Scheme |
Administered by |
Industries |
Type of assistance |
Aim of programme |
Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme (ACIS) |
AusIndustry |
Automotive |
Tax concession (import duty credits) |
Encourage investment and innovation as tariffs are lowered from 15% to 10% |
Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) |
AusIndustry |
Biotechnology |
Grants |
Increase the rate of commercialisation of biotechnology projects developed in Australia |
Certain Inputs to Manufacture (CIM) |
AusIndustry |
Manufacturing |
Tax concession (import duty credits) |
Reduce input costs |
Enhanced Project By-Law Scheme (EPBS) |
AusIndustry |
Mining, resource processing, food processing, food packaging, manufacturing, agriculture and gas supply |
Tax concession (tariff duty concessions on inputs) |
Encourage the use of Australian industry in global supply chains |
Food Innovation Grants |
DAFF |
Food manufacturers |
Grants |
Improve innovation in the food industry |
National Australian Technology Showcase (ATS) |
AusIndustry and state/territory agencies |
SMEs with innovative technologies |
Indirect assistance (promotion and networking) |
Increase exports and increase employment by promoting member technologies on the domestic and international markets |
Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Programme (P3) |
AusIndustry |
Pharmaceuticals |
Grants |
Promotes high quality R&D, collaborations between multinational firms and local companies |
Space Concession |
AusIndustry |
Space sector |
Tax concession allowing duty-free imports for usage in space projects |
Increase the competitiveness of Australia’s space industry |
Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Expanded Overseas Assembly Provisions (EOAP) Scheme |
AusIndustry |
TCF |
Tax concessions (duty concessions to firms who assemble garments and footwear overseas from predominantly Australian inputs and then import for consumption in Australia) |
Assist the ongoing development of Australian TCF industries and enable them to retain their value-adding and high-skilled activities |
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Product Diversification Scheme (PDS) |
AusIndustry |
TCF |
Tax concession (non-tradeable duty credit) |
Give TCF manufacturers additional incentive to achieve growth in value-added production, to globalise sourcing arrangements and diversify product range. |
Scheme |
Administered by |
Industries |
Type of assistance |
Aim of programme |
Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business (BESB) |
AusIndustry |
Small Business |
Indirect (training and mentoring, field officers etc) |
Encouraging entrepreneurship by supporting improvement to Australia’s small business operating skills |
Business Entry Point (business.gov.au) |
DITR |
All |
Indirect (information) |
To bring all government requirements and assistance programmes together in one place |
Commercial Ready |
AusIndustry |
Small Businesses |
Grant programme |
Encourage innovation by supporting early stage R&D in SMEs |
Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) |
AusIndustry |
Businesses in all industries looking to commercialise innovations |
Grants, early start |
Encourage innovation |
Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership (ESVCLP) |
AustIndustry and the Pooled Developments Fund Board |
All |
Tax benefits for investors. |
Increase the supply of funding to the early‑stage venture capital sector through the introduction of an investment vehicle with flow-through taxation treatment and no tax liability on the investment gains for investors. |
Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) |
Austrade |
All SMEs |
Grants (up to 50% of promotion expenses) |
Encourage SMEs to develop export markets |
Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme (ICAS) |
DEWR |
All indigenous businesses |
Access to financial support and subsidises interest rates and bank fees |
Increases employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians by providing access to commercial finance and culturally appropriate support services |
Indigenous Self Employment Programme (ISEP) |
DEWR |
All indigenous small businesses |
Indirect (advice and support), training and loans. |
Assist Indigenous Australians to establish their own small business |
Indigenous Small Business Fund (ISBF) |
DEWR |
All indigenous small businesses |
Grants (funding for the development and expansion of Indigenous businesses and enterprises) |
Assist Indigenous people to learn about business, develop good business skills and expand their business |
Industry Cooperative Innovation Programme (ICIP) |
AusIndustry |
Requires a consortium of at least three businesses, any industry |
Grants |
Fosters innovation projects that enhance the productivity, growth and international competitiveness of Australian industries. Focuses on meeting strategic industry needs. |
Information Technology Online (ITOL) Programme |
DCITA |
All businesses, particularly SMEs |
Grants |
To accelerate the national adoption of collaborative e-business, especially by SMEs |
Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) |
AusIndustry |
Venture capital fund managers |
Grants |
Develop venture capital funding industry |
New Apprenticeships Scheme |
DEST |
All employers |
Subsidies/grants |
Encourage skills development |
New Exporter Development Programme (NEDP) |
Austrade |
SMEs |
Indirect assistance (advice and information) |
Help SMEs develop the skills and knowledge required to seek out and be ready for export opportunities. |
Pooled Development Funds (PDF) programme |
AusIndustry |
Small and medium-sized enterprises |
Tax benefits for funds and shareholders. Indirect assistance to SMEs by providing incentives for investment |
Grows SMEs by increasing the supply of equity capital |
Pre-Seed Fund |
AusIndustry |
Universities and public sector research agencies |
Grants and indirect assistance for commercialisation of research projects |
Encourage commercialisation of research discoveries |
R&D Start |
AusIndustry |
Businesses undertaking R&D |
Grants to undertake R&D and commercialisation |
Encourage R&D |
R&D Tax Concession |
AusIndustry/ ATO |
Businesses undertaking R&D |
Tax concession allowing companies to deduct up to 125% of relevant expenditure |
Encourage R&D |
Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund (RRIF) |
AusIndustry |
Local government (with benefit to small and home-based businesses) |
Grants to local governments, indirect assistance to small business |
Reduce regulatory compliance burdens for SMEs |
Supplier Access to Major Projects
(SAMP) |
Industry Capability Network |
All suppliers |
Indirect (Identify opportunities, provide assistance) |
Assist Australian businesses to become involved in major projects (both Australian and overseas). |
Small Business Field Officers (SBFO) programme |
AusIndustry |
Small business |
Indirect assistance (referral and general advisory services) |
Foster the growth of small businesses |
Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLP) programme |
AusIndustry |
Offshore venture capital investors |
Tax concession (capital gains tax) |
Increase investment in Australian venture capital by encouraging non-residents to invest. |