The Singapore–Australia Go-Green Co-Innovation Program (GGCIP) has announced a total of up to $10 million for the GGCIP from 2023-24 to 2025-26. Two grant rounds are planned during this period, with phased funding. For this grant opportunity round one, over $9 million is available over 3 financial years. The program seeks to drive co-innovation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop green products and services.

Deadlines and Timings

Applications are now open and will close on 4 December 2023 at 24:00 AEST.

GGCIP Purpose and Sectors

Support for projects will be provided in the form of grants and business matching services. The main purpose of the GGCIP is to incentivise and facilitate co-innovation between SMEs between Australia and Singapore. The program is expected to help establish or expand business and commercial activities that will a boost two-way trade in goods and services across green sectors. Participating SMEs will be expected to also invest resources into their projects. Grants can be used to fund the development and commercialisation of products, services or solutions that drive the decarbonisation of economic activities or help Singapore and Australia transition to net zero emissions.

Grants will support projects that focus on priority green economy sectors, including:

• renewable and clean energy
• waste management and circular economy
• sustainable agribusiness and food
• green transportation and logistics
• built environment and infrastructure
• energy efficient technologies and products
• advanced manufacturing and sustainable materials
• environmental monitoring, analysis, and assessment

The estimated grant value is from $150K to $500K. Contributions to your project must be from your own sources and cash:

• Australian applicants must contribute at least 50% of eligible Australian grant project costs; and
• of the total Singapore-Australia joint project cost, no partner can contribute more than 70% to ensure equity between contributions from Australia and Singapore

Eligibility and Criteria

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST
• be a permanent resident of Australia or Australian citizen
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be an SME, a sole trader, company, or other legal entity registered or incorporated under an Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory law including:
  • non-employing businesses
  • micro businesses: businesses employing fewer than five people, including non-employing businesses
  • other small businesses: businesses employing five or more people, but fewer than 20 people, or
  • medium businesses: businesses employing 20 or more people, but fewer than 200 people
• hold all insurances required by law, including a minimum of $10 million public liability insurance and workers compensation (refer How Much Public Liability Insurance do I Need? (publicliabilityaustralia.com.au), and
• partner with a Singapore registered business, which must be a separate and independent, non-linked entity to all Australian project partners

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities must directly relate to the approved grant funded project and contribute to the GGCIP objectives.

• collaborating and networking to build capacity and deliver green sector products and services with market potential in partnership with a Singaporean enterprise
• clear commercialisation plan, specifying target market and demand, and project timeline, that outlines route to market
• willingness to use robust project management and partnership processes
• actively engage in cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary partnerships and knowledge sharing
• must directly relate to the project and may include
  • product / service strategy validation
  • technology and new product / service development
  • test-bedding near-market technologies with a beta site for the purpose of commercialisation
  • small volume production / prototyping / minimum viable product (MVP)
• be a joint project between an Australian SME and a Singaporean business partner and must
  • be delivered in Singapore; or
  • involve trade and commerce between Singapore and Australia; or
  • foster or promote trade and commerce between Singapore and Australia; and
  • be jointly carried out in Singapore and/or Australia with a Singaporean business partner

Eligible Expenditure

Eligible expenditure items include:

• labour expenses, salaries (including salary-related on-costs) for project staff
• consumables required specifically for the project
• equipment, devices, data, and software required specifically for the project has been notionally capped at up to a total cumulative value of $40,000 during the term of the grant
• reasonable travel costs necessary to undertake project activity, no more than 10% total of your grant, and
• specialist advice and services provided by unrelated (external) providers, such as professional services, engineering, market research, technology consulting, data, and computing services

You CANNOT use the grant for the following activities:

• office, warehouse, or production facility rental (including in Australia or Singapore)
• capital expenditure for the purchase of land, real estate and/or vehicles
• costs incurred in the preparation of the grant application or related documentation
• bonus, commissions, allowances, and overtime are not supportable
• third parties that are engaged to carry out mass production, business /legal consultation, etc., are not supportable
• the covering of retrospective costs, and
• business as usual activities such as subsidy of general ongoing administration of an organisation such as electricity and phone services (the grant should add value by achieving something worthwhile that would not occur without the grant)

Currently available information may be accessed at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade GGCIP page and the Singapore–Australia Green Economy Agreement (SAGEA). For more information, interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly read the program guidelines set by the funding grant. Submissions must be lodged through the program online portal.

Expert Assistance

We have over 15 years of experience preparing EMDG and R&D tax incentive claims and can assist in making sure you receive your maximum rebate.

Working with us means you get the maximum grant with minimum risk and effort. Our expertise includes R&D Tax Incentive registration and tax schedules, Export Grants, Capital Expenditure and Infrastructure Grants.

Get in touch with us and let’s discuss this more in detail.

For information about other Australian Government Grants, visit Treadstone New Grants page and sign up to our newsletter!