What is the Victoria-Jiangsu Program for Technology and Innovation R&D?
The Victoria-Jiangsu Program for Technology and Innovation Research and Development (VIC-JS TECH) is a program that will provide funding support for market-oriented collaborative research and development (R&D) projects by companies and organisations in Victoria (Australia) and Jiangsu Province (China), consistent with the Technology and Innovation Agreement in place between Victoria and Jiangsu Province signed in 2019.
Objectives
The VIC-JS TECH program supports collaborative R&D projects aimed at achieving commercialisation of new or improved products, processes or services that can potentially contribute to the economic development of Victoria and Jiangsu Province. It aims to facilitate and support joint, commercially focused, science and technology innovations and to improve competitiveness and further cooperation in economy and business.
The VIC-JS TECH program aims to:
- Provide incentives for Victorian and Jiangsu Province organisations to collaborate on research and development activities pertaining to technology-based products or processes;
- Advance such technologies to commercial readiness; and
- Identify steps for realisation of economic benefits for all parties concerned.
Funding
In Victoria
The maximum grant amount is AUD$200,000 excluding GST. Organisations can apply for less than this amount.
Organisations are required to make a cash co-contribution of an equal or greater value than the grant amount requested. That is, the funding is up to 50% of the project expenses.
Successful Victorian applicants will be awarded grant funds by DJPR. Projects that create an ongoing liability for the Victorian Government will not be funded.
In Jiangsu Province
Funding is provided according to the existing rules and practices of Jiangsu Province in supporting the R&D activities of companies, currently in the form of a grant.
Eligible Projects
The projects must involve cooperation by the applicants on joint, market driven, science and technology related R&D of new products or processes. It must involve at least one Victorian organisation and one Jiangsu Province company and may involve more than one organisation from each jurisdiction.
The applicants must demonstrate that they have ready access to the required infrastructure and resources to complete the projects. Also, the applicants must have the ability to deliver newly developed technologies to the market in the short to medium term.
The project contributions by the Victorian and Jiangsu Province applicants must be fairly balanced.
Projects in the following areas will be preferred:
- Biotechnology, New Medicine and Medical Devices;
- New Generation Information and Communication Technology;
- Clean Technology and Environmental Protection;
- Food and Fibre Industries; and
- Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Industries.
Other areas that are mutually accepted will also be considered.
In Victoria
VIC-JS TECH funding can be applied flexibly to project related expenses. Funding is not intended to cover “business as usual” expenses.
Eligible project costs and activities may include:
- personnel costs for staff dedicated to the project;
- cost of purchasing, leasing or renting equipment or instrumentation;
- cost of sub-contracting and consultancy services used exclusively for the project;
- other operating expenses (e.g. cost of materials, consumables and other supplies);
- premarketing expenses;
- outlays to meet regulatory requirements;
- business planning;
- knowledge transfer to industry and other end users; and
- necessary travel.
In Jiangsu Province
Funding is provided according to the existing rules and practices of Jiangsu Province in supporting the R&D activities of companies.
Eligible Applicants
The Victorian applicant must be a for-profit company or a recognised research organisation that:
- has its registered office and principal place of business located in Victoria;
- meets the requirement of a cash co-contribution to the project of an amount that is at least equal in value to the grant amount awarded;
- has not been awarded funding of more than AUD$200,000 (plus GST) through any program of the Victorian Government in relation to the proposed technology; and
- is not currently involved in litigation against the State Government of Victoria.
Jiangsu Province applicants must be R&D performing Jiangsu Province registered companies operating in Jiangsu Province.
Victorian and Jiangsu Province applicants cannot be related in any way. That is, the applicants must be entirely separate legal entities, with no financial or other ties.
Timing
Applications close 02 March 2020.
More Information
- Source
- VIC-JS TECH Guidelines
