Climate Ready Grants

The Climate Ready Program Fact Sheet

What does it offer? 

Climate Ready provides grants from $50,000 to $5 million on a matching funding basis to support projects that address the effects of climate change. A broad range of project applications are expected.  For example:

• water recycling, waste recovery or small scale renewable energy technologies
• technologies that reduce the energy used by appliances or increase the efficiency of industrial processes
• products, processes or services to monitor emissions or power usage
• using biotechnology or nanotechnology to address the effects of climate change on humans and the environment
• information systems for businesses or consumers to compare the carbon footprints of different activities
• green building materials that make homes more energy efficient

The program offers small grants ($50,000 to $500,000) and large grants ($500,001 to $5 million). 

The small grants support small business, as well as companies controlled by universities and public sector research organisations, through a simpler application form and reduced reporting requirements. 

Who is it for? 

Climate Ready supports small and medium-sized businesses.

Companies can apply for funding for any or all aspects of the development of an innovative product, process or service including research and development, proof-of-concept, and early-stage commercialisation. 

How do I apply? 

Applicants compete for limited grant funds, based on the merit of their application. The program opened for applications on 28 July 2008. The closing dates for the first four rounds are:

• Round 1 –  4 September 2008
• Round 2 – 4 December 2008
• Round 3 – 12 March 2009
• Round 4 – 25 June 2009

Potential applicants may complete a Climate Ready customer enquiry form to assist them to determine suitability. This form is located on the AusIndustry website. 

Potential applicants may then submit the form and discuss their project with an AusIndustry customer service manager. Following this discussion, applicants can proceed to submit their formal application with AusIndustry.

Evaluation criteria 

Eligible applications will be assessed against the following five, equally weighted, criteria: 

• applicant management capability
• project commercial potential
• project technical strength (including applicant technical capabilities)
• project national benefits
• impact of funding on project outcomes

Further information about the evaluation criteria is available in the Climate Ready customer information guide on the AusIndustry website.

Background 

Climate Ready aims to: 

• encourage innovation through increasing the level of research and development, proof-of-concept and early-stage commercialisation by Australian businesses that address the effects of climate change
• increase the international competitiveness of Australian businesses
• foster greater collaboration with industry and between industry and research institutions
• generate national benefit for the Australian economy

Grant payments for successful applicants will be claimable for eligible expenditure incurred on or after the approved project commencement date, which cannot be before the date AusIndustry accepts your Climate Ready application.

Eligibility 

An eligible applicant for Climate Ready must: 

• be a non-tax exempt company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 
• have, or is part of a group, that has an annual turnover of less than $100 million in each of the three financial years before the application lodgement date (note: for small grants, companies controlled by universities and public sector research organisations will be accepted on their own turnover cap, rather than that of the parent or group)
• be able to demonstrate that it will match the grant provided on a dollar for dollar basis over the life of the project 
• be able to demonstrate that it has access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out and/or commercialise the proposed project.

How will my application be assessed? 

An AusIndustry customer service manager will work with a customer to ensure the application contains all the necessary information to allow Innovation Australia to assess the application on its merit. 
Innovation Australia provides advice on technical issues relating to applications. Innovation Australia and its committees will assess and merit rate applications. 

What will I be asked to do if I am successful? 

Successful applicants will need to execute a Climate Ready deed of agreement with the Commonwealth in order to receive grant funding. 

The compliance requirements for successful applicants are set out in the deed of agreement, and will be explained further in the Climate Ready guide to managing your grant, which is available on the AusIndustry website.

Climate Ready – Customer Information Guide

The Climate Ready customer information guide provides information for customers about small and large grants under the Climate Ready program – how to apply, what projects and activities are eligible, and other relevant information. 

Climate Ready – Eligible Expenditure Guidelines

These guidelines set out what kind of expenditure is eligible and what kind is ineligible for projects funded under Climate Ready grants.