Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund (AMESRF)

What is the Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund (AMESRF)?

The Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund (AMESRF) is a $4 million funding initiative, and forms part of the $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund which will boost innovation, skills and employment in advanced manufacturing. The grant will run over four years with funding of $1 million per year from 2017–18 to 2020–21.

Objective

The intent of the Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund (AMESRF) is to support small-scale and pilot research projects in advanced manufacturing, and benefit smaller firms and early stage research. The fund will provide grants to SMEs for rapid initial feasibility testing, allowing the projects to then move quickly to larger-scale research or commercialisation. The feasibility test element will allow for success or failure, and processes will accommodate a ‘fast fail’ exit for projects when a low prospect for success is realised.

Proposed Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund projects should be undertaken in collaboration with other parties in the form of a consortium, whether from research, industry or other areas. The Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund funds may also be granted to single entity projects that otherwise meet the funding criteria.

Funding

Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Funds (AMESRF) can be between $100,000 and $400,000. The granting amount would be relative to the project size and complexity, and the extent it meets the merit criteria. The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible project costs (grant percentage).

Eligible Projects

To be eligible the AMESRF applicant’s project must:

be industry led and involve collaboration with SMEs

Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Funds may be used for activities directly related to the project, for example:

equipment development, testing and installation
software development, testing and deployment
materials, consumables and laboratory disposables
salaries and consulting fees directly related to the activities in the project
travel and accommodation for field activities in Australia
capital expenditure where the equipment/works are directly related to the project.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible the Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund applicant must:

have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
be an SME with less than 200 employees
be non tax-exempt
be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)

and be one of the following entities:

a company, incorporated in Australia
an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust

Joint Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund applications are acceptable, provided there is a lead applicant who is the main driver of the project, and the lead applicant is eligible to apply.

Timing

Applications close 30 June 2021.

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