Two small businesses looking to build their export capability have won $130,000 in grants as part of the Federal Government’s strategic approach to growing Australia’s defence industry exports.
Sydney-based The Blueprint Laboratory and Melbourne’s Natex Engineering are the latest recipients of the Defence Global Competitiveness Grants which seek to build a stronger, more sustainable and globally competitive Australian defence industry by supporting small businesses to build export capability.
The Blueprint Laboratory will use their grant to meet accreditation requirements, aiding its ability to sell robotic arms to the US and UK military, whereas Natex Engineering will use the funding to increase their capability to meet the quality requirements of defence customers, opening up the potential for $4.1 million in new contracts.
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said helping small businesses become ‘export-ready’ means they can take up opportunities to help them grow and create more jobs.
“We know more exporting businesses means more Australian jobs, so we’re giving small business the tools they need to take their products and services to the world,” she concluded.
