Published 22-09-2021
| Article appears in October 2021 Issue

Northern Territory’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund Launches

22-09-2021

The Northern Territory (NT) Government in partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) has opened applications to the total $7.5 million Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF) as appreciation for local manufacturing rises in the Territory.

The Fund delivers on the recommendations from the Territory Economic Reconstruction Report, and will leverage AMGC’s experience in successfully increasing Australia’s manufacturing capability. With a focus on expanding manufacturing in the NT, co-investments will target local projects that seek to:

  • grow an advanced manufacturing ecosystem and capability in the NT across the Territory’s priority sectors; and
  • increase investment in advanced manufacturing activity in NT, and secure a greater number of advanced manufacturing jobs located in the NT.
  • commercialise new products and processes, including transitioning a new product or process from pilot/prototype stage to full commercial operations; and/or
  • support early-stage small scale and pilot research projects in advanced manufacturing, allowing them to more quickly move to larger-scale commercialisation.

Funding will range from $25,000 up to $500,000 (or more based on scale and impact), and must be matched by industry. Projects should include collaboration with a research partner and a minimum of one industry partner.

Further information regarding the Fund, the application process and grant guidelines are available at https://www.amgc.org.au/projects/

The launch of the Fund coincides with the latest AMGC research finding that appreciation of local manufacturing in Territory rose the quickest of any Australian region. Comparing data collected in early 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, to today, AMGC has contrasted the awareness and attitudes toward local manufacturing showing that support is higher compared to pre-pandemic times.

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