Applications open for CSIRO’s free Innovate to Grow program

CSIRO has invited small and medium-sized manufacturers (fewer than 200 employees) to sign up for the free, ten-week online Innovate to Grow program, designed to help companies increase their R&D knowledge to better develop new products and services.

According to a program description on the science agency’s website, it will assist companies to:

• Identify innovation opportunities;
• Refine their value proposition;
• Understand their R&D viability;
• Help them build a business case; and
• Provide guidance on how to prepare a strong funding application.

Connop Metal recently earned international attention for developing a method to analyse the chemical compositions of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to make it recyclable, and was part of last year’s program cohort.

Owner Murray Connop said in a statement on Tuesday that Innovate to Grow helped him gain “the vital contacts and support needed to determine the feasibility of my project.

“I wholeheartedly recommend this program to fellow start-ups and small businesses in advanced manufacturing. The invaluable connection to industry experts provided by this program has played a significant role in the success of my project.”

Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing is open to companies that could be described as working on digital solutions and smart robotics, additive manufacturing, advanced materials and processes, quantum technology, mechatronics design and engineering, biomedical manufacturing, and energy storage and battery technology.

The online course has places for 25 companies, begins on August 10, and is accepting applications until July 17.

More information is available here.

Picture: supplied