Government funding for Development and Commercialisation of Technology products 

David Sajfar Microsoft)Dennis Alemis IMCBrian Cook OBS

IMC has helped over 100 companies to access approx $150M from Government & Private Equity to support projects valued at $328M

Dennis Alemis - Director Innovation Innovation Management Consultants Pty Ltd  

Some of Key Government Funding sources for ICT based companies

• R&D Tax Concession for ongoing R&D work • Commercialisation Institute (New), Retooling for

Climate Change, Green Building Fund – Federal• Market Validation Program (Vic) & Smart Fund

(QLD)• Export Market Development Grants• Comet & State Govt for Business Planning

Approach to Government Funding

• Develop your Business/Strategic Plan & identify Growth Opportunities & Funding needs

• Prepare a Business case seeking funding as you would for private investors

• View the Government as a potential investor – seeking a return on their investment but with additional national benefit requirements

Where do you start? • Undertake a review of current operations &

identify major new product opportunities

• Identify issues which may affect ability to attract funding i.e Structure, IP ownership, Trading history

• Identify appropriate government funding & liaise with them to establish the application processes- they all tend to vary

Strategic Approach to Govt FundsTimeline Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

$

Company Growth Lifecycle Key Company Growth Stages: 1. R&D

2. Ongoing product development3. Sales & marketing

Type of Government Assistance of Timing R&D Tax Concession Scheme

Business/Project Planning (State Govt/COMET)Grants: Research & Development Projects

Export Market Grants - Federal & State

1.1 APPLYING FOR GRANTS• Develop Project Plan outlining what the project

sets out to achieve and how it fits with the company strategy;

• Outline its Key technical risks, innovations and competitive advantages;

• Develop the IP protection strategy;• Undertake a review management & technical

capabilities;

1.2 Commercialisation • Detail your Commercialisation strategy including:

Track record in commercialisationMarket potential and target marketsCompetitor comparison – products and company

specificCompetitive advantagesShare of potential market and forecast returnsManufacturing, selling and distribution and pricingBarriers to market entry

1.3 Project Costs• Identify Project costs including:

Salary and wages of key technical staffContractors to provide critical expertisePlant and equipment required IP protectionOther costs such as consumables, travel and auditCashflow throughout project period (need for funding

important)

1.4 Community Benefits & Need for Funding

• Overview and specific measurables including: Increased international competitivenessProductivity enhancement and growth ie, creation of

jobsCollaboration & Industry and flow-on benefitsEnvironmental, health, safety and community benefitsDetail why you need Government assistance & how

you will fund your share

• Provides ability to claim eligible expenditure at 125% rather than 100% - (From 2010 it will be a Tax Credit with an effective deduction rate of 150% for companies with a T/O less than $20M)

• Ability to access Tax Offset / Cash Rebate for expenditure in certain circumstances

• At the start of the financial year must set out an R&D Plan for the year

2. R&D Tax Concession

What is R&D?• How does it differ from industry practice?• How is the product/process new, novel or innovative?• Would industry peers consider it R&D?• What were the main technical challenges?• How does it compare to the ‘state of the art’?• Can the results be patented?

2. R&D Tax Concession

• Throughout financial year identify and record direct costs incurred in completing activities:

– Salaries – record time spent on R&D projects

– Contractors- identify contractor costs

– Plant & Equipment- track use of any P&E used

– Other Direct costs- identify direct costs covering: travel, training, consumables etc;

– Overhead- apportion some overhead costs ie rent & telephone

2. R&D Tax Concession

• Require $10k expenditure on export marketing activities

• Grants of 50% of expenditure over $10K & up to $415K

• Grants capped at maximum of $200K p.a. • Applicants taxable income must be below $50M • Can claim grants under the scheme for 8 years

3. Export Market Development Grants

• Overseas Representatives• Marketing Consultants• Marketing Visits• Intellectual Property Rights• Trade Fairs and Promotional Events• Promotional Literature and Advertising• Overseas Buyers• Free Samples• Communications

3. Export Market Development GrantsEligible Expenditure

Application Process• Applications must be lodged within 5 months of the end of

the financial year• Following lodgement Austrade will audit claimed

expenditure • Payments are then made within approx 2 weeks

3. Export Market Development Grants

4. Other Funding• Other funding sources to be considered are:

COMET- Funding of up to $75K per round State Government business / project planning subsidies State Government project grants for specific industries/sectors

where they think they have an economic advantage - between $50K to $1M

State Government Export market assistance - between $3K to $100K

Green Building Fund & Retooling grants- assistance for energy-efficient retro-fitting of existing buildings – max of $0.5M

Next Steps

1. Review your product development pipeline & identify those projects that may be suitable for Government Funding assistance

2. Feel free to chat with me after this session; or3. Call IMC for a no charge full assessment of the potential options

open to your companyIMC Contact details: Gary Twomey or Dennis Alemis

Phone: 03 90774853EMAIL: garyt@imconsulting.com.au dennis@imconsulting.com.au