The Morrison Government is backing more innovative Australian manufacturers to commercialise their great ideas, including a company working to develop a handheld one-minute COVID-19 breath test. 

Examin Holdings Pty Ltd is among 24 new companies to share in $11.68 million through the Australian Government’s $30 million Commercialisation Fund, which has already supported 31 ground-breaking projects in the six National Manufacturing Priority areas.

The Examin COVID Breath Test (ECBT) project includes finalising the device, which would come with a reading device and app, as well as a local supply chain capable of producing commercial orders.

Others projects to receive funding include:

• YOUC Pty Ltd (Dandenong South, VIC) has received $297,950 for its Smart Box which can be tracked along the food service supply chain, helping ensuring stock freshness and limiting food waste. 
• Venlo Investments Pty Ltd (Brisbane, QLD) has received $450,000 to commercialise and scale an automated plastic pallet repair and remanufacturing system, enabling more pallets to stay in circulation and out of landfill.  
• Ceramisphere Health Pty Ltd (Gladesville, NSW) has received $471,000 to manufacture nanocomposite patches that treat chronic pain.
• 3RT Holdings Pty Ltd (Novar Gardens, SA) has received $698,420 to further its technology which converts low value wood residue into a new hardwood with the same properties as 100-year-old timber, providing a new sustainable source of quality wood while protecting native forests.
• Minomic International Limited (Macquarie Park, NSW) has received $396,928 to bring to market its diagnostic test specifically designed to indicate the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
• Black Sky Aerospace Pty Ltd (Jimboomba, Qld) has received $497,750 to establish sovereign manufacture of vital precursor materials for solid rocket propellant not currently produced in Australia. This will lead to significant domestic and export market opportunities.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said these projects are incredible examples of the kind of innovation across the National Manufacturing Priorities the Government wants to support.

“We’re already seeing the Commercialisation Fund grants helping dozens of Australian manufacturing businesses to scale up their operations, commercialise their innovations, and bring them into new Australian and international markets,” Minister Taylor said.

“Through the fund, the Government is also driving new opportunities for economic growth and job creation, by supporting businesses to undertake commercialisation activities such as further research and development, implementing new technologies to scale up operations and broadening their opportunities for other investment.”

This funding supports projects within the Government’s six National Manufacturing Priorities; Medical Products, Food and Beverage, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence, and Space.

Grants are between $100,000 and $1 million, with funding to make up no more than 50 per cent of total project costs.

The fund is administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), in collaboration with the five other Industry Growth Centres: AustCyber; Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL); MTPConnect; METS Ignited; National Energy Resources Australia (NERA); and the CSIRO.

For more information on the Commercialisation Fund and other successful projects go to amgc.org.au/newsroom/

Media contact: Minister Taylor’s office 02 6277 7120