The Queensland Government has released applicant guidelines for Round 7 of the Made in Queensland (MIQ) program, with the online application form now available.
In this latest round, Queensland-based manufacturers are encouraged to apply for matched funding grants ranging from $50,000 to $2.5 million.
These funds can be used to adopt cutting-edge equipment, technologies, systems, and processes that improve energy efficiency, support export initiatives, enable reshoring, and enhance supply chain performance.
Projects that focus on sustainability and furthering decarbonisation and net-zero outcomes are particularly encouraged.
Applicants for MIQ funding must enter into a funding agreement with the Queensland Government, which may involve security over the funded items.
This could include registering security on the Personal Property Securities Register or securing a deed of priority with other financiers.
Potential applicants are advised to confirm that their financier is in agreement with these terms before submitting an application.
This $121.5 million initiative aims to bolster the state’s manufacturing sector by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting advanced technologies, improving productivity, and driving innovation.
The program is designed to enhance international competitiveness and create high-skilled jobs for the future, the government revealed in a news release.
Since its inception in 2017, MIQ has funded 160 advanced manufacturing projects across Queensland, generating and supporting more than 6,500 jobs.
These projects have contributed to a total project cost of $130 million, and over 45 per cent of them are being implemented in regional Queensland.
Over the next five years, these projects are expected to create and support more than 5,000 additional jobs in these areas.
MIQ is a key component of the Queensland Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, which aims to future-proof the state’s manufacturing industry.
The application period closes at 1:00 pm on Friday, 24 January 2025.
Full details, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, can be accessed via the Queensland Government’s website.
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