Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (Australia)

The program assists regional manufacturing SMEs to:

• improve productivity by building international competitiveness, generating jobs and stimulating private sector investment
• adopt new technologies in equipment, robotics, processes, systems, software, data use and analytics
• improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and progress energy and carbon footprint management
• create and maintain high performing workplaces through increased management capability, leadership, and the development of skilled employees including advanced manufacturing apprenticeships and traineeships.

Focus Areas

• Manufacturing Hubs Grants Program will also support projects addressing the strategic focus areas of:
  • Renewables manufacturing
  • Olympic Games supply chains
  • Manufactured housing

Funding Information

• Applicants may request a grant between $10,000 and $500,000 (excluding GST).
• Delivery and completion of eligible activity: Within 12 months of funding agreement execution. The Eligible Activity must be able to be completed within 12 months of execution of a funding agreement. Where project planning demonstrates delivery beyond 12 months from commencement, the applicant must provide detailed reasons including supporting documentation for consideration of a project timeframe longer than 12 months.

Manufacturing Hubs

• The department operates Manufacturing Hubs in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay and Gold Coast. In addition to delivering the MHGP, these hubs provide a catalyst to promote and deliver world-leading technologies, improved processes and practices, workforce development and training, private sector investment and local jobs for regional SMEs.
• Each hub focuses on strengthening key manufacturing sectors of each region.
  • Cairns region: aviation, marine and food processing
  • Townsville region: advanced metal production and food transformation
  • Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region: mining equipment, technology and services, agriculture and resource recovery
  • Rockhampton region: rail manufacturing and technology, advanced metal production and food production innovation
  • Gladstone region: hydrogen, biofuels and renewable energy
  • Gold Coast region: marine, steel fabrication, transport equipment and vehicle manufacturing and food processing

Eligible Activities

• Grants will be available to successful applicants to support development of their advanced manufacturing capabilities through the following Eligible Activities:
  • technology adoption
  • skills and training
  • business development
  • ARM Hub services.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to receive funding under the MHGP, an applicant must be one standalone entity or a group of entities (see below) that must:
  • be registered for goods and services tax (GST) and hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be an SME (i.e., an Australian business employing between five – 200 full time equivalent employees) for which its principal activity and majority of annual turnover is derived from manufacturing
  • have its main operations and project site located in one of the eligible Queensland SA4 Regions (Cairns, Townsville, Central Queensland, Mackay and the Gold Coast)
  • have operated within Queensland for a minimum of three consecutive years prior to submitting its application
  • be able to demonstrate the expected outcomes of the proposed Eligible Activity
  • accept that the department may require security over any or all of the funded items
  • not have, and not be an Associated Entity of an entity that has a current active application or funding agreements under MHGP
  • not be insolvent or have owners or directors that are undischarged bankrupts
  • have the financial capacity and standing necessary to conduct the proposed Eligible Activity, which includes the funds to contribute financially to the project
  • not be a federal, state or local government entity, statutory authority, family partnership, charity, or not-for-profit organisation
  • be willing to enter into a binding funding agreement with the department that will stipulate that the funding will be used to fund Eligible Activities.
• Applicants should note that a detailed due diligence and probity review may be undertaken on the applicant including, but not limited to, the checks and searches below:
  • applicant bona fide checks (status, corporate structure, ownership, directors review etc.)
  • background and probity searches (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, banned & disqualified, bankruptcy, adverse media, courts)
  • financial capability (historical financials) and viability (funding capacity and sources)
  • business and activity risks, and planned mitigations.

Assessment Criteria

• Applications will also be assessed on weighted criteria:
  • Productivity and international competitiveness: The project demonstrates that it will build the capacity of the business to increase its productivity and international competitiveness
  • Leading-edge equipment: The project will involve the adoption of leading-edge equipment or innovative processes, technologies and strategies
  • Jobs: The project supports current manufacturing jobs and will create new high-skilled jobs and will create new high-skilled manufacturing Jobs in Queensland
  • Strategic direction: The project aligns with the strategic direction of the business and will increase profitability
  • Value for money: The project demonstrates value for money to the local market and the state, including links to strategic focus areas of the program
  • Budget and timeframes: The project is achievable within the stated budget and timeframes.

For more information, visit Queensland Government.