19 companies supported in CRC-P grants

Electrifying aviation is just one of manufacturing opportunities being supported through the latest round of the federal government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) programme.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic today announced $44 million in grants for Australian companies to support 19 collaborative projects researchers and innovators .

One of the 19 grant recipients, Dovetail Electric Aviation in Sydney will use its $3 million grant to develop, test and certify the conversion of turbine-powered planes into fully electrically powered aircraft (pictured).

The company says it will use the electric aircraft for short flights with an eye to develop emissions-free aircraft for use on regional routes in the future.

Husic said: “Electric aviation has the potential to be a game-changer for regional transport as Australia pushes to meet our emissions targets.

“Supporting industry, researchers and end-users to work together off the back of great Australian know-how is crucial to delivering real outcomes, creating well-paid, secure jobs and backing industries to support our economy.”

Another company to receive a grant is Vaxxas Pty Ltd which is developing a novel COVID-19 spike protein vaccine product using its needle-free skin patch and rapidly progressing into Phase II clinical studies.

The vaccine patch will be suitable for storage at elevated temperature and low skilled user administration.

Meanwhile Whiteley Corporation Pty Ltd will embark on a multidisciplinary project that includes novel anti-biofilm wound treatments, novel wound monitoring, including vascular identification, and dyes which target bacterial biofilms.

Attacking biofilms is a novel way of destroying bacteria.

Other recipients include:

• Apollo Medical Imaging Technologies Pty Ltd
• Argenica Therapeutics Pty Ltd
• Austech Telecomminications Pty Ltd
• Ferronova Pty Ltd
• Forcite Helmet Systems Pty Ltd
• Graphenex Pty Ltd
• HomeGuardian.AI Pty Ltd
• I.A.H. Sales Pty Limited
• Iugotec Pty Ltd
• MPC Group Pty Ltd
• Samsara Recycling Pty Limited
• Sebstainable Pty Ltd
• Sementis Limited
• Sustainable Construction Systems Pty Ltd
• And VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd.

Since 1991, the CRC Program has committed $5.6 billion of grant funding to support the establishment of 236 CRCs and 208 of the shorter-term CRC Projects.

On top of this, programme partners are contributing another $16.9 billion of cash and in kind.

Husic also announced the opening of CRC-P Round 14 today.

Round 14 will support projects with a focus on circular economy principles, as well as the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas.

The government is also taking steps to improve the operation of all CRC programs by publishing a schedule of future funding rounds for both the short-term CRC-P grants, and the long-term CRC grants.

“Previous governments kept industry and researchers guessing when these funding rounds would open and would make applicants race to submit applications.

“We are ending this uncertainty in applications.

“By producing a timetable of future grant programmes we will take the guess work out of preparation for companies looking to commercialise Australian innovation.”

Picture: Dovetail Electric Aviation