The Grants Whisperer

01/05/2024

09/04/2024

Australia – Austria Industrial Decarbonisation Demonstration Partnerships Program

Closes: 18th of July 2024, at 5.00pm AEST.

The Australia – Austria Industrial Decarbonisation Demonstration Partnerships Program (the program) will run over 4 years from 2024-25 to 2027-28. The program was announced as part of the Australian Government’s investment in international collaboration and delivers on Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It supports Australia’s ambitions to become a renewable energy superpower and build new renewable industries to support domestic and global decarbonisation efforts.

The program supports collaborative demonstration or pilot/test projects between Australia and Austria, that strengthen connections between Australian and Austrian industry and support the development of decarbonisation technologies for hard-to-abate energy-intensive industries. At present, there are few commercially viable routes to the full industrial decarbonisation of hard-to-abate energy-intensive industries. The program will help demonstrate the commercial viability of industrial decarbonisation solutions and promote their wider acceptance in industry.

The objectives of the program are to:
• Advance the development and deployment of innovative technologies, processes or solutions to decarbonise hard-to-abate energy-intensive industries including ironmaking and steelmaking, chemicals manufacturing, the production of lime and cement, or alumina and aluminium production.
• Incentivise action by industry by reducing the financial and technical risks of industrial decarbonisation demonstration projects.
• Foster greater collaboration between industry in Australia and Austria
• Leverage private and non-commonwealth funding towards clean energy technologies and projects in Australia.
• Build industry expertise and share knowledge and information from the program, in line with the aims of the Net Zero Industries Mission.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:
• Support the development of clean energy technologies that will advance decarbonisation efforts domestically and globally to support the transition to net zero emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement
• Improve the commercial viability of technologies that support the decarbonisation of hard to abate energy intensive industries in Australia and Austria, particularly those that are key enablers of export and economic opportunities.
• Strengthen connections between Australian and Austrian innovators, researchers and businesses with international partners and opportunities.
• Attract greater investment in the development of clean energy technologies in Australia and Austria by key trading partners and the private sector and support the creation of new economic opportunities in Australia and Austria
• Increase in employment, skills, and capabilities of domestic and international emerging decarbonised industries.

The minimum grant amount is $150,000, up to a maximum grant amount of $3.5 million.

The grant amount will be up to 25% of the total eligible project expenditure (grant percentage), and you must complete your project by the 31st of March 2028.

Eligible activities must relate directly to the project and may include:
• Research and development of innovative technologies, processes or solutions such as:
 fuel switching through alternative fuels and feedstocks (i.e., use of biomass, bioenergy)
 fuel switching through use of clean hydrogen (i.e., direct reduction of iron using hydrogen)
 electrification of production and processes (i.e., direct reduction of iron using electricity, adaptation of electric arc furnaces, electrification of sintering and calcination processes)
 digitalisation & flexibilisation (i.e., process control and automation, digital twins and simulation, temperature upgrade of excess heat, smart management of variable energy resources such as PV and wind power, hybridisation of different sources, excess heat to power or cold, flexibility in power generation/utilisation including bottleneck management and redispatch)
 carbon capture & utilisation or storage (i.e., direct capture and separation, adsorption/absorption of CO2 process and combustion emissions and its storage, capture, purification, and valorisation of CO2 into chemicals, polymers synthetic/alternative fuels and raw materials, use of CO2 exhaust gases in other processes)
 alternative materials and more efficient processes (i.e., improved thermal efficiency, waste heat recovery, regenerative burners, process efficiency, alternative binding materials in cements and alternatives to carbon-based feedstocks.
• Materials and equipment development
• Trialling, feasibility testing, demonstration, construction or installation of equipment, technology and or new processes
• Prototype development or field testing of new equipment.
• Process design and engineering.
• Project planning
• Knowledge sharing activities, including workshops and the exchange of personnel to foster collaboration between industry in Australia and Austria
• Training and development activities to build expertise and share knowledge and information from your project.

They may also approve other activities if evidence of merit to the grant program objectives is provided.

Your project activities must be delivered in both Australia and Austria. Project expenditure must occur only in Australia and Austria.

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26/03/2024

Powering the Regions Fund - Safeguard Transformation Stream Round 1

Closes: 1st of November 2024, at 5.00pm AEST.

The Powering the Regions Fund (the program) was announced as part of the Government’s Powering Australia Plan to support the Government’s ambition for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. The Powering the Regions Fund has four funding streams:
• Safeguard Transformation stream (STS)
• Industrial Transformation stream (ITS)
• Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries – Primary Steel Production Sector (CICEI - PSPS)
• Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries – Cement and Lime, and Alumina and Aluminium Sectors (CICEI - CLAAS).

The objectives of the program are to:
• Support decarbonisation by industries
• Support regional economies and workforces in the transformation towards net zero by 2050.
• Continue Commonwealth purchases of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The intended outcomes of the program are:
• Reduced industrial emissions by 2030, supporting net zero by 2050.
• Increased production of clean energy
• Increased economic certainty and security for regions and workers.
• Reduced risk of the technology by enabling demonstration
• Increased knowledge sharing
• Enhanced leveraging of private and state investment.

The Powering the Regions Fund will allocate $600 million to the Safeguard Transformation Stream (STS) in recognition of the specific challenges faced by trade exposed facilities.

The objectives of this grant opportunity are to:
• Support trade-exposed facilities covered by the Safeguard Mechanism to reduce their emissions and contribute to meeting Australia’s 2030 (and 2050) emissions reduction targets.
• Reduce the risk of carbon leakage, which occurs when a business responds to emissions reduction policies by moving emissions-intensive production to a country with less stringent policies.
• Provide skills development to existing industrial workforce in new equipment or processes that contribute to the reduction of scope 1 emissions.

For this first round of the Powering the Regions Fund - Safeguard Transformation Stream, the minimum grant amount is $500,000, and the maximum grant amount is $50,000,000.

The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible expenditure, and your contribution must be at least 10% in cash. The maximum project period is 48 months.

They will only award funding applications that score highly against each assessment criterion.
1. Describe how your project will contribute to Australia’s emissions reduction target to 2030 (and 2050) (50 points).
2. Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (10 points).
3. Impact of the grant funding (40 points).

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26/03/2024

Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) – Grants Round 4

Closes: 24th of May 2024, at 17:00 (AEST).

The Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) provides funding to support Australia-India collaborations that will help shape a global technology environment that meets Australia and India’s shared vision of an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld.

The objectives of the AICCTP are to:
• Shape international discourse on cyber and critical technologies, particularly through strengthening understanding of ethical frameworks and supporting research and development of technical standards for emerging and critical technologies.
• Deepen institutional linkages between Australian and Indian researchers, businesses, and government on cyber and critical technology issues; and
• Support countries in the indo-pacific region to improve their cyber resilience or foster best practices in critical technology development.

The intended outcomes of the program are:
• Improve ethical standards and frameworks for cyber and critical technology.
• Strengthen Australia-India relationships.

The minimum grant amount is $150,000, up to a maximum grant amount of $250,000. Grant projects can take place up to a maximum of two years from the 1st of July 2024.

To be eligible your project must:
• Support the objectives of the AICCTP.
• Be designed around the area of focus for the AICCTP’s 2024 grant opportunity; and
• Include eligible activities and eligible expenditure.

Eligible activities must relate directly to the project and could include:
• Joint research projects
• Industry specific user guides, advisories, standards etc
• Traditional research outputs of books, chapters, journal articles and conference publications
• Technical training, conferences, workshops, seminars, and events
• Mentoring and support in developing critical technology governance frameworks
• New research-related information sharing and communication initiatives.
• Exchanges and secondments of personnel between Australia and India
• Collaboration mechanisms across industries or levels of government
• Other critical technology-related best practices and innovative solutions.

DFAT may also approve other activities.

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13/03/2024

Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program – Sustainment Grants

Closes: 30th of June 2028, at 05:00 PM AEST.

The Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program (JSF-ISP) was established in conjunction with approval from the Australian Government to acquire the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) under Project AIR 6000.The JSF-ISP provides funding to Australian companies to support the development of new or improved capabilities that may enhance their ability to win work in the production, sustainment, and modernisation phases of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. For this grant opportunity, up to $60 million is available over seven years from 2020-2021 to 2027-28.

The objective of this grant opportunity is to support Assigned-Product Support Providers (A-PSPs) to develop and implement their approved Depot Maintenance Activation Plan (DMAP) in order to become a Qualified F-35 Component Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) for maintenance and repair activities for existing components used in the JSF.

The primary purpose of a DMAP is to identify all the requirements needed for an A-PSP to establish a qualified F-35 component depot level maintenance capability. The DMAP provides a structured and comprehensive approach that ensures the integrated product support or logistics support elements are addressed in the activation process.

The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible project expenditure (grant percentage).

For A-PSPs that are developing their DMAP under phases 1 and 2 of the DSOR activation timeline:
● The minimum grant amount is $50,000 per Repair Technology Group (RTG)
● The maximum grant amount is $250,000 per RTG.

For A-PSPs that are implementing their Joint Program Office (JPO) approved DMAP under phases 3 and 4 of the DSOR Outside Continent of the United States (OCONUS) activation timeline, grant amounts will be pre-determined in accordance with the amount outlined in the supporting Business Case by the Department of Defence. Contributions to your project must be cash and the maximum project period is four years. You can submit an application at any time while the grant opportunity remains open.

To be eligible your project must:
● develop DMAP in alignment with the requirements outlined in the Depot Maintenance Development Plan (DMDP) including:
o gap analysis
o certifications
o travel
o cyber security
● implement JPO approved DMAP and identify elements of support via projects including:
o capital equipment acquisition
o certifications
o travel
o training
o cyber security
o capability upgrades.

The Program Delegate may also approve other activities.

A senior executive within the Department of Defence decides which grants to approve taking into account the application assessment and the availability of grant funds. They will assess applications on a continual basis and review your application against the eligibility criteria.

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07/03/2024

Renewable Manufacturing - Construction Ready Stream Funding

EOI close: 19th of April 2024, at 5:00 pm.

The NSW Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and this will require supporting industry to decarbonise. Critical to enabling this is the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 (the Net Zero Plan). The Net Zero plan will fast-track emissions reductions over the next decade to combat climate change, grow the economy, create jobs, and attract investment.

The construction ready stream will invest between $5 million and $50 million per project to build new manufacturing facilities. Its 3 primary objectives are to:
1. Drive economic growth across NSW.
2. Grow NSW’s renewable energy supply chain capacity and capability.
3. Alleviate supply chain risk and secure supply for the NSW renewable energy sector.

To be eligible for funding, the lead applicant must confirm that the proposed project:
• Will deliver new or expanded industrial facilities in NSW that will manufacture renewable energy products at commercial scale. This includes:
— Components suitable for grid-scale renewable energy generation, storage, and transmission such as, but not limited to, wind towers, solar panels, batteries, and transmission cables.
— Hydrogen electrolysers.
• Is located in NSW.
• Is expected to be fully delivered (operational) within 4 years of contract ex*****on and no later than the 30th of June 2030.
• Is sustainable without continued government investment.
• Would not occur in NSW at all or in the same timeframe without government support.
• Has a viable commercial strategy.
• Has a minimum financial contribution of at least 50% of the total proposed project cost from non-NSW Government sources (for example, applicant, collaborators, private or other public organisations). In-kind (non-financial) contributions are not counted towards a contribution of 50% of the total proposed project costs.

The application process will consist of 2 stages:
• Stage 1: Expression of interest (EOI)
• Stage 2: Detailed application (by invitation only).

The funding that can be awarded ranges from $5 million to $50 million per successful application. All grant amounts are GST exclusive. Successful applicants will be paid the approved grant amount plus 10% by the Department if GST is applicable.

Examples of projects eligible for funding under the construction ready stream. This is not an exhaustive list of projects. It is designed to give you an idea of eligible projects and their key benefits:
• Construction of lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant to supply electric vehicle and utility-scale energy storage markets.
• Construction of a new wind turbine component manufacturing facility. The facility will manufacture and assemble wind turbine components for local and export markets.
• Solar cell and module manufacturing plant to produce solar modules for residential, commercial as well as grid scale solar farms.
• Construction of a significant new electrolyser manufacturing and assembly facility. The new facility will supply hydrogen electrolysers to domestic and international markets.
• Production of high voltage transformers specifically used for dispatching renewable energy across electricity networks.

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05/03/2024

Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Round 2

Closes: 8th of April 2024, at 5:00pm AEDT.

The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (the program) will run from 2022-23 to 2024-25.

The objectives of the program are:
• Improve energy efficiency practices and increase the uptake of energy efficient technologies.
• Assist small and medium businesses to manage their energy usage and costs.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The intended outcomes of the program are:
• Increase awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and help businesses to save energy.
• Reduced power bills for small and medium businesses.
• Emissions abatement to contribute to Australia reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.

The Australian Government has announced a total of $62.6 million for the program. For this second round, a total of $41.241 million is available. Funding will be distributed between states and territories (jurisdictions) based on the distribution of small and medium sized businesses nationally.

As this is a demand driven grant opportunity, grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis in order of application receipt, until the funding is exhausted in each jurisdiction.

The minimum grant amount is $10,000, up to a maximum grant amount of $25,000.

The grant amount may be up to 100% of eligible expenditure. You are responsible for any remaining eligible expenditure and ineligible project costs, and the maximum project period is 12 months.

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27/02/2024

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants

Closes: 5th of February 2025, at 9:00 pm AEDT.

The Saluting Their Service (STS) Commemorative Grants Program (the program) forms part of DVA’s Program 3.2 – Commemorative Activities Program of the Portfolio Budget Statement. The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.

The intended outcome is to provide funding for projects and activities that:
• Promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played.
• Preserve, add to the sum of knowledge on, or provide access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.

Projects and activities relating to all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations are eligible.

The program aims to provide funding for projects and activities that are ready to proceed and where STS grant funding will ensure their completion. Projects must be able to be completed within 12 months of the funding agreement being executed.

The Australian Government is providing up to $3.5 million (GST exclusive) during the 2024–25 financial year for the program.

The following grant categories are available:
• Community Grants (CG) - Grants to a maximum of $10,000 are available for local, community-based projects and activities.
• Major Grants (MG) - Grants between $10,001 and $150,000 are available for major commemorative projects and activities that are significant from a national, state, territory and/or broader regional perspective.

You can only spend grant funding on the following eligible grant project or activity types:
• Additions to, or restoration of, existing war or peace memorials, honour boards/rolls or plaques.
• Commemorative events for significant anniversaries of wars, conflicts or peace operations (a significant anniversary is defined as ending in a ‘5’ or ‘0’).
• Construction of a new war or peace memorial, honour board/roll or plaque where none currently exist.
• Digital content development (for example, documentary, podcast, website or application) where similar works are not already available.
• Display and/or restoration of wartime memorabilia.
• Flagpole supply and/or installation – maximum of $2,000 per project.
• Immersive and interactive experiences.
• Publications (for example, unit histories, local wartime histories, the history of a national/state/territory-level ex-service organisation or veteran support organisation) where similar works are not already available.
• Public awareness and/or cultural activities.
• School initiatives and/or educational activities – including memorial gardens (which must include a memorial item, such as a commemorative plaque or plinth).

Each of the assessment criteria listed below will be assessed on an even weighting.
1. Significance of the project/activity
2. Delivery of the project/activity
3. Community support and stakeholder engagement

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26/02/2024

Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Partnerships and Innovation Grant

Closes: 8th of April 2024, at 9:00 pm AEST.

The Climate-Smart Agriculture Program will support Australia’s agriculture sector to drive climate-smart, sustainable growth, and protect Australia’s natural capital by funding best practice sustainable agriculture and natural resource management activities.

The intended Climate-Smart Agriculture Program outcomes are to drive agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability by supporting farmers and the agricultural sector to:
• Adopt climate-smart practices that reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.
• Understand and benefit from participation in carbon and biodiversity markets.
• Apply natural resource management practices that improve soil health and protect natural capital and biodiversity.

This grant opportunity will support large scale projects to be delivered across Australia by consortium arrangement to develop, trial and implement new and innovative tools that lead to practice change and reduce pressure on Australia’s natural resources while increasing productive and profitable agriculture industries and systems. It will provide investment to help accelerate and support the adoption of climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices on-ground by funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and build resilience in farming systems to the impacts of climate change.

Partnerships and Innovation projects will allow new ideas to be developed, tested and shared across farms, industries and regions, to the benefit of the Australian landscape, community and economy. Industry implementation of innovative tools and practices also assists Australia to meet its obligations under international treaties including those addressing climate change, desertification and biological diversity.

The minimum grant amount is $250,000 exGST, up to a maximum grant amount of $5 million exGST.

Grants are available for a period of up to 4 years, and you must complete all funded grant activities by the 31st of March 2028, unless otherwise agreed by the department.

You must address all the following assessment criteria in your application, and all assessment criteria are equally weighted.
1. Project Delivery – Demonstrated capacity and capability of the consortium to deliver the proposal.
2. Link to Grant Purpose and Outcomes – suitability and relevance of the project objectives and activities to the Partnerships and Innovation Grants purpose and outcomes.
3. Innovation – the suitability and contribution of innovation in the project.
4. Value for Money – outline the project activities you propose to undertake and how these activities address public good and value for money.

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20/02/2024

Festivals Australia Program Round 18

Closes: 18th of March 2024, at 23:59 (Midnight) AEDT.

The Festivals Australia Program is part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to, Australia’s arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression. The Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, recognises the value of festivals as an important part of Australia’s cultural life. Activities at music, literary and multicultural festivals give people opportunities to come together and affirm cultural networks, support individual wellbeing, and build social cohesion. They can also promote cultural exchange across communities, strengthening Australia’s vibrant multicultural society.

Revive delivers new momentum to regional, rural and remote communities across Australia, so that Australia’s creative workers, organisations and audiences thrive and grow, and so that our arts, culture and heritage are re-positioned as central to Australia’s future. It is structured around five key pillars: First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure; and Engaging the Audience.

The Program seeks to celebrate the intrinsic capacity of the arts to engage, inspire and make meaning for all Australians, while supporting the celebration of place and promoting a sense of community identity.

The Festivals Australia objectives are to:
• Provide access to a diverse range of engaging, innovative arts projects that grow audiences at festivals across regional and remote Australia.
• Support partnerships and collaboration across the arts sector; and
• Encourage community participation in arts projects at regional and remote festivals.

To achieve these objectives, Festivals Australia offers funding to support individual art projects that allow community members living in regional or remote Australia to participate in or appreciate an arts-driven experience at a:
• Festival
• Significant one-off community celebration

There is no limit to the amount of funding that may be requested. However, the average funding request is around $40,000.

All assessment criteria are given equal weighting.
1. Quality
2. Access
3. Support and partnerships.
4. Value for money.

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15/02/2024

International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Program

Open for applications for up to 2 years.

This program is to support early to mid-stage critical minerals projects that contribute to building end-to-end supply chains with Australia’s international partners in the critical minerals sector. The Strategy outlines Australia’s bilateral and multi-lateral approach to partnerships in the sector.

Activities to be funded include pilot plants, feasibility studies, capacity expansions, scoping work for infrastructure upgrades and research and development (R&D) collaboration.

The objectives of the program are to:
• Support early to mid-stage critical minerals projects of mutual interest to our international partners.
• Further the strategic objective of respective bilateral agreements with our priority partners
• Support the implementation of the Strategy.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:
• Establish or advance mutually beneficial international partnerships in the critical minerals sector.
• Establish end to end, diversified supply chains with priority partner countries.
• Improve Australia's global position in critical minerals processing.

The Australian Government has announced a total of $40 million over four years for the program.

The minimum grant amount is $2 million, including your co-contribution, the minimum eligible project expenditure must be $4 million. The maximum grant amount is $20 million.

You are required to contribute towards the project. The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible expenditure. Contributions to your project can be made up of cash or eligible in-kind contributions.

The minimum project period is 12 months, and the maximum project period is 33 months. You must complete your project by the 31st of March 2027.

They will only award funding to applications that score at least 50 per cent against each assessment criterion.
1. The benefit of your project to Australia’s international partnerships in the critical minerals sector (40 points)
2. Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (40 points)
3. Impact of grant funding on your project and broader benefits (20 points)

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