Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips is inviting companies to apply for a Technology Implementation voucher worth up $250,000 each, to develop the use of cutting edge technologies which would help improve their operations and make them more competitive in domestic and international markets.
In a media release Mr. Rich-Philips said the applications for the Victorian Coalition’s $8 million Technology Voucher Program are seeking Victorian or non-Victorian small, medium and large businesses which utilise technology solutions for their projects.
“We’re providing opportunities for all companies to be at the leading edge in the global marketplace through the development of innovative products, processes and services,” he said.
“The Technology Implementation voucher, worth up to $250,000, helps companies get through the critical stages of demonstrating the technical viability of projects and scaling up for commercial implementation.”
“Successful companies will be awarded Technology Implementation vouchers to undertake substantial testing or applied development activities in order to adapt, adopt or develop technology-enabled innovation for new practice or new markets.”
The Technology Voucher Program is a separate but complementary initiative to the innovation Voucher Program, which aims to improve the innovation capability and capacity of small and medium companies (SMEs) and publicly funded research organisations (PFROs).
Among its benefits, a voucher can be used by a business to develop and manufacture prototypes to demonstrate commercial feasibility and improve current products and processes, or undertake pilot trials that will demonstrate the advantages of incorporating a technology into a production process.
Seven companies were awarded Technology Implementation Vouchers earlier this year.
“Projects currently underway include: the development of a new diagnostic tool for the forensic industry; a cloud computing-enabled livestock weight management system; a renewable solvent to replace existing petroleum-derived products; and large scale production of a nano additive to improve the strength of plastics,” Mr. Rich-Phillips said.
Applications for the latest round of Technology Implementation Vouchers are now open and will close at 2pn on 22 October 2013. For more information and to apply visit www.business.vic.gov.au/tvp
