Close×

Guidelines for the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative’s Collaboration Stream have been released, with $20-$200 million available for large-scale projects.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the Collaboration Stream will see the Government strategically invest in projects that help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter

The funding can cover up to 33 per cent of an eligible project’s expenditure.

Porter said it was the largest component of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy. “It focuses on long-term transformation in the National Manufacturing Priority areas to support job creation and investment in Australian manufacturing,” Porter said.

Project funding under the Collaboration Stream supports business-to-business and business-to-research collaboration across the six National Manufacturing Priority areas – medical products, clean energy and recycling, food and beverage, defence, space and resource technology and critical minerals.

Applications can be lodged between 11 August and 9 September. The Collaboration Stream guidelines can be viewed here

Supply chain resilience grants

The federal government has announced $50 million in grants to strengthen Australia’s supply chain capabilities. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said its goal is to improve access to critical products in times of crisis.

Matched grants of between $50,000 and $2 million are available for businesses which can help address supply chain vulnerabilities across medicines and agricultural production chemicals - which were identified as sectors of focus in the Sovereign Manufacturing Capability Plan.a

Projects could include scaling up existing manufacturing and workforce skills capability or increasing supply chain transparency through technology, Porter said.

“COVID-19 has taught us that we need to be able to have access to critical products in times of crisis and that is why we are investing in projects to support our supply chain resilience.

“Our initial analysis identified medicines, agricultural production chemicals – such as fertilisers - and personal protective equipment (PPE) as sectors of focus,” he said.  

Find out more or apply for a grant under the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative here

Read more in the Sovereign Manufacturing Capability Plan here.  

Packaging News

Earlier this month PKN published an article that voiced industry concern over the speculation that Qenos might be closing its polymer manufacturing plants in Australia. Qenos has remained silent on the matter. The MD of Qenos customer Impact International, Aleks Lajovic, wants some answers.

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, is the proud recipient of eight FPA Awards for innovative and sustainable contributions to the industry.

An impressive number of quality entries into the inaugural Hive Awards created a highly competitive line-up for judges to consider. The packaging category was one of the most strongly contested.