Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century outlines the Australian Government's plans for the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research for the next decade, supported by a $3.1 billion funding increase in the next four years. The Budget package's business innovation measures include more support for world class university research, a Super Science Initiative focusing on national research strengths and a new Research and Development Tax Credit. Click here for Budget 2009-10 announcements and initiatives relating to the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.

Innovative young Australians (18 to 35) who work or study in primary industries and with ideas to help shape the future of rural industries can win up to $50,000 under the 2009 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. This year, 12 winners will receive up to $20,000 each to undertake a project to explore an emerging scientific issue or innovative activity over 12 months. One winner will receive an additional $30,000 as the recipient of the Minister's Award. Winners can use their funding for a range of activities including research projects, industry visits or attending conferences.

Major events that aim to assist a sector or sectors to boost productivity in the food or fibre supply chain can apply for funding under the Australian Government's $3 million Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) program. The grant amount will be based on the size of the event and likely return to industry and agriculture. Applications will be assessed until Sunday 31 May 2009.   

The Metrology Society of Australia Conference - More than Kilograms and Metres - will focus on advances in metrology, new equipment, techniques and the importance of measurements in the course of all commercial, industrial, and scientific activities. The conference provides an opportunity for the broader metrology community, including government, industry leaders, suppliers and metrologists, to interact and look beyond measurement.

The Australian Government's Clean Technology for the Future seminar series will give clean energy and clean technology companies an understanding of a range of government support and programs available to boost industry capability. The free seminars with bookings available are being staged in Adelaide (May 27), Canberra (May 29), Sydney (June 3) and Brisbane (June 4).

The Warren Centre's 2009 Innovation Lecture Series starts in June in Brisbane. This year's lecture - From Australia to the world, the story of Google maps - features Dr Lars Rasmussen from Google and will also be held in July in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

AusMedtech2009 - A Roadmap for Global Success will provide information from key medical technology stakeholders to help you plot your course to global success. Quality assurance systems and implementation, regulatory approvals, reimbursement, finance and investment, distribution and sales networks are topics to be tackled at the conference in Sydney in June.

Tourism grants from $5000 to $500,000 are available in three categories under the Australian Government's TQUAL Grants program that replaces the Australian Tourism Development Program. Grants are open to tourism businesses, tourism organisations, non-profit organisations and local government agencies. Applications close on Thursday 11 June 2009.

EFIC Headway can help small to medium sized exporters who have reached their bank limit and need to extend lending facilities. EFIC Headway is a guarantee from the Australian Government's Export, Finance and Insurance Corporation to a bank. It provides security to a bank to enable it to lend additional funds to small to medium-sized enterprise exporters, without requiring additional security.The maximum value is up to the amount of the business' annual export turnover but generally limited to 20 per cent of total facilities.

Recent AusIndustry announcements

Reducing reliance on town water through effective water recycling and harnessing the benefits of solar power are two initiatives among 23 successful projects to be awarded over $3 million in Re-tooling for Climate Change grants.  The program helps small and medium enterprises reduce their environmental footprint by improving the energy and/or water efficiency of their production processes. The successful projects received grants of between $10,000 and $500,000 and support a total investment of $11.8 million. The next Re-tooling for Climate Change round closes on Monday 1 June 2009.

From 1 July 2009, there will be program changes to the LPG Vehicle Scheme. As at 30 April 2009, there has been a total of 216,191 grants paid under the Scheme at a total cost of $431 million. It is anticipated that there will be a further 310,000 motorists who will receive assistance under the Scheme between 1 July 2009 and its conclusion. Click here for program changes and frequently asked questions.

AusIndustry project highlights

Andromeda Industries, located in the regional NSW town of Moonbi, is manufacturing an impressive array of products - in such diverse areas as aerospace, precision components, bulk handling and erosion control. Andromeda attributes R&D Tax Concession registration for allowing further R&D work, being able to maintain staff numbers and reducing tax. The concession helped the company build its new $2 million Advanced Engineering Division.