Play with me, globally

15 April 2016

The Australian Government and the Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) have launched the Global Connections Fund, which is now open for applications.

The Fund is a component of the $36 million Global Innovation Strategy, which the Government established under its $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda, and which also supports five 'landing pads' for Australian SMEs in global innovation hotspots (so far selected: San Francisco, Tel Aviv and most recently Shanghai.

The Global Connections Fund is a complementary vehicle to promote global collaborations between Australian businesses and research.

The scheme targets linkages with 17 priority economies (including all 28 European Union Member States), and provides two types of grants:

• Priming grants are small grants of up to $7000, designed to explore potential international partnerships. Their focus will be on national industry and research and science priorities, which include:
  • advanced manufacturing;
  • food and agribusiness;
  • medical technology and pharmaceuticals;
  • mining equipment, technology and services; and
  • oil, gas and energy resources.
• Bridging grants are meant to follow-up on priming grants providing seed funding capital of up to $50,000.