South East South Australia Innovation and Investment Fund
Overview
The Australian Government and South Australian Government, announced the South East South Australia Innovation and Investment Fund (SESAIIF) to assist with industry development in south east South Australia following the decision of Kimberly Clark Australia to restructure its operations in South Australia.
SESAIIF is a $12 million competitive, merit-based government grant program for innovative jobs creation projects to strengthen south east South Australia’s regional economy and employment base. It will be jointly administered by the Australian and South Australian governments.
The SESAIIF gives effect to the announcement by the Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research on 25 January 2011.
Purpose
SESAIIF supports investment aimed at creating sustainable, new jobs in south east South Australia. Eligible investment will create new or additional business capacity designed to enhance sustainable employment, business and economic opportunities and will particularly encourage applications for manufacturing, manufacturing services and other services projects that generate high quality skilled jobs.
Investment proposals resulting in the creation of new jobs in south east South Australia at the expense of jobs elsewhere in Australia will not be funded.
What funding is available?
A total of $12 million (less administration costs) in funding is available under SESAIIF and will need to be expended by 30 June 2013, when the fund will close.
Applications involving eligible capital costs of less than $100,000 will not be considered for assessment. The minimum grant will be $50,000.
Financial assistance will only be provided for:
- up to 50 per cent of projected eligible capital costs (primarily being for plant and equipment directly applied to the production of the outputs of the investment proposal); and
- on the provision of satisfactory evidence that the agreed payment milestones have been achieved.
The following conditions will apply to funding investment proposals:
- applicants must be able to demonstrate that they can fund the costs of the project not met by the funds being sought under SESAIIF;
- a minimum cash commitment by the proponent, exclusive of in-kind, which at least matches the total amount of grant sought under the program;
- SESAIIF funding will not be provided for retrospective activities; and
- the grant will be calculated to take account of funding provided under other applicable government programs so that:
a) a genuine contribution of at least 50% by the applicant is made; and
b) SESAIIF funding is not being leveraged by other government funding, except in special circumstances with the agreement of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research;
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are those firms/commercial enterprises:
- which are legal entities, i.e. with which the Australian government and the South Australian government can enter into a legally binding funding agreement;
- which have an Australian Business Number and are registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- which can demonstrate the commitment of funding, exclusive of in-kind contributions, to the investment proposal which is free of other government funding and which at least matches the funding which is being sought from the program; and where
- the applicant can demonstrate that the project will be undertaken in south east South Australia;
The following entities are not eligible to apply:
- individuals who are not registered for business purposes;
- Australian government, state, territory and local government agencies and bodies;
- entities that do not comply or have not complied with state or Commonwealth laws, including the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999; or
- Kimberly Clark Australia and its related companies.
- projects must have at least $100,000 in eligible capital costs ( being primarily for plant and equipment directly applied to the production of the outputs of the investment proposal);
- projects which involve Kimberly Clark Australia will not be funded;
- activities which involve R & D will not be funded.
- funding will be directed at sustainable job creation in south east South Australia, rather than community-based projects;
- projects which involve no sustained net increase in economic activity in Australia or involve a relocation of activity to South Australia from other states and territories will not be funded;
- projects not consistent with Australia’s international obligations, including under the World Trade Organization will not be funded; and
- funding will not be provided for retrospective activities (i.e. project expenditure prior to the finalisation of the funding agreement will not be funded).
The following conditions apply to project eligibility:
However, in very exceptional circumstances, expenditure incurred between notification of the approval of an investment proposal and the finalisation of the funding agreement may be determined as eligible. Requests for such a determination must be in writing to the AusIndustry Program Manager and approval is not guaranteed.
Evaluation criteria
Each investment proposal (i.e. project) will be assessed against the following evaluation criteria:
- The level of net economic benefit the proposed project will bring to South East South Australia, including the number of sustainable, new jobs generated through the project by 30 June 2013;
- The demonstrated capacity of the applicant to successfully undertake the project outlining the skills, experience and resources to which it will have access;
- The demonstrated capacity of the applicant to provide matching funding for the project.
- Sustainability of the project over the longer term without the need for ongoing Government support.
- The extent to which the project would be unlikely to proceed without support.
What projects are eligible?
The following conditions apply to project eligibility:
- projects must have at least $100,000 in eligible capital costs (primarily being for plant and equipment directly applied to the production of the outputs of the investment proposal)
- projects which involve Kimberly Clark Australia will not be funded
- funding will be directed at sustainable job creation in south east South Australia, rather than community-based projects
- projects which involve no sustained net increase in economic activity in Australia or involve a relocation of activity to South Australia from other states and territories will not be funded
- projects that help to diversify the south east South Australian manufacturing and economic base will be favoured
- projects which demonstrate the introduction of new innovations or technology (rather than research and scoping studies) will be favoured
- funding will not be provided for retrospective activities (i.e. project expenditure prior to the finalisation of the funding agreement will not be funded) except with prior approval.
How do I submit my application?
Completed applications for Round one of SESAIIF should be submitted by 5.30pm AEST 12 August
