Starting today, Western Australian innovators can apply for grants of up to $40,000 to overcome barriers on the path to commercialisation thanks to the Innovation Booster Grant.
The Western Australian Government has opened applications for the grant this week, calling upon local startups and small businesses to commercialise their innovative ideas or projects and expand to create jobs.
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“One of the hardest parts for companies focused on innovation is transitioning great ideas into commercial products,” Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson said.
“We are excited to be doubling the grant size this year. We know that supporting our local innovators is key to unlocking the jobs of the future for Western Australians, and the diversification of the State’s economy.”
The Innovation Booster Grant is expected to help foster new relationships between innovators, research providers and specialist commercialisation support services, or to move tentative collaborations into a productive relationship.
The latest grant will allow businesses to access professional skills, services or knowledge to advance their innovative ideas, project or commercial activity in Western Australia. The grant will be awarded towards R&D, Commercialisation Support Services, product development, technology transfer and intellectual property.
“Our new and emerging innovators and start-ups are encouraged to apply for the 2023 round of Innovation Booster Grants to support their journey to commercialisation,” Minister Dawson said.
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The Innovation Booster Grant is the latest competitive funding grant that has been opened under the New Industries Fund.
First launched in 2011, the Western Australian Government’s $16.7 million New Industries Fund aims to attract investment and promote the economic diversification of WA. Since then, over 233 grants have been awarded approximately $3.7 million.
Medtech start-up Neurotologix used their grant in 2020 to develop an innovative low-cost remote patient monitoring system revolutionising how dizziness and vertigo are diagnosed. In 2022, Neurotologix won the overall WA Innovator of the Year Award.
Applications for the Innovation Booster Grant has begun, closing on 15 March 2023.