Govt taking applications for precincts initiative

The federal government has started taking applications from Australian industry for its Industry Innovation Precincts initiative.

Industry Innovation Precincts will be industry-led national networks of companies and research organisations designed to help foster competitive and R&D advantages.

The project is being led by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Precinct applications will be open to consortia of companies, universities industry associations and other bodies. Applicants have until 5 June to submit a stage one application form.

The department has set up an online collaboration register to help industry members coordinate on an application.

Application forms and the full plan are available online.

Participants will have access to project funding through the Industry Collaboration Fund and to expertise and support from fellow members.

Another goal of the initiative is to provide Australian industries with the ability to access and become part of international production chains.

Up to 10 precincts will be established in both established and emerging industries, but the first two slots will be filled by the manufacturing and food industries.

Under the first round of the project, four research hubs and four training centres will be set up. The successful four hub proposals will be allocated $14.5 million, while $9.3 million will go to the training centres.

Partner organisations will contribute an additional $10.4 million in cash and $11 million in kind to the research hubs, and $1.3 million in cash and $4.2 million in kind for the training centres.