Up to $250,000 for prototype development, pilot scale trials or improvements to existing products through the adoption of or integration of small technologies.
About
The Small Technologies Industry Uptake Program (STIUP) has been developed by the Victorian Government to give Victorian businesses the opportunity to increase their competitiveness by using small technologies in their products, processes and services.
STIUP will allow Victoria’s innovative small technology companies to demonstrate and commercialise their goods and/or services. The Program will provide support through a voucher system, whereby vouchers can be exchanged for access to facilities, goods, services, advice or expertise to explore, adopt and integrate small technologies.
Applications for the second round of STIUP Trial vouchers are currently being accepted. Completed applications (including the required financial information) must be received by 3pm, Friday 18th November 2011.
What categories of vouchers are available through STIUP?
Types of STIUP vouchers available:
| Type of voucher | Definition | Maximum value |
|---|---|---|
| Small Technologies Feasibility (STFeas) Voucher | Small fee-based services such as prior art searches, demonstration of coatings, preliminary testing, marketing studies, and consulting services to evaluate feasibility of small technologies. | $10,000 |
| Small Technologies Technical (STTech) Voucher | Substantial micro or nanotechnology-based development activity such as assistance for small scale product prototyping, laboratory verification, field testing and fabrication of small technology demonstrators. | $50,000 |
| Small Technologies Trial (STTrial) Voucher | Prototype development, pilot scale trials or improvements to existing products or processes through the adoption of or integration of small technologies. | $250,000 |
STIUP Voucher 1 – The Small Technologies Feasibility Voucher (STFeas)
The Small Technologies Feasibility (STFeas) voucher has a maximum value of $10,000 and can be used for small fee-based services such as demonstration of coatings, preliminary testing, and consulting services to evaluate feasibility of micro and nanofabrication processes. STFeas voucher applications can be submitted to the Small Technologies Cluster at any time and will be processed as they are received.
The STFeas Vouchers can be used for the following:
- Speciliased business and professional services required to commercialise a product or service (such as those required for protection of intellectual property, development of materials documents or prototypes for commercial feasibility and market studies)
- Specialised services required to obtain pre-commercials and venture capital financing for new or existing micro or nanotechnology based products and services
- Consulting services to evaluate micro and nano fabrication processes and product design
STIUP Voucher 1 –The Small Technologies Technical Voucher (STTech)
The Small Technologies Technical (STTech) voucher has a maximum value of $50,000 and can be used for more substantial micro or nanotechnology-based development activities. This includes assistance for small scale product prototyping, laboratory verification, field testing and fabrication of small technology demonstrators. STTech voucher applications can be submitted to the Small Technologies Cluster at any time and will be processed as they are received.
The STTech Vouchers can be used for the following:
- Access to micro and nanotechnology research and development capability (people, equipment and facilities) within publicly funded institutions and service providers (universities, CSIRO, research institutes).
- The use of technology, equipment or facilities to progress small technology projects from concept to commercialisation stage such as product testing, validating, prototyping, certifying and demonstration of projects to facilitate faster product and/or service to market.
- Access to emerging small technologies from other commercial companies /business sectors that can be transferred into the company to improve products, processes or services.
STIUP Voucher 3 – The Small Technologies Trial Voucher (STTrial)
The Small Technologies Trial (STTrial) voucher has a maximum value of $250,000 and can be used to trial existing small technology based innovations which can improve the competitiveness of a firm / business belonging to a priority Victorian industry (such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology or ICT) or can improve services which are provided for the benefit of Victorians. STTrial voucher applications will be submitted to the Department of Business and Innovation and will be conducted through funding rounds.
The STTrial Vouchers can be used for the following:
- Development of prototype or types that will be able to demonstrate commercial feasibility, open up markets and or improve current products or processes
- Pilot scale trials that can demonstrate the advantages of adoption of small technologies into products or production processes.
- Applied development and testing of small technologies that can be incorporated into current products and process to improve productivity and or profitability.
Who is eligible for STIUP?
STIUP Voucher recipients:
- are eligible to receive one STFeas, one STTech and one STTrial voucher over the life of the program
- must be able to demonstrate how the successful delivery of the proposed project will deliver productivity gains, improved health or improved sustainability outcomes, and demonstrate how this will be captured for the benefit of Victoria
- are required to make a minimum 25 per cent matching contribution to the project
- if company turnover is less than $1 million, the matching contribution can be all in-kind
- if company turnover is between $1 million and $10 million, matching funds must be a minimum 10 per cent cash contribution and up to 15 per cent in-kind
- if company turnover is greater than $10 million, the 25 per cent matching contribution must be in cash
- cannot redeem vouchers to pay for services already funded through other local or state government grant programs
- may comprise two or more companies – for example, applicants are allowed to pool or bundle their vouchers with other businesses to address a larger problem common to two or more recipients
- must enter into a written agreement that clearly specifies the work to be undertaken by the service provider and the cost of providing these services with the service provider
- must declare any existing relationships between approved supplier and voucher recipient
- must complete the activities within 12 months from the date of issue of STFeas and STTech vouchers and within two years for the STTrial vouchers
- must not make any public announcement or issue any press release regarding the receipt of a voucher, except in consultation and with the approval of the Department of Business and Innovation.
What can the STIUP vouchers be used for?
STFeas vouchers can be used for:
- development of materials, documents or prototypes for commercial feasibility
- specialised services required to obtain pre-commercial and venture capital financing for new or existing micro or nanotechnology based products and services
- consulting services to evaluate micro and nanofabrication processes and product design.
STTech vouchers can be used for:
- access to micro and nanotechnology research and development capability (people, equipment and facilities) within publicly funded institutions and service providers (universities, CSIRO, research institutes)
- the use of technology, equipment or facilities to progress small technology projects from concept to commercialisation stage such as product testing, validating, prototyping, certifying and demonstration of projects to facilitate faster product and/or service to market
- access to emerging small technologies from other commercial companies/business sectors that can be transferred into the company to improve products, processes or services.
STTrial vouchers can be used for:
- development of prototype or types that will be able to demonstrate commercial feasibility, open up markets and or improve current products or processes
- pilot scale trials that can demonstrate the advantages of adoption of small technologies into products or production processes
- applied development and testing of small technologies that can be incorporated into current products and processes to improve productivity and or profitability.
What can’t the STIUP vouchers be used for?
The STIUP vouchers cannot be used as payment for the following expenses:
- business plans
- legal/IP costs
- market studies
- software purchases
- design and production of advertising material
- sales and promotion activities
- costs associated with applying for government grants and programs
- basic professional services such as ongoing, routine accounting, tax and legal business requirements, and financing fees
- routine maintenance
- travel costs and entertainment costs
- any expenditure of time by in-house personnel of the applicant
- any amount paid on account of goods and services tax
- any administrative fee or surcharge for administering such expenditures
- anything else as determined by the Victorian Government discretion not to meet program conditions.
Expert Assistance
We are Australia’s leading provider of government grant assistance. In the last two years we raised over $260M for clients.
For this round of STTrial we will only be working with existing STFeas of STTech recipients. If this is you, then please contact us to discuss further or call us on 03 9005 6789.
Closing Date
Applications for the second round of STIUP Trial vouchers are currently being accepted. Note that completed applications (including the required financial information) must be received by 3pm, Friday 18th November 2011.
