What is the Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund?
The Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund (RVMAF) is a grant opportunity that aims to support research institutes, industry and business to develop and commercialise new uses for recycled materials.
Background
Sustainability Victoria has launched the Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund, a $5 million support package for Victorian businesses, research institutes and industry to develop and commercialise new uses for recycled materials.
Grants will be awarded to projects that identify and develop new uses for recyclable materials in Victoria. Projects will commercialise innovative products and processes with recycled materials and improve confidence in and demand for recycled products.
The fund is designed to directly address materials subject to the national waste export bans – paper and cardboard, plastics, tyres and glass – but will also support solutions for other emerging materials streams such as e-waste and textiles.
Objectives
Projects must meet one or more of the following objectives:
- Identify and develop new domestic uses for recyclable materials, including those that may otherwise go to landfill or be stockpiled.
- Commercialise innovative products and processes that contain recycled materials and meet end user needs.
- Improve confidence in, demand for and uptake of recycled products in Victoria.
- Boost Victoria’s economy through local circular economy initiatives, helping businesses to grow in new ways, and creating new jobs.
Funding
The Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund is distributed through 2 funding streams:
- Stream 1: Research, Development and Demonstration grants support projects that develop, demonstrate and validate new innovative uses for recycled materials. Grants of between $30,000 and $400,000 excluding GST are available per project.
- Stream 2: Commercialisation Support grants support activities directly related to the commercialisation of a novel product or process containing recycled materials. Grants of between $30,000 and $300,000 (excluding GST) are available per project.
Eligible Projects
STREAM 1
Stream 1 funding is available to support the technical development of new or existing products and/or processes using recycled materials. While activities funded under Stream 1 are focused on the research, development and demonstration of new or existing products and/or processes, applicants will also be asked to demonstrate the commercial pathway and end market opportunity as part of their funding application.
Funding will support projects that undertake one or more of the following:
- Research and develop, demonstrate and/or validate new or existing products and/or processes using eligible recycled materials.
- Investigate the feasibility of innovative manufacturing technology to increase and accelerate the use of recycled materials in products.
- Improve and/or develop product standards and specifications to include eligible recycled materials.
- Demonstrate how product/process meets existing standards and specifications or supports development of new ones.
- Demonstrate new products and/or processes using priority recycled materials in a real-world application.
- Demonstrate technologies that enables increased use of priority recycled materials by increasing performance and consistency, lowering costs of production or testing automated systems to produce recycled products.
- Provide product information or validation to increase procurement and end market development for recycled materials, including environmental product declaration, life cycle analysis, testing against a standard in a NATA accredited lab against Australian and International Standards etc.
- Investigate end of life recovery opportunities for new or existing recycled product/s.
Project costs must be directly related to the project and can include:
- new or additional staff costs incurred specifically to undertake the project (including project management and research)
- Research and Development (R&D) activities including product design and development, laboratory testing and altering existing processing approaches
- procurement of materials and services supporting R&D and demonstration
- costs that support development of specification and standards
- prototype development including any costs associated with manufacture
- leasing of equipment for product testing and validation
- capital purchases (e.g. infrastructure or equipment) essential to achieving the stated research, demonstration and/or product validation outcome
- installation costs (for example machinery hire, additional external labour resources)
- consultancy or contract work, including outsourcing testing to an accredited laboratory (NATA or equivalent). Note: projects may outsource a specific component to an inter-state facility
- product testing and validation to ensure environmental and human health performance
- testing against an Australian (AS) or International (ISO) standard
- undertaking a life cycle analysis, environmental product declaration, product certification and/or accreditation.
Projects must:
- focus on developing projects to be implemented in Victoria
- use credible research or evidence validating a proof of concept
- include a clear testing methodology either in the lab or in the field (i.e. testing schedule to meet ISO or AU standard)
- be complete by 30 April 2024.
STREAM 2
Stream 2 funding is available to support the commercial development of new or existing products and/or processes using recycled materials. Applicants must demonstrate an existing prototype or proof-of-concept as part of their application.
Funding will support projects that:
- seek to commercialise new or existing products or processes incorporating recycled materials for trade
- focus on developing the business model and/or capability of a business to take new products or processes incorporating recycled materials to market
- demonstrate commercial viability of a product containing recycled material
- provide product information to increase procurement and end market development for recycled materials.
Examples of project activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- developing a commercial feasibility study or business case
- conducting market and product financial and non-financial assessments, including cost comparison tools
- business planning, business advisory services and support
- market development, research and analysis activities
- intellectual property protection
- establishing commercial partnerships
- investment attraction and/or establishing commercial partnerships
- permit/licence applications
- marketing and promotional planning and activities (e.g. developing and implementing a marketing strategy and plan).
Project costs must be directly related to the project and can include:
- new or additional FTE incurred specifically to support the project delivery (including project management)
- consultancy or contract work (including contracted staff delivering the project)
- marketing, advertising, promotion
- market research and surveys
- venue and equipment hire
- legal costs (such as costs to obtain IP)
- printing
- design and copywriting
- leasing assets (excluding vehicles)
- costs associated with undertaking a life cycle analysis, environmental production declaration, product certification and/or accreditation
- other project execution costs not listed in Section 2.4 – What will not be funded (you must specify any other costs).
Projects must:
- focus on developing projects to be implemented in Victoria
- be complete by 30 April 2024.
Eligible Applicants
STREAM 1
To be eligible for funding for projects that include a research and development component, the Lead Applicant must be a Victoria-based Research Institute and have at least one Industry Partner as part of a Collaborative Partnership. If the project has more than one Industry Partner, the Lead Application must nominate a Lead Industry Partner.
For demonstration and validation projects the Lead Applicant can be any of the following:
- Research Institute
- For-profit business.
- Not-for-Profit.
- Social Enterprise.
- State government entity.
- Incorporated association.
- Industry association or peak body.
A Research Institute can submit more than one application and is eligible to collaborate with other research institutes (both within Victoria and in other states).
For projects involving lab-based research, or those proposing to develop a standard or specification, privately owned research facilities must provide evidence of accreditation (e.g. National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia or similar standard).
All applicants must:
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). Project Partners must also have an ABN
- have operations in Victoria
- complete the project within 18 months of signing the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria.
- agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
- agree to comply with the funding terms and conditions:
- for grants $50,000 or less read the Short-form grant funding agreement
- for grants more than $50,000 read the General grant funding agreement.
STREAM 2
Eligible applicants include:
- for profit businesses
- Not-for-Profits
- Social Enterprises.
All applications require a single Lead Applicant, who will be the responsible Contracting Party. Applicants may apply as either individual businesses or as a Collaborative Partnership.
All applicants must:
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). Project partners must also have a current ABN.
- have operations in Victoria
- complete the project within 18 months of signing the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria
- agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
- agree to comply with the funding terms and conditions:
- for grants $50,000 or less read the Short-form grant funding agreement.
- for grants more than $50,000 read the General grant funding agreement.
Timing
Applications close 2 June 2022.
