Grants of up to $50,000 are available under the Australian Government's fourth round of the Textile Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program. A series of national workshops in February will help applicants focus on what makes a competitive application. Those workshops will be in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.

The Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program is open for applications under the 11th selection round. The Program funds medium to long term collaborations between researchers, industry and other end-users to address major challenges that will deliver significant economic, environmental and/or social benefits to Australia.

The Review of the National Innovation System has been completed. The Australian Government is considering the Review's recommendations in preparing a 10-year White Paper on Innovation. The White Paper will be made available early in 2009.

The Australian Government's Professional Advice and Planning Grants of up to $5500 are available to assist drought-affected farm businesses to access professional advice for matters such as a farm business viability assessment, the development of a farm business plan or financial and agronomic advice. Applications should be received before 12 June 2009.

Next year's Asia Pacific Symposium on Entrepreneurship and Innovation - New Thinking and Practice, will involve academia, industry and policy makers in bringing together theory and practice on entrepreneurship and innovation. Emphasis will be on international dimensions within the Asia Pacific region. The symposium will be in Sydney from 1-3 April 2009.

New or limited exporters in small to medium businesses can apply for The New Exporter Development Program to access the services of an assigned export adviser over an 18-month period. Services include export coaching tailored to your business and 20 hours of free assistance delivered through Austrade's overseas network in a maximum of two markets

Next year's EcoForum Conference & Exhibition is Australia's leading ecoforum and a unique opportunity for your company to present as leaders in the management of air quality, climate change, human health, energy, land remediation, water and waste. It is being staged in Sydney in late April.

Australian Innovation's International Leaders Series kicks off in February 2009 with a French focus at luncheons in Melbourne and Sydney. Later in the year the series focuses on China (March), Chile (May), Germany (July), Japan (August), the United States (September), the United Kingdom (October) and India (November).

Latest AusIndustry announcements

Australian Government funding of up to $100,000 is available under the Small Business Advisory Services program for eligible non-profit organisations to deliver small business services in 2009. Applications close on Friday 18 December 2008. It is expected that the advisory services to be offered will focus on:

• business planning advice
• advice on loans and banking products
• development of simple marketing plans
• assistance accessing legal and accounting services
• leasing guidance
• advice on government regulation
• mentoring for business

Round 1 of the Australian Government's Green Building Fund is open. The program provides grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 for retro-fitting and retro-commissioning projects which significantly improve energy efficiency in commercial office buildings. Applications close on Thursday 15 January 2008.

AusIndustry has launched a dynamic new website. It is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, with new features that include a tool to find AusIndustry grants and assistance and an interactive map of Australia to help you locate your nearest AusIndustry office and/or contact, and events in your area.