Circular Economy Innovation Fund for Capability Building – Round 4 (Australia)

Projects must improve awareness and understanding of circular economy and enhance circular economy business innovation in Victoria.

Objectives

• The fund aims to achieve the following outcomes:
  • Provide businesses with improved awareness/understanding of circular economy.
  • Enhance circular economy business innovation in Victoria through the delivery of training, programs or an action plan.
• The projects must aim to enable the Victorian business community to achieve at least 2 of the following outcomes:
  • Creation of new Circular Products and Services.
  • Avoidance of waste materials to any waste or recycling destination.
  • Increase employment through direct creation of jobs.
  • Increase capacity to extend the useable life of products.
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Funding Information

• Grants of $50,000 to $400,000 are available. SV reserves the right to offer successful Applicants with partial funding.
• Co-contribution
  • Applicants must contribute at least $1 for every $4 funded.
  • Co-contributions can be either financial (cash) or in-kind. Up to 100% of the co-contribution can be in-kind.

What will be Funded?

• SV funding is available for projects that focus on improving awareness and understanding of circular economy and enhancing circular economy business innovation in Victoria, through:
  • Delivery of a capability building training / skills development program for businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Delivery of a challenge, incubator or accelerator program for businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Developing a collaborative action plan by an industry association for transition to a circular economy covering a specified industry sector or supply-chain.
• Projects must incorporate at least one of the 3 principles of the circular economy that are driven by design:
  • Eliminate waste and pollution.
  • Keep products and materials in use, at their highest value.
  • Regenerate natural systems.

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead Applicants
  • Businesses (Commercial for-profit)
  • Social enterprises (must be currently registered with Social Traders or prove accreditation before entering into a funding agreement)
  • Charities and other not-for-profits
  • Industry groups and associations (an industry group or association, also known as an industry trade association, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry) Note: For projects that involve development of a collaborative action plan, the Lead Applicant must be an Industry group or association.
  • Research institutions
  • Government or local government organizations
  • Community organizations and groups that are fully incorporated.
  • Lead Applicants must have:
    • A direct, clear role and demonstrated contribution (in-kind and/or financial contribution) that is significant to the delivery of the project
    • An active ABN of 2 years standing at the date of close of the applications.
• Collaborative Partners
  • Projects may include Collaborative Partners.
  • Where a Collaborative Partnership is proposed in the application, the Lead Applicant will lead the Collaborative Partnership and be accountable for project delivery and management. The Collaborative Partner must not be a Related Entity. Only the Lead Applicant will receive grant funding. Any allocations of grant funding or financial co-contributions between Collaborative Partners and Delivery Partners must be managed by the Lead Applicant.
  • Collaborative Partners must have:
    • an active ABN
    • a direct, clear role and demonstrated contribution (in-kind and/or financial contribution) that is important to the delivery of the project.
  • A letter of support (or equivalent) must be provided by the Collaborative Partner, signed by an authorised representative and must be provided with the application, detailing their:
    • commitment to be publicly announced as a Project Partner should funding be awarded
    • financial and/or in-kind contribution to the project
    • their role and responsibilities to the project
  • The Collaborative Partnership must be formalised through an agreement (MoU or equivalent) prior to the first milestone payment for successful projects.
  • They encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
  • Lead Applicants cannot be:
    • Unincorporated associations
    • Federal government organisations, excluding Rural Research and Development Councils
    • Sole Traders or Individuals.

For more information, visit Sustainability Victoria.