Up to $1M is available from Industry 4.0 Testlabs for Australia to establish six Industry 4.0 testlabs at six Australian universities.
Industry 4.0 Testlabs for Australia
Industry 4.0 Testlabs for Australia is a pilot program that provides $6 million in matched funding in 2018-19 to establish six Industry 4.0 testlabs at six Australian universities. It will provide innovation support for small and medium enterprises in priority industry growth sectors through access to Industry 4.0 testlabs, and build the skills required to capitalise on technological opportunities presented by Industry 4.0.
Background
The Industry 4.0 testlab established through this grant opportunity will be located at the University of Tasmania and will support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in several of the Australian Government’s priority growth sectors. These may include:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Cyber security
- Food and agribusiness
- Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
- Mining equipment, technology and services
- Oil, gas and energy resources
Siemens Australia has committed to providing in-kind support to the selected universities through the provision of product lifecycle management software and/or equipment.
The testlab must focus on building capability in SMEs to adopt the latest technologies and digital innovation, including:
- the internet of things
- big data and analytics
- cybersecurity
- robotics
- sensors and automation
- innovative production methods.
Objectives
The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:
- establish an Industry 4.0 testlab at the University of Tasmania
- provide innovation support for SMEs in priority industry growth sectors, through access to Industry 4.0 testlab
- build the skills required to capitalise on technological opportunities presented by Industry 4.0.
Funding
The maximum grant amount is up to $1,000,000. The grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible your project must:
- establish a new Industry 4.0 testlab facility or upgrade an existing testlab to Industry 4.0 capability
- provide free and open access to SMEs in priority growth sectors
- focus on upskilling SMEs in Industry 4.0 technology
- include eligible activities and eligible expenditure.
Eligible activities must directly relate to the project and can include:
- purchase, installation and commissioning of Industry 4.0 technology, software, hardware or equipment (other than that provided by Siemens Australia)
- upgrade or modification of existing laboratory to incorporate Industry 4.0 technology.
To be eligible, expenditure must:
- be a direct cost of the project
- be incurred by you for required project audit activities.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible you must:
- be invited to apply
- be the University of Tasmania
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be an entity incorporated in Australia and a trading corporation, where your trading activities
- form a sufficiently significant proportion of the corporation’s overall activities as to merit it being described as a trading corporation; or
- are a substantial and not merely peripheral activity of the corporation.
The University of Tasmania was strategically selected for the pilot to leverage off their existing collaborative partnerships with industry, including the in-kind support from Siemens Australia.
Timing
Applications close 29 October 2018.
