WA Innovators Get $730K Government Funding Boost

• Government announces Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) and Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) recipients
• Twelve innovators to share in $736,157 worth of grant funding
• Programs to boost local innovative businesses and drive competition

Twelve local Western Australian innovators will share in $736,157 worth of funding support through the Cook Government's latest rounds of the Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) and Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) programs.

Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said a quarter of these recipients had come from female-founded businesses. These businesses included innovations such as using a digital PCR for fast and reliable assessment of biologicals, an emotional support teddy bear, which has an interactive app, as well as a testing regime to accurately measure antibacterial activity in honey.

The 10 IBG recipients will share in $380,157, while the two CBG recipients share $356,000 between them.

The two grant programs support businesses through different stages of their innovation journey.

Reflecting the diversity of the Western Australian innovation landscape, recipients include culturally and linguistically diverse, regional, youth and female founders across a range of sectors.

The IBG increases support for early-stage businesses looking to develop their project. The grant will provide access to research and development, product development and/or commercialisation support services.

The CBG increases provide support for businesses on the often-difficult journey between a commercialised and a sustainable business - the so called 'Valley of Death'.

The grant will provide access to product, team, intellectual property and commercialisation readiness.

Both programs are an integral component ofthe Cook Government's multi-million-dollar New Industries Fund, assisting new and emerging businesses in WA, through innovation, to diversify the economy and create new jobs and industries across the State.

This is in line with the State's Innovation Strategy: 'Western Australia - the place to innovate' and Diversify WA framework.

Since early 2022, more than $8 million has been awarded across 176 IBG and CBG projects.

For more information, including past recipients, see:

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-jobs-tourism-science-and-innovation/new-industries-fund-innovation-booster-grant

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-jobs-tourism-science-and-innovation/new-industries-fund-commercialisation-bridge-grant

As stated by Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The Cook Government is focused on building our local innovation ecosystem, and our very successful grants program is having a profound impact on driving competition in this exciting market.

"There were over 230 applications received between the two grant programs, which goes to show how this local ecosystem is burgeoning and is being fed by a great pool of local innovators.

"Our Government continues to find new ways to foster and support this local talent and ensure they have what they need to develop and grow right here in WA."

Innovation Booster Grant recipients

Commercialisation Bridge Grant recipients