Federal gov’t opens $800m funding for major manufacturing projects

Reinvigorating the manufacturing industry continues to be a priority for the Australian Government, with applications officially opening for $800 million in funding under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

Funding of between $20 million and $200 million is available, covering up to 33 per cent of eligible project expenditure.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the Government will strategically invest in projects that will help manufacturers to scale up and create jobs, with investments targeted at projects within the six National Manufacturing Priority areas.

“As a Government we plan to harness Australia’s manufacturing capability to drive job creation and spur private investment, especially as we chart our economic recovery from COVID-19 and build our future resilience,” Minister Porter said.

“Through the Collaboration Stream, we are determined to co-invest in industry-led proposals that will transform our National Manufacturing Priority areas, by encouraging manufacturers to move up the value chain to higher value, higher margin activities, including drawing on our world class research,” he said.

“This is at the heart of our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy which is all designed to support Australian manufacturers to scale-up, build resilience, become more competitive and create the jobs we need not only now but for generations to come.”

The six National Manufacturing Priority areas are: medical products; clean energy and recycling; food and beverage; defence; space and resource technology and critical minerals processing.

Source: Minister for Industry, Science and Technology media release