The Clean Technology Innovation Program is a $200M program over five years to support the research, development and commercialisation of clean technology products, processes and services. The Clean Technology Innovation Program will fund the development of a range of clean technologies including low emission and other energy efficient technologies.

Be prepared to submit your application in the first round of submissions  – see merit criteria below.

 

 

The following information on the Clean Technology Innovation Program is intended as a guide only and does not constitute the actual program information.

 Objective

The objective of the Clean Technology Innovation Program is to increase research and development, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation activities that lead to the development of new clean technologies and associated services including low emission and energy efficient solutions that reduce greenhouse emissions. The Clean Technology Innovation Program’s investment in clean technology innovation projects should help industries become more competitive and so transition to a low carbon future.

 Eligibility

It is proposed that to be eligible to apply for a grant under the Clean Technology Innovation Program the applicant must:

• be an incorporated business in Australia;
• demonstrate that it will match the grant provided on a dollar for dollar basis over the life of the project;
• demonstrate that it has access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out and/or commercialise the proposed project.

 

Applications involving collaboration between at least two incorporated businesses, or one incorporated business and one higher education institution (or a research institute affiliated with a university) will be strongly encouraged. Collaborative partners can be either Australian or internationally based. This is to stimulate more collaborative activity which has been found to be associated with novel or radical innovation.

 

In the case of collaboration, an eligible lead entity representing the consortia or group must be willing and able to commit to the legal and financial obligations arising from a funding agreement.

Funding

Under the Clean Technology Innovation Program, competitive grants will be provided for the development of an innovative product, process or service including research and development, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation.

 

Clean Technology Innovation Program funding will be based on a co-investment of $50,000 to $5 million on a co-investment of $1 for each $1 of government funding.

 Timing

It is anticipated that a call for Clean Technology Innovation Program applications will occur in April/May 2012. The Clean Technology Innovation Program will support projects to a maximum of two years duration. If successful, extensions of time of up to an additional six months may be considered if the need for the extension could not have been anticipated prior to the project commencing.

 

 Activities Supported

The Clean Technology Innovation Program will be designed to be as flexible as possible and will provide support for research and development, proof of concept and early-stage commercialisation activities. The terms R&D, proof-of-concept, pre-commercialisation and demonstration activities are fairly broad in nature and encompass a wide range of undertakings including, for instance, applied research, IP protection and management, product testing and development, experimental development or prototyping.

 

• Research and development (R&D) –The definition of R&D activities will align with the definition outlined in the R&D Tax Incentive legislation.
• Proof of concept –Proof-of-concept activity is concerned with the work necessary to establish the commercial and technical viability of a product or process. The proof-of-concept process can involve different activities depending on the particular area of technology involved and it is likely that there will be no standard procedure that all projects will follow.
• Early-stage commercialisation –Early-stage commercialisation activity is concerned with systematic work necessary for installing and establishing processes, systems and services that enable a new product, process or service to be produced to the stage where it can effectively be brought to market.

 

Clean Technology Innovation Program eligibility will broad in nature and encompass a range of project undertakings including applied research and development, intellectual property protection and management, product prototyping, testing and proof-of-concept.

 Eligible Projects

Proposed Clean Technology Innovation Program project activities could include:

• research and development and early stage commercialisation activities to develop a new innovative clean technology application;
• development of technologies that improve the energy efficiency of appliances or industrial processes; and
• development of new products, processes or services to support clean technologies and energy efficiency.

 

The following activities are ineligible for support under the Clean Technology Innovation Program:

• projects that would be eligible under the Clean Technology Investment Program and Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program
• projects supported under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

 

Eligible expenditure

Clean Technology Innovation Program eligible expenditure must be directly related to project activities (R&D, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation).

 

It is proposed that Clean Technology Innovation Program funds may be used for:

• salaries for researchers and support staff and direct salary on-costs;
• the direct costs of research (consumables); and
• capital items (such as equipment; but not to purchase, or pay for the construction of facilities such as buildings, laboratories etc).

Where a proportion of the Clean Technology Innovation Program funds are to be spent overseas, such expenditure must deliver demonstrably high levels of economic, environmental and/or social benefits to Australia; including the use of any intellectual property rights.

 

Activities paid for by the grantee using in-kind or non-cash considerations are not eligible expenditure. The Clean Technology Innovation Program funding must not be used for activities previously funded or currently being funded by another government program. Standard clawback provisions will apply to grants made under the Program to ensure that proponents do not ‘double dip’. Program funds cannot be spent on the indirect support costs of research or staff (e.g. non-salary overheads), nor to reimburse participants for the costs associated with existing staff or other resources.

 

To be eligible for the Clean Technology Innovation Program, the grantee must incur expenditure on or after the project commencement date, which cannot be before the date the Program Delegate accepts the application for assessment, and on or before the project completion date, with the exception of final audit costs which can be incurred within three months of the project completion date.

 

Merit Criteria

While the full Clean Technology Innovation Program application details have not been announced, you can prepare your application now including:

Project Title

Project Detailed Description (200 words)

Project Cost and Quotes

Project Plan -Milestones and Key Activities

Project Intellectual Property

Commercialisation Strategy

Collaboration arrangements

Need for funding

 

 

Criterion 1 – The extent of the reduction in carbon or energy intensity associated with the proposed project

A Clean Technology Innovation Program proposal should contribute towards addressing the transition to a carbon constrained economy, particularly by investing in innovative clean technology and associated services projects. The applicant must describe what success will look like. Merit can be demonstrated through either; reduced carbon emissions or energy savings of the technology, product, process or service developed under the project.

Claims made by applicants must be measurable and capable of being reported during the project period and after the project is completed for program evaluation purposes. To demonstrate the benefit, it is proposed the applicant use a ‘calculator tool’ (of recognised quality and standard) that shows how the outputs will make a measurable impact and environmental benefit.

The benchmark for measuring any significant improvements in energy consumption or carbon emissions should be beyond the ‘business as usual’ scenario.

Applications should also outline economic benefits that would accrue to Australia associated with national productivity and economic growth in a future low carbon economy. Economic benefits could include increased employment, creation of new jobs, knowledge and skill spillovers, and diffusion of technologies, products and processes across industry, and social, community and/or environmental benefits. The benefits may be direct or indirect.

Plans including overseas activities to be assessed in terms of likely benefits to Australia.

 

 

Criterion 2 –Calibre of innovation (including applicant capabilities)

A Clean Technology Innovation Program application to demonstrate its merits and describe the nature, extent and calibre of the innovation that will occur in Australia through the proposed project.

An application must demonstrate the potential added value of the project to be provided by the grant funding. For example, an application to explain either why the applicant is not funding the whole project, why the grant funds would allow the project to be undertaken differently and why this is beneficial to Australia. Applications should also describe the level of associated risk with the project, and strategies to manage the risk. An appropriate level of innovation evident in the project should be described in terms of it is: new to the industry; or new to Australia; or new to the world.

The Clean Technology Innovation Program applicant must demonstrate that it has the capacity to undertake and complete (in the time required) the agreed project. It must have the technical and business capabilities as well as the staffing, financial and administrative capabilities for the project. The budget must be realistic. The applicant must be able to describe the strength of proposed collaboration.

 

 

Criterion 3 –Potential uptake of innovation

The product, process or service for which a Clean Technology Innovation Program grant is being sought must have the potential to be developed, and commercialised or have the knowledge diffused to the benefit of Australia in the transition to a low carbon economy. The applicant should describe the industry need for the new technology, product, process or service proposed. An application must include a clear route to market plan that identifies how and when the innovation will be commercialised and/or diffused to the benefit of Australia. The ability to achieve a greater leveraged technology application or knowledge diffusion to be demonstrated.

 

Assistance

To find out how Treadstone can help prepare you application conact us on  (03) 9008 5937.

 

This information has been extracted from the DIISR –  Clean Technology Programs – Discussion Paper  Sept 2011.