Six small defence industry businesses have been awarded $837,000 in grants to boost their competitiveness on the global stage.
The companies – which include Laserdyne, Heat Treatment, Acacia Systems, Intellidesign, UNEEK and SMETEC Services – are the latest recipients of Defence Global Competitiveness Grants, a critical program designed to build a stronger and more globally competitive Australian defence industry.
Dandenong-based metal engineering company will receive $216,389 to upgrade its manufacturing capability, preparing it to join international supply chains for the F-35 Program and bring more production onshore.
Also part of the F-35 Program, Brisbane-based Heat Treatment will receive a $131,447 grant to establish a cleaning and assembly facility for the aircraft’s components, adding a vital in-house capacity to improve the company’s global offering.
SMETEC Services will receive a $208,332 grant to establish an advanced manufacturing facility to process specialised Australian armoured steels and composite products, opening up opportunities in national and international defence supply chains.
Laserdyne, a small business located in Molendinar near the Gold Coast, will receive a $180,125 grant to expand manufacturing operations, reducing lead times to meet increasing global demand.
Grants of $40,944 and $59,908 respectively will assist Acacia Systems (Hendon, SA) and Intellidesign (Seventeen Mile Rocks, Qld) to upgrade their security systems, allowing the businesses to pursue export opportunities with global primes and overseas defence forces.
Making the announcement, Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said each of the companies have benefitted from changes to the program, which increased the grants’ value and reduced the co-contribution rate for companies in response to the COVID-19 economic downturn last October.
“Supporting the export capability of Australian small-to-medium enterprises strengthens their international competitiveness and drives innovation,” Minister Price continued.
“It allows them to provide cutting-edge and cost-effective capabilities to the Australian Defence Force.
“By investing in Australian businesses, the Morrison Government is delivering on its promise to generate jobs for Australians as a vital part of our economic recovery from COVID-19.”
