$250,000 tech vouchers up for grabs for savvy Victorian business

Businesses in Victoria with an eye on improving technology infrastructure can apply to the Victorian government for a financial boost of up to $250,000.

The Technology Implementation Vouchers can go towards implementing cutting-edge technologies in the workplace through purchasing products, processes and services to enhance business growth.

The vouchers are part of the Victorian Coalition government’s $8 million Technology Voucher Program, which in turn is part of the $150 million Victoria’s Technology Plan for the Future program.

Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said applications are open from today for “novel projects” using technology, that help businesses be more competitive on local and global levels.

“The Technology Implementation Vouchers, worth up to $250,000, helps  companies get through the critical stages of demonstrating the technical viability of projects and scaling up for commercial implementation,” Rich-Phillips said in a statement.

“These vouchers focus on projects that create more competitive products, processes and services through the application of small technologies, industrial biotechnology or advanced information and communication technology in innovative or novel ways.”

Earlier this year, seven companies were awarded the vouchers.

“These seven companies have projects underway, working with specialist suppliers to develop their projects to ultimately improve their productivity and global competitiveness,” he said.

Projects include the development of a new diagnostic tool for the forensic industry, a cloud computing-enabled livestock weight management system, a renewable solvent to replace existing petroleum-derived products and the large-scale production of a nano additive to improve the strength of plastics.

Applications for the current round of vouchers close on October 22.

SmartCompany has compiled a key list of grants available to businesses at a federal level, as well as the key state government grants on offer.

SmartCompany recently spoke to a business that was successful in receiving close to $900,000 in a Clean Technology Innovation Program grant from the federal government, about their top tips for a successful grant application.