FarmReady Industry Grants of up to $80,000 are available for projects which increase industry self reliance and preparedness to adapt to climate change. Eligible applicants include:

• a group of primary producers that forms specifically to undertake an eligible project
• an established primary producer industry organisation/group at the local, regional and national level
• a natural resource management group at either a local, regional or national level.

The Australian Government's Small Business Online program offers service providers to apply for grants for projects ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 which can provide free or low-cost IT skills development, training and mentoring services to small business. Successful grantees will be expected to equip their local small businesses to go online, enhance their web facilities and engage in e-business capabilities. Applications close on Friday 25 September 2009.

The Australian Government is seeking the views of small, medium and large enterprises likely to claim the new R&D Tax Credit announced in the 2009-10 Budget. Consultation sessions are being held in September and October 2009.

Tourism, local produce, mining services, sustainable building and creative industries are among desert industries that will benefit from the new $10 million Desert Knowledge Australia Outback Business Network Project.

Green innovators can take advantage of a fast-tracked patent application process from IP Australia. Patent applications relating to environmentally-friendly technologies and inventions can be examined within 4-8 weeks with no additional fees.

Australian exporters who submit complete Export Market Development Grant applications before September 30 could receive a four-week turnaround. An EMDG scheme grant reimburses up to 50 per cent of eligible export promotion expenses.

CPA Congress 2009 - the way forward, is not just a conference for accountants but aimed at everyone who wishes to advance their career by gaining fundamental business insights, staying up-to-date with technical knowledge and improving their personal effectiveness. This year's Congress venues are Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.

The Australian Government's Enhanced Project By-law Scheme encourages Australian participation in large scale and development projects. A Consultation Paper about the scheme has been recently released and stakeholder submissions about the paper will close on Friday 9 October 2009. A series of consultation sessions are being held in major Australian centres.

Recent AusIndustry announcements and project highlights

Fourteen innovative Australian projects have shared $985,600 in Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) funding. The projects each received $70,400 and they included a water purification system, a process to reuse and recycle electronic equipment such as computers, printers and mobile phones, new attachment tools to improve safety and productivity of power line work and a toxic gas detection system.

Flip Screen Australia is using a $471,315 Climate Ready grant to develop and build prototypes of a crusher bucket which will be able to crush recyclable building products such as bricks and concrete on site. Flip Screen had previously used $100,000 in Commercialising Emerging Technologies funding and $590,000 from the past Commercial Ready program to develop its Flip Screen, an earth-moving bucket that sifts material. Flip Screen is also registered for the R&D Tax Concession.

Primepak Manufacturing is using a $498,394 Climate Ready grant to build a pilot assembly line for its plan to commercialise a safe, reliable and green aerosol propellant. Primepak had previously used $100,000 in Commercialising Emerging Technologies funding and $249,333 from past program Commercial Ready Plus to develop a prototype of the liquid and gas dispenser which is pressurised by environmentally-friendly compressed nitrogen rather than hydrocarbons. Primepak is also registered for R&D Tax Concession.