use the grant funds to develop a stable slow moving platform that will integrate a forward looking sensor to drape the aircraft over terrain whilst recording a gradient magnetometer and spectrometer. Clients will receive a safe platform where harm to a pilot has been eliminated, data with a noise floor 10 times less and 9 times the resolution over competitors data producing an enhanced likelihood of detection of certain deposit types and attitude corrected three dimensional magnetic inverted data greatly improving drilling accuracy.
Sage Health Systems Skills and Knowledge Grant50,000 SmartWard – automated patient care system for improved care in hospital wards at lower costNurses on hospital wards still use handwritten notes to record patient details. SmartWard is a new computer system, comprising sophisticated software run on robust and sterilisable hardware, that will automate patient care and management at the patient bedside. Sage Health Systems will use the Commercialisation Australia skills and knowledge grant to independently test the system with clinicians and hospital administrators.
Built by Team 16 Skills and Knowledge Grant16,160 DATE OR DUD’© – a pioneering online multi-platform speed dating comedy show‘DATE OR DUD’TM is an Australian created, pioneering multiplatform comedy show that utilises social media in a way that will redefine expectations of web generated content. The core innovation is bringing together an enabled online video conferencing technology and new version of the speed dating entertainment format to create the first online speed dating comedy show of its kind.
Tribewire Australia Skills and Knowledge Grant18,888 Tapestry is an innovative technology solution which targets the needs of senior Australians, helping them stay connected with their families and the community at large. This Skills & Knowledge project will provide the Intellectual Property protection and commercialisation capabilities needed to help launch Tapestry into the market.
Icon Global Link Skills and Knowledge Grant49,896 Business and IP strategy for Integrated Standards Enforcement System (ISES®)Food and water industries around the world are facing increased regulatory compliance and supply chain risk management requirements. Icon Global Link has developed an integrated suite of software to meet the needs of these and other industries. Commercialisation Australia is providing funding to support the development of a sound business and IP strategy for international commercialisation of this solution.
Uniquest Skills and Knowledge Grant50,000 Red Bayberry commercialisation projectRed Bayberry is a fruit grown in China that has extensive potential as a new fruit crop in Australia and other markets. The fruit is not currently grown in countries other than China. Researchers at The University of Queensland have selected elite varieties and have successfully grown these varieties in Queensland and Victoria. The Commercialisation Australia project will assist in defining optimal production and marketing strategies aimed at expanding the industry in Australia whilst also establishing Red Bayberry industries in other markets. The Commercialisation Australia project will also enhance propagation efficiencies to a stage where the industry can rapidly expand its production area.
Rytech Australia Skills and Knowledge Grant50,000 Wave Energy Conversion Device (WECD)Power generation is moving away from generation using traditional fossil fuels to generation systems with a cleaner and renewable energy focus. Rytech Australia Pty Ltd has developed a Wave Energy Conversion Device that converts ocean energy directly into zero emissions green electricity. With funding from Commercialisation Australia, Rytech Australia Pty Ltd will develop a strong business plan to commercial.
TOTAL 7,919,730

Government Grants Can Help Boost Your Business

Posted by treadstone on September 6, 2011 None comments

If you want to start up a small business or you need more cash to help expand or improve your small business you may want to consider government grants as there are many to choose from. There are many grants that are specific grants meant just for you. These grants will require an application process and you will need to follow them closely if you want to be considered but generally if you have a solid business model and the like, the requirements will not be difficult to fulfill. So long as you are willing to expend a bit of effort preparing your application and doing a bit of research, you may find that receiving a government grant really isn’t difficult.

Many wrongly assume that if you already have an established small business that you won’t need the cash that government grants could give but this simply isn’t the case. Sometimes you need the government grants to make your business eve better. As such, you may need to apply for a government grant for small business that will provide you the funds that you need to train your employees. If you have a real need and you can prove a need for training, there are many different grants that you can choose from. Again, it may take some preparation but with just a bit of preparation you can submit your application and have a good chance of being approved.

11 technology projects announced under NSW Collaborative Solutions Program

Posted by treadstone on June 7, 2011 None comments

11 technology projects announced under NSW Collaborative Solutions Program

Over 100 organisations participated in the 32 final submissions received under the CS program Mobile Concierge initiative. Three quarters of the consortiums were a mix of small and large businesses.

28 per cent included a regional or Western Sydney partner and 63 per cent included a partner with international offices to accelerate export.

For further information visit www.business.nsw.gov.au/collaborativesolutions

11 projects supported by NSW Collaborative Solutions program

  • Discovery Location Based Services – mobile social platform for small businesses in tourism and retail to engage with customers interactively through their mobile devices. Consortium Lead: Online Media Holdings (Roamz). Partners: Bilson’s Restaurant, Cuisine Now, Paypal.
  • Knowhere – integrated mobile and multi-touch smart table offering which provides tourists with a rich and engaging experience to help explore local places of interest and customise their itineraries at Sydney Visitor Information Centres. Consortium Lead: Object Consulting. Partners: Tourism NSW, Microsoft, V3 Leisure Management.
  • MeTag – customer engagement and marketing offering for venue operators combining electronic wristbands, mobile phones and social media. Consortium lead: Centryc. Partners: Luna Park, Pitney Bowes, Modapt, Unique Micro Design, FujiFilm, RFID N PRINT.
  • MoveMe – customisable mobile guide for cultural institutions that incorporates wayfinding, location specific content, and user tracking features. Consortium Lead: Smarttrack RFID. Partners: Powerhouse Museum, MOB, Ramp Holdings, ShopperTrak.
  • Project worx – mobile and web recruitment service for the hospitality and retail sector. Consortium Lead: Turramurra Technologies. Partners: Intercontinental Hotels Group, BigTinCan.
  • SAAS Mobile Site Enabler for SME Retail and Tourism – aggregating mobile location aware content feed for SMEs and tourism organisations. Consortium Lead: AD.IQ Global. Partners: Wyong Shire Council, Central Coast Tourism, Singtel Optus.
  • Smart City – Near Field Communications (NFC) driven transaction platform for electronic retail and municipality services. Consortium Lead: ST Microelectronics. Partners: Parramatta City Council, SGS Technologies, Salt IT.
  • Sydney Opera House Trust (SOHT) Mobile Application – integrated mobile offering for performing arts venues incorporating ticketing, maps, social media and other features such as location-based services or augmented reality, piloted at The Sydney Opera House. Consortium Lead: Tigerspike. Partners: Sydney Opera House, Tessitura.
  • Tapit – new mass market “physical to digital” content network for retail and tourism using Near-Field Communications (NFC) to allow shoppers and tourists to instantly download apps and content by tapping products, signs, shelves and posters with their mobile. Consortium Lead: Tapit Media. Partners: Initiative, Nokia.
  • Taxi Apps – solution connects passengers directly with taxi drivers via a map based mobile phone application. Consortium Lead: Taxi Apps. Partners: NSW Taxi Drivers Association, Microsoft, Nokia, PayPal, Research In Motion, Google.
  • Touchpoint – integrated NFC-enabled point of sale solution comprising a mobile app, electronic receipts, and purchase analysis tool for retailers and consumers. Consortium Lead: My Touchpoint. Partners: 7/Eleven, Nokia.

Available Grants for Australian Business Owners

Posted by treadstone on April 13, 2011 None comments

It’s never easy for business owners who are short of cash, especially within such an unstable economic climate. Luckily, there are many available grants within a variety of sectors, giving you even more options than you had originally thought possible. These available grants are given across both state and federal governments within Australia, but the process is not always easy. You will often be required to submit numerous documents, as well as write up an application for any of the available grants that you wish to apply for. Nevertheless, this gives Australian business owners the ability to think big – without having to worry as much about where to source their funding from.

One of the many available grants for Australian business owners is the Commercialising Emerging Technologies grant, also known as COMET. This particular grant is targeted towards businesses who acquire less than $8 million in profit throughout the 2 years prior to applying. Additionally, business owners must have not received more than $5 million in revenue during any of the previous years. As one of the most sought after available grants in the technologies sector, the COMET grant gives business owners the chance to receive up to $86,000 under the tier 1 scheme. An additional $56,000 can be also given, depending upon the present circumstances of the business, as well as the number of applicants. Business owners can use the funds to pay for technological research, upcoming projects or market research; as well as for the development and production of any prototypes.

There are also a number of available grants to assist Australian export businesses. The most popular one to be noted is the Export Market Development Grant, which intends to help Australian exporters with the many costs associated with marketing expenses including travel, consultancy, communication, as well as the hiring of representatives from overseas. The available grants from within this sector provide funding amounts between $50,000 and $200,000, though the minimum amount that a business must spend in order to qualify for the grant is $10,000 – cut down from $15,000 in previous years.

Either way, you will find that most of the available grants in any sector do provide you with solid financial support, that you would not be as likely to receive otherwise. Perhaps the most important aspect of applying for these available grants, however, is the fact that you must always try to remember that highlighting the positive aspects of your business will greatly enhance your  possibility of actually being successful in applying for one of the many available grants.

Finding Grants Available to Small Businesses in Australia

Posted by treadstone on April 13, 2011 None comments

There are small business grants available from your local council, the state government, as well as through the Australian federal government. According to the Australian Business Initiative, although there are quite a number of these grants available to established businesses, there are not as many for small businesses or for those just starting out. However, you will find that the grants available for your business will focus primarily upon funding areas such as research, business development, as well as business expansion. Fortunately, there are some loans and grants available for small-to-medium businesses, that you may wish to explore for yourself.

Through such resources as the Australian Government Funding Centre, you will be able to search for and locate any of the loans or grants available to Australian business owners. Included on their website is a “grant wizard” that searches for any of the grants available within the area of your business. Using this tool will provide you with further insight into some of the grants available across a broad range of areas. As an example, if you were to enter “business” into the search box, you would find that there are over 40 federal, and nearly 60 state government business grants available to choose from. Keep in mind, however, that the grants available within each area are subject to different guidelines when you apply, and the application process could be disrupted if you do not read all of the rules, for any of the particular grants available within your state.

Being successful in finding grants available will depend entirely upon your location. Obviously, there will be more grants available to businesses within New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland – as these states tend to have a much higher population. If you choose to scour the Internet in search for grants available to your business, remember to look around before choosing to apply for them. Once you have made your list, you can then begin to apply for the ones that you think will benefit your business the most. If you find databases, websites and reading too much to handle all at once, you also have the option of contacting the Small Business Support Line via phone. They will be able to assist you with any of the questions or concerns you might have regarding your search for the grants available in your state.

Ideally, you should eventually have a list of a few grants, all of which can be applied for to suit and improve the future needs of your small business.

Latest round of Grant Results!

Posted by treadstone on February 21, 2011 None comments

Check the latest results of grants awarded by the Australian Federal Government  - Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.  Results are published in both excel and PDF format covering the range of programs available including:

  • Enterprise Connect  - Tailored Advisory Services
  • Commercialisation Australia
  • Textiles Clothing and Footware
  • International Science Linkages
  • Clean Buiness Australia – Green building Fund
  • Geelong Innovation and Investment Fund
  • Automotive Supply Chain Development Program
  • Green Car Innovation Fund
  • Clean Business Australia – Re-tooling for Climate Change

http://innovation.gov.au/AboutUs/FinancialInformationandLegislation/Grants/Pages/default.aspx