Entrepreneurs' Programme – Accelerating Commercialisation

This programme aims to provide small and medium businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers with access to expert advice and funding to help get a novel product, process or service to market. It forms part of the Entrepreneurs' Programme, an Australian Government’s flagship initiative for business competitiveness and productivity at the firm level.

The programme includes:
1. Commercialisation guidance
- Guidance and assistance to develop the commercialisation potential of novel products, process or services.
- Applicants are connected to an AusIndustry Customer Service Manager or an Accelerating Commercialisation Facilitator. Advice and support provided is tailored to the business situation and the commercialisation potential of the novel product, process or service.

2. Commercialisation grants
- Financial assistance to help commercialise novel products, processes and services.
- Grants available are:
a) $50,000 and $500,000 for research commercialisation entities and eligible partner entities.
b) Up to $1 million for all other eligible applicants.
- The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible project costs (grant percentage).
- Applicants are required to provide co-contribution on a 1:1 matched funding basis.
- The minimum project period is 12 months while the maximum project period is two years.

Applicants must receive Commercialisation Guidance before they apply for an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant. In some cases, Accelerating Commercialisation Grant assistance can be provided to a researcher before a company is formed. These projects are likely to be relatively small and geared towards initially proving commercial viability or investment readiness.

Eligible applicants must be:
- Non-tax-exempt.
- Registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- One of the following entities:
a) A company incorporated in Australia and a trading corporation, where the trading activities form a sufficiently significant proportion of the corporation’s overall activities as to merit it being described as a trading corporation; and are a substantial and not merely peripheral activity of the corporation.
b) A research commercialisation entity or eligible partner entity as defined in section 14 of the Guidelines.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete eligibility requirements.

Eligible activities must be directly related to the commercialisation of a novel product, process or service and can include:
- Engaging external professionals, for example to confirm the market opportunity, develop the business model, identify potential partners, develop an IP strategy, raise capital or prepare an Information Memorandum.
- Completing development of a novel product, process or service.
- Proving commercial viability of a novel product, process or service to a customer, investor or strategic partner.
- Making the first sales of the novel product, process or service in Australia or overseas.
- Engaging a senior experienced executive to fill a key gap in the management team, which is essential to achieving their commercialisation outcomes.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible and ineligible projects/expenditure/assistance.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Impact of the grant (16 points)
- Management capability (24 points)
- Market opportunity (20 points)
- Value proposition (20 points)
- How the applicant plan to deliver their project (20 points)

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of the assessment criteria.