Industry Growth Centres, what are they good for?

First conceptualised in 2014, the Industry Growth Centres were targeting five key industry sectors over a 10-year strategy. Their whole raison d’être was to revitalise innovation in industry, that rather than be researcher-led, was directed by industry to help reduce barriers in the marketplace and create new opportunities. This would was to be actioned by purely creating a neutral centre for businesses to network and connect. When first envisaged, the “innovation precincts” all sounded all a bit too fluffy – since when do competitors work together?

Turns out it wasn’t fluff at all, four years later and there are six centres connecting businesses across six different sectors:

• FIAL – Food and Agribusiness
• METS Ignited – Mining Equipment, Technology and Services
• MTPConnect – Medical Technology and Pharmaceuticals
• Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) – Advanced Manufacturing
• National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) – Oil, Gas and Energy Resources
• Cyber Security Growth Centre, AustCyber – Cyber Security

Each with:

• A 10-year sector competitiveness plan
• Networks
• Events, workshops and education
• Tools, apps & case studies
• Funding and market opportunities

What was that last point again…funding opportunities??? What, how much and when?

The funding opportunities are for Aussie Businesses, so universities, research organisations are ineligible unless part of a consortium or collaboration. Eligibility changes for each centre, such as whether you are required to be a member etc. You can check your eligibility in the centre’s guideline or ask us to help decipher for you.

Here is the ‘what, how much and when?’ for each Industry Growth Centre: