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National Manufacturing Priorities spark roadmap to economic recovery

The Federal Government recently announced the Modern Manufacturing Strategy, as part of the national COVID-19 JobMaker plan. The Strategy is designed to help Australian manufacturing scale-up, become more competitive and resilient — creating jobs now and for future generations.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, said the Strategy reflects on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, and work undertaken with industry.

“This Strategy sends a clear signal that not only is Australia open for business, but we mean business. By playing to our strengths, strategically investing and boosting the role of science and technology in industry, we can open up new markets and take more of our quality products to the world,” said Minister Andrews.

The $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) forms a crucial part of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy. The MMI will support projects across six National Manufacturing Priorities that reflect Australia’s competitive advantages and emerging areas of priority, including:

  • Medical Products
  • Space
  • Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing
  • Food And Beverage
  • Recycling And Clean Energy
  • Defence

The Federal Government is working with industry to co-design roadmaps for each of the priority areas and to set clear objectives for the next two, five and ten years. The roadmaps will explore the challenges and opportunities that will guide action and investment.

The first three roadmaps that have been released are those of the Medical Products, Space and Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing Priorities. The three remaining roadmaps are expected to be released in quick succession.

Medical Products Roadmap

The Medical Products roadmap seeks to support an internationally recognised Australian medical products industry, which has the capability, capacity, and knowledge to locally manufacture medical products.

The roadmap has several key focus areas, including medical devices, high value-add medicines, cutting-edge treatments, digitally integrated products and platforms, and animal health.

Space Roadmap

The Space roadmap seeks to support an internationally recognised Australian space sector. The intention is to build local capacity to design, develop, manufacture, and deploy a range of products, equipment, services to support national and international space missions.

The roadmap has several key focus areas, including products that go into space, space components, and associated products and infrastructure.

Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing Roadmap

The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing roadmap seeks to support an internationally recognised resources and critical minerals sector. The intention is to help manufacturers add value to their products, commercialise products and tap into global supply chains.

The roadmap has several key focus areas, including natural resources, critical minerals, cutting-edge resource technologies, batteries and mining equipment and technology.

How to Apply for MMI funding

The MMI is open to projects that meet eligibility criteria under two streams:

  • The translation stream provides businesses with funding to support projects that translate quality research into commercially viable outcomes and support businesses to scale-up.
  • The integrations stream supports projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains and place their goods and services into new markets.

Both streams offer grants between $1 million and $20 million, for up to 50 per cent of the eligible project expenditure.

For space projects, applications must be submitted by Monday 22 March 2021 at 5:00pm (AEST).

For medical products, applications must be submitted by Monday 29 March 2021 at 5:00pm (AEST).

For resources technology and critical minerals projects, applications must be submitted by Thursday 1 April 2021 at 5:00pm (AEST).

Further Information

For further information visit: industry.gov.au/about-us/national-manufacturing-priorities-roadmap-taskforces